Washington opened the season with a familiar result in the Apple Cup, leaning on defense and just enough offense to beat Washington State 24-10 and improve to 1-0.
The Huskies didn’t need a track meet to control this one. Demond Williams Jr. carried the offensive load for Washington, finishing with 268 passing yards, 61 rushing yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown. His first score came on a 5-yard QB keeper, giving Washington an early spark in a game where clean, consistent offense was hard to find for either side.
Washington was up 10-0 at halftime even after a goal-line stand left the Huskies with zero points as the clock hit zero in the first half. That kind of sequence summed up a game that never really got loose on offense, but still tilted sharply toward the home team.
The biggest separation came on defense. Washington State couldn’t get much of anything going until the fourth quarter, and the Cougars spent most of the day fighting uphill against a Huskies unit that kept collapsing plays before they could breathe. Wazzu went 0-for-9 on third down and finished with only 228 total yards while Washington forced three turnovers - one fumble and two interceptions.
There were rough edges for Washington too, even in victory. The run game never fully found its rhythm, with the Huskies’ three running backs combining for 76 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries, good for 3.6 yards per attempt.
Still, the Apple Cup belonged to Washington again. The No. 17 Huskies will return to action Saturday against Utah State at Husky Stadium in Seattle.
In Other News...
Washington State May Be Without Its Most Dangerous Weapon At Kansas State
Washington State may have to head into its game at Kansas State without one of its most explosive playmakers after wide receiver Tony Freeman suffered a knee injury in the Apple Cup. Coach Kirby Moore said Freeman is trending on being out while the Cougars wait on MRI results, a development that would leave them trying to replace a receiver who has been one of the biggest threats in the passing game and on special teams.
Kirby Moores update at least brought some clarity elsewhere on the roster, with cornerback Jalil Tucker and defensive end Ben Beatty expected to be available. But Freemans status is the one that matters most for an offense that will need other receivers and return men to absorb his workload if he cannot go, and the final medical word will shape how Washington State approaches a difficult road matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces A Huge Receiver Problem Ahead Of Kansas State
Washington State is heading into its matchup with Kansas State with a concern that could reshape the offense for a week. Wide receiver Tony Freeman is likely to miss the game because of a knee injury, according to head coach Kirby Moore, and his exit from the previous game came early enough to raise immediate questions about the Cougars depth at the position.
Freeman was seen on crutches afterward, which adds to the uncertainty around how quickly Washington State can get back to full strength on offense. There is some better news on the injury front, with cornerback Jalil Tucker and defensive end Ben Beatty expected to be available, but the receiver situation leaves the Cougars with a key issue to sort out before they face Kansas State. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Has Two Costly Problems To Fix Before Kansas State
Washington States 24-10 loss to Washington in the Apple Cup left the Cougars with a familiar kind of frustration: too many stalled drives, too many wasted chances and too little margin for error. Coach Moore and quarterback Caden Pinnick both pointed to the same broad issues afterward, with turnovers and special teams adding to the damage in a game that never really gave WSU a chance to settle in.
The most glaring concern is the offenses inability to stay on the field, a problem that showed up against the Huskies and will loom even larger with Kansas State next on the schedule. Add in the kicking-game hiccups, and the Cougars enter the new week knowing the fix is not about one area alone but about cleaning up several parts of the operation before the competition level rises again. [Read more 🡒]