No.6 Huskies dismantle California Golden Bears 38 to 7

The no. 6 ranked University of Washington Huskies ( 5-0, 3-0 Pac 12)  38 to 7win over the California Golden( 3-3, 0-3) Bears was a  methodically business-like win.The Huskies played like the sixth-ranked team in the nation when they needed to and at other times not so much.

The first series of the game started out as one would expect it. The Huskies won the coin toss deferred kicked the ball to the Cal Bears. The Husky defense stopped the Bears and the Husky offense marched 64 yards on eleven plays and scored on an 11-yard pass play from Jake Browning to Hunter Bryant for the 7-0  lead.

After both teams went three and out, the Washington defense turned up its effort a notch when  Safety Taylor Rapp forced and recovered a  fumble by  Cal running back  Patrick Laird.

Husky placekicker Tristan Vizcaino continued his kicking struggles when he missed a 38 yard Field Goal. The Husky defense continued to stifle the Bears offense and forced the Bears to punt for the fourth time in the half.  The Husky offense drove the ball to the Cal four-yard but could go no further and settled for a 23-yard field by kicker Van  Sodenburg who was inserted for the ineffective Tristan Vizcaino.   

The switch in the kicking game was a move Husky head coach Chris Petersen made with a heavy heart.

“Punted well. The ball had good hang time. I think he did what Cal wanted to do to us, hang it up there. I feel bad for Tristan that he didn’t make it. These kids take it really, really seriously. They were very clean this week. We’ll just keep working”

The Huskies scored on their next two offensive possessions to give themselves some breathing room. Browning scampered 21 yards for one score and Myles Gaskin galloped eight yards for the other score to give the Huskies a 24-0  first-half lead.

The Huskies increased their margin to 31 to 0 when Browning connected with fullback/linebacker Justin Warren on a two-yard pass halfway through the third quarter. The Huskies offense committed it’s one transgression of the evening when Dante Pettis fumbled a Browning pass that was returned for a 37-yard touchdown by Cal Safety Darius Allensworth. 

The Huskies offense atoned for the earlier transgressions when Gaskin scored on a seven-yard run that capped a seven play 44-yard drive and that would be all the scoring needed as the Huskies won their fifth game in a row to remain unbeaten.

As for  his team’s overall performance,  Chris Petersen was pleased with the first half more than the second half.

“Loved the first half, really like how our defense played the entire game. We challenged them pretty good this week, we have a lot of respect for Cal and what they’re doing down there. Those guys are heading in the right direction. I’m pumped for our defense, but we turned it over on offense so we didn’t get the shutout. Cal definitely earned those turnovers. ”

GAME NOTES

• The 93 total yards by Cal’s offense is the fifth fewest by a UW opponent in single-game history, the fewest since Oregon State was held to 83 total yards in 1991 and just the seventh time in modern history that UW held an opponent under 100 total yards. The record by a UW defense was 42 against Montana in 1951. • The Huskies allowed -40 yards rushing, the third fewest ever by an opponent. The Huskies held Pacific to – 50 in 1981 and BYU to -45 in 1986. • Washington has started 6-0 for the 10th time

• The Huskies allowed -40 yards rushing, the third fewest ever by an opponent. The Huskies held Pacific to – 50 in 1981 and BYU to -45 in 1986. • Washington has started 6-0 for the 10th time

• Washington has started 6-0 for the 10th time over the last 100 years. It is the second-consecutive season UW has been perfect after six games, a feat they accomplished last in 1991 and 1992.