California at Washington Post-Game Quotes Husky Stadium
Sept. 25, 2021
Washington Head Coach Jimmy Lake
Opening Statement:
So proud of our team for staying united and their ability to keep working hard. All they’ve done is gotten back to work all season long and we are still continuing to grow and develop. It’s been really cool to watch guys take their game to another level. We have seen improvement across the board. I am proud of a bunch of individuals. Our guys continue to fight. We played a quality football team with a big-time quarterback; he has been in this conference for a long time and we knew we had to try and limit him as much as we could. He still got a lot of yards on us and made a bunch of plays on us, but I am just so proud of our guys for holding together and continuing to fight until the end.
How different is Kyler Gordon this year?
It goes to the comments on growing and developing. This is the Kyler Gordon who we all knew was going to happen. He is extremely athletic, has ball skills, is fast, his technique is as good as it has been since he has been here. I am extremely proud of Kyler.
What has been your strategy thus far?
First, I’ll say the Cal scheme gives a lot of team’s problems to begin with. But Sean as a running back has been very slippery. He knows how to set up his blocks and he knows how to hit pause and then hit go and then hit pause again. He has given us a tremendous boost in these last couple of games. I am really proud of Sean.
What plays changed the momentum throughout the game?
We were facing a really good defense. For us to score on four possessions is a feat in itself. But we knew we would make adjustments. I know there were some plays where we could have executed better and kept some drives going as well.
Can you comment on Devin Culp’s performance?
I am so proud of Devin. We gave Devin a game ball in the locker room as we were celebrating. We talk about our guys seizing the opportunity when it presents itself and here goes Devin. He is thrust into a starting role, and we had a bunch of plays that were targeted at that position. He was going to have to execute every single one of them and he did in a big way. I have seen all the work he has put in behind the scenes and I gave him a huge hug at the end of the game and told him how proud of him I was and how much I love him. He should feel very proud of the work he did tonight.
You were missing a lot of guys, how have you adjusted?
This is part of football. We were missing a bunch of guys in the first game as well. We came out with a victory so now it looks like we did a good job. We are going to miss guys next week as well and the week after that. That is why it is important to coach up your depth and get them ready to go for prime time.
California at Washington Post-Game Quotes Husky Stadium
Sept. 25, 2021
Washington LB Shane Bowman
What was convo like in that last huddle?
If we get the ball, we win. So, forced fumble.
How did you complete the job in OT?
At this time the rest of the game doesn’t matter at all, it’s like it’s all we got right now is OT, so that’s everything. We do a general practice that’s just like that so, we kind of feel comfortable in that area.
Washington RB Sean McGrew
What do you think was difficult in the second half?
In the first half, we were just making those plays and making those catches, just keeping the drive going. In the second half, I felt like on third and 5 and under, we were just falling short and not executing the play and some penalties and things like that, but it just felt good to go into overtime and win the game.
Washington DB Kyler Gordon
You lost two years ago to Cal, does it feel like vindication?
For sure, I had an edge on my shoulder the whole entire time like I knew I wanted to win this game. I remember how I felt back then, where I felt like the penalty back then was on me. I feel like I kind of lost that game back then or had a piece of it, but today I was like we have got to change it up. I’m happy the outcome is what it is.
California at Washington Post-Game Quotes Husky Stadium
Sept. 25, 2021
California Head Coach Justin Wilcox
On how it feels to lose a heartbreaking game:
I’m sure you can imagine, it doesn’t feel real good. I’m proud of how our team competed. We had plenty of opportunities throughout the game and we didn’t quite get it done. It’s painful.
On if this felt like a game that the team could have and should have won:
We go into all the games that way. But that’s why we play them. The outcome’s not predetermined. We had to do a better job in certain areas and we didn’t get it done. You could pick from 30 plays in the game that are critical to the outcome. We didn’t get it done. The first half defensively, we gave up way too many third down conversions. We had the field goal that we didn’t convert. In the second half, I thought the defense did a much better job. They competed very hard, got off the field quite a few times, got a turnover. We needed to find a way to get one more turnover in that game and we didn’t quite get it done.
On play of QB Chase Garbers
I think he did some really good things. I thought the offense in general had some really good moments, some good drives. We felt good going into the game that we would be able to create some drives and convert and we did that at times. The two turnovers were unfortunate. We still had a couple more plays that we’ll watch on tape that we probably could’ve converted on. That’s where it ended today. We were just short.
California DE Luc Bequette
On the mood in the locker room:
I think everyone on our team absolutely just despises losing. We’re never going to be happy after a loss. It was a really hard-fought game on all sides. I think our guys played very hard. Kind of like a lot of stories go, there’s just kind of those couple of plays here and there that if we get those, we can win the game. That just starts on us, the players.
On if the defensive performance in the second half was encouraging:
It’s definitely encouraging for us that we were able to turn around that second half, but we have to play like that all four quarters. That’s again on us, the players. We’re getting the right calls, we’re getting everything, we just have to execute better in the first half.
On any changes the defense made at halftime:
Really nothing changed for us. We just kept running our same scheme. We just quite honestly played better, we executed better. I think our players took it upon themselves to play better in the second half versus the first.
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