Washington Cruises Past UC Davis

Efficient and relentless are two words that would best describe Washington’s performance against UC Davis on Saturday night. The Huskies’ first drive spanned 60 yards on three plays, and it set the tone for the rest of the evening. Washington extended its home winning streak to 22 games with ease in a 70-10 win over UC Davis. Jedd Fisch’s offense exceeded 500 yards for the second-straight week, and did so in just three quarters. The 628 total yards consisted of 304 passing and 324 rushing on 76 total plays.

Huskies Cruise Past UC Davis

Jonah Coleman

There’s an argument to be made that Jonah Coleman should be the current front-runner for the Heisman Trophy. In two games, the senior running back has totaled 288 yards on 39 carries (7.4 yards per carry), with seven rushing touchdowns – the most in the country. He touched the football just 15 times on Saturday night. But what he did with the football in his hands was exceptional. 

At the eight-minute mark in the first quarter, Coleman had three carries with two touchdowns. The game progressed, and with 10:27 left in the second quarter, he had 70 yards on eight carries with three touchdowns. He pounded into the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the game with 2:36 remaining in the first half. Coleman’s fourth score was a career high for him in a single game. But he extended that record with a fifth rushing touchdown early in the second half. It came on the team’s opening drive of the third quarter, and it tied the modern school record for rushing touchdowns in a single game at Washington. 

Rashid Williams Update

Rashid Williams left the game and entered the locker room in the first quarter. He later returned wearing street clothes with what appeared to be a sling around his left arm underneath his sweatshirt. Williams hauled in a 27-yard reception on the first offensive play of the game, which would be his only catch of the day. “It didn’t look great,” Fisch said after the game. He said that they’ll know more on Sunday after they get an MRI. “I assume he’ll be out at least for the next few weeks.”

Freshmen Wide Receivers

“There’s certainly a next-man-up mentality,” Fisch said. “Dezmen Roebuck has done an amazing job.” Roebuck took advantage of his extended opportunity on Saturday night. The former MaxPreps Arizona High School Football Player of the Year in 2024 scored his first touchdown as a Husky. It was on a shovel pass from Demond Williams Jr. where he showed exceptional open-field vision en route to a 47-yard score. Roebuck approached the near sideline before weaving his way back towards the middle of the field and into open space. He ended the day as the Huskies’ leading receiver with four catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Raiden Vines-Bright caught his first pass in a Husky uniform on Saturday night. It also came on a shovel pass and went for seven yards. Just three plays later, Vines-Bright had his first signature catch in a Husky uniform. He came across the middle of the field on a deep post, with a clear step on the defender when Williams found him for a 45-yard gain. Vines-Bright’s reception set up the Huskies’ second touchdown of the evening.

Denzel Boston was impressed with the performance of the young receivers. “Raiden goes and makes an explosive play, we bring Dez in and he also makes an explosive play. These cats are explosive, and it’s gonna add a new dimension to our offense,” Boston said after the game. Fisch commented on the depth of his receiver room after the game as well, showing confidence in the group. “We have multiple guys that can make plays for us at the perimeter,” he said. “Obviously, always tough to lose anybody. But I think we’re in a good spot at the receiver position.”

Punt Return Touchdown

Boston fielded all but one punt last season for Washington. He fair caught 26 punts and returned just 12 for 80 total yards. He attempted two returns a week ago against Colorado State with one fair catch. On Saturday night, Boston took a punt 78 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first half. It was the first Husky punt return touchdown since Rome Odunze did it against Cal in 2023.

“It was on my mind, I was telling myself ‘I’m gonna return this punt,'” Boston said after the game. “I knew I had the ability, and I’m just glad I got to showcase it tonight.”

“It was crazy because he called it,” Coleman said. “He said, ‘I’m about to take it, regardless of how close they are, and I’m gonna score a touchdown’.” Earlier in the week, leading up to the UC Davis game, Fisch explained why his starting wide receiver has been returning punts since the beginning of his tenure. “Denzel right now is our best punt returner,” he said. “The best players play.” Boston proved that to be the case on Saturday night.

Defensive Mistakes

The defense forced four three-and-outs on the evening, six punts, and allowed less than 220 total yards. But the group did make some mistakes that ultimately cost them points. The first UC Davis scoring drive resulted in a field goal, and it was aided by a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty. Aggie running back Carter Vargas broke off a 35-yard run on that drive as well, in which the Huskies missed three tackles.

In the second quarter, UC Davis drove 65 yards for a touchdown. Again, it was aided by the errors on the Husky defense. The Washington secondary committed a holding penalty for 10 yards, and on the very next play, it committed a pass interference penalty for 15 yards. There weren’t a lot of mistakes from this Husky team against the Aggies. But it was clear how a few of them lent assistance to UC Davis.

Washington heads into its bye week with a 2-0 record before it heads to Pullman for the Apple Cup on September 20th.