Huskies pull away in third quarter

Washington scored four unanswered touchdowns to pull away from Idaho 45-14 this afternoon in Husky Stadium. Cody Pickett threw for 236 yards and completed 20 of 29 despite a torn pectoral muscle. Rich Alexis rushed 22 times for 115 yards to lead all ground gainers for the afternoon.

RELATED LINKS

Photo Gallery

Gilbertson Quotes

Player Quotes

Dawgtracker

Box Score

UW Game Recap

Idaho Game Recap

The game marked the return of Justin Robbins, who made four receptions for 39 yards. It was the first time the Husky junior wide receiver had played in a game for two seasons.

Washington struggled in the first two quarters and the first part of the third with mistakes. Penalties at crucial times and three turn overs plagued the Huskies as the visitors stayed close.

With Washington leading 17-14, the Huskies finally put the Vandals away by scoring four straight touchdowns, on a 25-yard Alexis run, a 12-yard Zach Tuiasosopo run, a 10-yard Pickett keeper, and a 5-yard Shelton Sampson bolt around the end.

UW vs IDAHO GAME GALLERY

<< prev	AP Caption	next>>

1st QUARTER – FUMBLEITIS - Washington’s first drive stalled after a third and short play went awry. Pickett had trouble getting the hand off to Alexis, and the play went for no gain. However punter Garth Erickson’s boot was downed smartly at the Idaho one by Tyler Krambrink. The special teams gem led to big things, as on Idaho’s first offensive play, Linebacker Tim Galloway met running back Mal Shaw in the backfield and popped the ball free. Tackle Terry Johnson recovered in the end zone to put the Dawgs on top 7-0.

A Charles Frederick muff on his first punt return attempt allowed Idaho to take over on the Washington 29 yard line. On third and goal, the Vandals scored on a 3-yard Michael Harrington to Zach Gerstner connection in front of Roc Alexander to tie it at 7-all.

Washington answered right back with an 8-yard Rich Alexis touchdown, a toss sweep around left end behind fullback Zach Tuiasosopo’s kickout block. The play was the last of a 10-play 65-yard drive.

2nd QUARTER – FLAGS AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES - Idaho began the quarter on their own 22 and drove down the field using Gerstner’s 23 and 15 yard rushes up the middle of the Husky defense. However the drive stalled in the red zone and Vandal kicker Mike Barrow missed a 28-yard chip shot, allowing the Huskies to come away unscathed.

The Huskies turned to freshman TB Kenny James, who responded with a 23-yard catch and run and followed that with a 7-yard run. The drive, which started on their own 11, stalled in the red zone. An illegal substitution penalty negated a fourth and inches attempt. Washington’s Evan Knudson made a 37-yard field goal to push the Dawgs up to 17-7.

An 18-yard Frederick punt return allowed the Dawgs to take over in Vandal territory with less than 2:00 remaining in the half, but a Pickett sack combined with a Husky personal foul pushed the Huskies out of range and Washington had to punt it away after a -2 yard drive.

From the Vandal 20, Mike Harrington scrambled away from pressure and torched the Husky secondary by connecting for what looked like a 65-yard gain, but it was negated by having an ineligible receiver down field. Washington dodged yet another bullet and kept the 10-point lead as the two teams headed up the tunnel. Both teams had been flagged six times to that point.

3rd QUARTER – HANGING AROUND - Washington’s first drive was disastrous, as Pickett coughed the ball up on a keeper and Idaho recovered on the Husky 18. It took Idaho one play to capitalize, as Harrington hit Jimmy Labita for a touchdown on a crossing pattern to make it 17-14 and the groans from Husky Stadium could be heard all the way to Moscow.

Washington turned it over again on their next possession when Pickett threw errantly for Williams, and cornerback Robby Bryant made the interception to let Idaho hang round a bit longer. Idaho went three and out, however, and from that point on it was all Dawgs.

The third Husky drive was finally turn-over free, and it paid off. Alexis ran up the right side behind OG Tusi Sa’au, and then picked up a big block in the secondary from WR Charles Frederick, en route to a 25 yard touchdown. It was the longest rush of the season for the Huskies.

Washington finally put the game away on their next drive, as Zach Tuiasosopo took a belly dive up the middle and into the end zone from 12 yards out, with help from a nice block from Reggie Williams. The key play in the drive was a well executed 22-yard screen pass to Alexis.

4th QUARTER - - After a 48-yard Pickett to Williams connection, Pickett scored on a 10-yard keeper for Washington’s third unanswered touchdown, and Gilbertson began emptying his bench.

Isaiah Stanback looked good at quarterback and ran some nice option with TB Shelton Sampson, showing a glimpse of the future offense. Sampson wrapped up the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run where he gained the corner with his speed.

NOTES: WR Reggie Williams sat out the first half for disciplinary reasons, as he missed a mandatory team function last weekend.

TE Joe Toledo left the game with back spasms and did not return.

Alexis’ 8-yard score in the first quarter was his first trip to the end zone this season.

Tuiaosopo’s touchdown was the first of his career.

Washington next hosts Stanford in their Pac-10 opener.