The 116^th edition of the Boeing Apple Cup, despite the initial debate about its location and timing, unfolded into an instant classic. The game played on a neutral field, turned into an offensive shootout, culminating in a dramatic 4th down stop by the Cougar’s defense.

Washington State Football head Jake Dickart’s bold decision to go for it on fourth down at the Husky eight-yard line was a clear sign of his team’s determination. Despite running back Wayshawn Parker’s 2-yard loss, the Cougars defense forced the Husky offense to punt, showcasing their resilience.

The Cougars took the lead on their next possession on a 44-yard field goal by Dean Janikowksi, which ignited both offenses.The Huskies offense scored on its possession and took the lead on a 31-yard TD pass from Will Rodgers to Giles Jackson.

The shootout continued when Cougar quarterback John Mateer ran into the heart of the Husky’s defense for a 23-yard  touchdown and a 10-7 lead. Gross made back-to-back field goals from  44 and 42 yards and saw the Huskies take a 13-10.  The  Cougars had a chance to tie the game on their next possession, but   Janikowski was wide left from 26 yards out. The Cougar’s defense made a gallant stand, forced a Washington punt, and received the ball at their nine-yard line with 2:02 left.

 A 29-yard pass by Mateer to  Tony Freeman brought the ball to the WSU 33-yard line. Mateer’s following completion was a 38-yard pass to Cameron  Broussard.  That pass play got the ball to the  Washington 29-yard line. A defensive holding on the Huskies set up another long TD run by Mateer. After taking a 10-yard sack on the second down, Mateer found daylight on the third and 20   and outran the Husky defense with a 25 score, which ended the half with the Cougars leading 17-13.

PHOTO CREDIT FRANCINE SCOTT

SHOOT OUT CONTINUES

The   Huskies tied the game at 17all on a 24-yard field goal by Groos as they scored on the second half’s opening possession.  The Cougars answered that score with a  Mateer to  Josh Meredith 16-yard pass play to give the Cougars a  24-16 lead. The Huskies cut the deficit to just five points on another field goal by Groos. The 43-yard boot left ended the third quarter with the  Cougars holding a 24 to 19 lead.

SCORELESS  BUT DRAMTIC  END

Both defenses stiffened up and forced turnovers and penalties. After a three-and-out, Mateer was intercepted on the Courga’s next offensive possession by the Husky’s Thaddeus  Dixon at the UW 39-yard line.   A penalty on Rodgers for intentional grounding and a false start saw the Huskies punt the ball back to the  Cougars. Back-to-back penalties by the Cougars saw them kick the ball back to the Huskies, who were in prime position to win the game. The Huskies had the ball at their 31-yard line with  3:40 left in the game.  A 45-yard bomb from Rogers to  Giles Jackson brought the ball to the WSU 29-yard line.  Demond Williams Jr replaced Rodgers for two places to present the run option.

 A Jonah Coleman ten-yard run got the ball to the  WSU nine-yard line with 1:12 left on the game clock. Rogers’s nine 9-yard completion to Boston on third down set the ball at the WSU  one yard. On fourth and one, Husky head coach Jedd Fisch called for a run option. Rodgers pitched the ball to Coleman, who was immediately swarmed by multiple Cougar defenders.  The  Huskies turned the ball over on downs, and the Cougars were able to run out the clock for the win.

POSTGAME NOTES

Post-Game Notes
116th Boeing Apple Cup
Washington vs. Washington State
Lumen Field, Sept. 14, 2024

UW receiver Giles Jackson had 162 receiving yards, giving him his second career 100-yard
receiving game, while also easily posting a new career-best. The other was in 2022, when he
had 105 yards vs. Portland State. Jackson’s 162 receiving yards are tied for 33rd-most in a game
in Husky history.

Grady Gross set a new career high with four made field goals (on four attempts, also a career
high). He made three in a game twice in 2023, vs. Arizona State and against Texas in the Sugar
Bowl. The last time a Husky made four field goals in a game was in 2022, when Peyton Henry
made four (in four attempts) vs. Stanford.

Will Rogers’ touchdown pass in the first quarter (31 yards to Giles Jackson) was the 100th
touchdown pass of his career, second-most among active FBS players.
Washington surrendered its first opponent touchdown when WSU QB John Mateer scored on a
28-yard run in the first quarter. The Huskies went a total of 130 minutes and 44 seconds before
allowing a TD this season.

True freshman linebacker Khmori House started the game, as Washington opened the game
with three linebackers. He’s the first true freshman to start a game this season for the Huskies.
Washington had a streak of 20 straight regular season wins broken. That tied the longest such
streak in modern school history (the final game of 1990 regular season through the first eight
games of the 1992 season). The only longer such streak in Washington history was a 40-game
win streak from 1908-1914 (during which there was no postseason).