After watching tape of his teams 21 to 16 loss to No. 9 Auburn on Saturday afternoon, Washington Huskies ( 0-1, 0-0)head coach Chris Petersen was very clear on what the difference was between the two teams in the Nationally televised game during his weekly Monday morning meeting with the press. Execution and making the right plays at the right time Petersen echoed in his assertion of the game.
After a shaky first quarter start in which the Huskies were outscored 9 to 6 and outgained 68 to 161 in total offensive yards gained, Washington settled down in the second quarter and outgained the Tigers in total offense 149 to 125. The Huskies also narrowed the score to a two-point deficit and went into the half 13 to 15. The no.6 ranked Huskies nipped at the Tigers heels and took a 16 to 15 lead to start the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for Petersen and his squad, the vaunted Husky defense was unable to close out the game as Auburn running back JaTarvious Whitlow scampered ten yards for the game-winning touchdown that gave the Tigers the 21 to 16 win.
The inability of his defense to stop the Tigers when needed, lack of execution in the red zone and a slow start where all reasons for Petersen to lament a wasted opportunity
The Huskies will open their home season on Saturday when they host North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks (1-0) beat Mississippi Valley State 35-7.North Dakota, an NCAA Division I FCS program, is currently transitioning to the Missouri Valley Conference for football, where it will begin play in 2020. The Fighting Hawks are currently independent, but play a full Big Sky schedule.
