The Washington Huskies opened their season on Saturday night with 38-21 win over the Colorado State Rams. This was the first-ever meeting between the two teams. In his last press briefing ahead of the Huskies’ match-up with the Rams, Jedd Fisch said he wanted his team to execute in all three phases of the game. Knowing his team needed to play well in all three phases to win. The Rams entered the season as one of the top teams in the Mountain West. Early in the contest, Colorado State gave Washington all they could handle in their season opener.

Huskies trade blows with the Rams in first quarter

On their first defensive possession of the game, the Huskies’ defense forced a three-and-out. When their offense took the field for the first time, they faced a decision on fourth-and-one. Fisch decided to be aggressive and go for the first down at midfield. On fourth down, QB Demond Williams completed a pass to Jonah Coleman out of the backfield for a huge first down. Coleman’s 22-yard catch and run set the Huskies up at the Rams’ 28-yard line. A couple of plays later, Coleman took the ball and ran 26 yards for UW’s first touchdown of the season. The Rams would respond with a 9-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, as Rams’ QB Tahj Bullock capped the drive with a 2-yard TD run.

UW’s early miscues keep the game close in the first half.

On the Huskies’ next drive, they moved the ball down to the Rams’ 22. UW committed a false start on 3rd and 5, which made third down more difficult. Williams took a sack on the next play, which pushed them out of field goal range and forced them to punt. Later in the second quarter Williams led an impressive 7-play, 90-yard touchdown drive. Adam Mohammad finished the drive with a 1-yard TD run (the first of his career). The Huskies looked poised to end the first half strong, but fumbled on their last drive of the first half. The Rams converted the miscue when they went on a 9-play, 66-yard TD drive to tie the game before halftime, leaving a hushed tone in Husky Stadium.

A back-and-forth third quarter

The Huskies came out of the locker room fired up, as they marched down the field. Williams led the Huskies on a 7-play, 59-yard touchdown drive. Williams’ 27-yard scramble set up a 1-yard TD run by FB Kade Eldridge. The Rams answered with a 7-play, 65-yard TD drive, capped by a 27-yard TD pass from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to Jaxxon Warren. The Huskies responded with a 9-play, 69-yard TD drive, as Williams hit Denzel Boston for a 12-yard TD pass.

Makell Esteen’s interception was the turning point of the game

When UW’s defense took the field after going up 28-21, safety Makell Esteen intercepted Rams’ QB Fowler-Nicolosi. Esteen’s interception came with 1:41 left in the third quarter. The play was significant because until that point in the game, the Rams and Huskies had been trading blows.

“It’s 28-21, and we were kind of going back and forth, and then he (Makell Esteen) steps in front of the ball. Makell gets a pick, we kick a field goal, make it 31-21, and then we’re able to kind of take control from there,’ said Fisch in his post game press conference.

After taking a 31-21 lead, the Huskies made a critical play when the Rams tried a fake field goal on the Huskies’ 34. The Rams tried to audible from a field goal formation to a wildcat formation with QB Tahj Bullock. Rahshawn Clark read the play perfectly and sacked Bullock, as the Huskies took over on downs at their own 48. The fake field goal was one of several unsuccessful trick plays by the Rams during the game. Fisch awas quick to point that the Huskies spent a significant amount of practice preparing for potential game day trick plays by the Rams.

“Yeah, these games, especially early in the season, you have to be ready for, you know, some things happening that maybe you don’t necessarily expect to happen later in the season, especially with the opponents you don’t really know as well. I thought coach Petrilli did a great job preparing the group.”

Clearly, UW’s preparation in special teams during the week prepared them to stop the fake field goal. That stop gave the Huskies’ offense great field position and momentum. Jonah Coleman then broke a big 38-yard run, setting the Huskies up with first and goal. Initially, the play was ruled a touchdown, although it was later overturned; Coleman punched in his next run from three yards out.

Jonah Coleman, Demond Williams, and Denzel Boston were too much for the Rams

Coleman had a big game for the Huskies, rushing for 177 yards on 24 carries, with 2 TDs. Williams was sharp for UW, going 18/24, throwing for 226 yards, and 1 TDs. Williams was good at making quick decisions and knowing when to scramble. He ran for 68 yards on 13 attempts and kept the Rams’ defense on their heels. Boston led the Huskies’ receivers with 5 catches for 92 yards. Including a big touchdown catch to give the Huskies a 28-21 lead in the third quarter. UW’s offense put up 509 total yards en route to a 38-21 win over the Rams.

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