Tupuola-Fetui Highly Motivated to Face the Ducks One More Time

Zion Tupuola-Fetui needed five years to get his first win over Oregon, a 37-34 victory at Autzen Stadium last season.

The University of Washington edge rusher enjoyed it so much, he'd like nothing better than to finish his career with another. 

“It means a lot to beat this team,” said the always unconventional Tupuola-Fetui, who did an interview while seated on the ground after Wednesday’s practice. 

“I hate whenever I say it, but last year was my first win against them. I’d definitely like to taste that one more time before my time here is over. But I’m just appreciative of the opportunity that’s in front of us.”

Tupuola-Fetui hasn't been a starter in a UW-Oregon game until now. He missed out on playing against the Ducks in 2020 when the COVID pandemic shortened the season to just four games that season. A year ago, he came off the bench as the back-up to senior edge Jeremiah Martin.

Saturday's game is his first and last chance to be a major contributor in this rivalry. He'll be needed.

Aside from Arizona redshirt freshman Noah Fifita, the Huskies haven’t faced a running quarterback as elusive as Oregon's Bo Nix. The Ducks do an exemplary job of protecting him, having given up just three sacks in their first five games. 

“I think a lot of their offense — besides the quick game — already utilizes his legs in the play-action game and things like that to get him moving outside the pocket and maybe get him a little more time to throw those deep passes,” Tupuola-Fetui said.

In last season’s game with the Huskies, Nix ran for 55 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Since then, he's toned down his act some as a runner.

In five games this season, the fifth-year senior has just 87 rushing yards and a TD on 19 attempts.

“We want to contain him,” Tupuola-Fetui said. “But at the same time, with a quarterback like that, you just have to be able to minimize when he is able to be explosive and make those type of plays.”

Tupuola-Fetui enters Saturday's game with 2 sacks, both collected at Michigan State, and looking for more. Oregon and Bo Nix are motivation enough for him to play at his best.

“What I like about this game is it’s not something that’s going to just happen,” he said. “We go. We take it. The results are because of us, you know what I mean.”

Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Inside the Huskies stories — as soon as they’re published.