Player quotes - Stanford

If there was ever a such thing as a team that found comfort in close games, the Washington Huskies would be that team. Again, as they have done so many times over the past five years, the Huskies held on to a slim 21-17 lead as Stanford took the ball deep in its own territory with the opportunity to go down the field for the game-winning drive.

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Again, Washington stepped up, as cornerback Derrick Johnson raced in front of a Trent Edwards pass to Luke Powell for a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown. The decisive play sealed the game, and had Johnson beaming afterwards.

“I played outside of Luke Powell on that play and he broke on the pass and I broke with him at the same time,” said Johnson, still ecstatic. “I saw the ball coming and jumped in front of him and made the interception.

“On that last series, I told our defense that we had to tighten up. I told our line that if we got pressure they would throw us the ball. Then a few plays later they threw us the ball and we were excited.”

The Husky defense continued its streak of scoreless fourth quarters, having yet to allow a point in the final quarter this season. The unit was led by none other than Marquis Cooper, the team’s honorary captain for the game. Cooper finished with a game-high 13 tackles, including one for loss, and broke up a pass as well. The man from Gilbert, Arizona was simply everywhere.

“I played my best game of the year today,” Cooper said. “I’m proud of myself. I know I have to lead the defense and make all the tackles that I can make.”

According to Cooper, the Husky defense has a tendency to get stronger as the game goes on. That was again the case on this day against the Cardinal.

“We know it isn’t over at halftime, so we prepare ourselves for a dogfight in the second half,” Cooper explained. “We are trying to get to the Rose Bowl so we have to go out there and win in the second half.”

The second half aside, it was the first half where the Husky offense awoke for the first time all season with two huge plays.

Down 7-0 early and needing a spark, Washington got more than they bargained for – an explosion – thanks to a well timed draw play to senior tailback Rich Alexis. With the Stanford defensive backs focusing heavily on the Husky receivers, Pickett dropped back as if to pass then handed the ball to Alexis. The senior from Florida did the rest, getting a big block at the line of scrimmage form guard Tusi Sa’au and sprinting 53 yards untouched for the touchdown.

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On Washington’s next possession, Reggie Williams made Stanford pay for a mixup in their secondary when Cody Pickett found him open down the sideline for a 74-yard score. Two big plays in the first half? Are these the Huskies that we are talking about?

“I’ve been saying if I get a little crease, I can take it from there,” Alexis said of his long touchdown. “Today I got a huge crease and all I had to do was run. The touchdown was just and in-between the tackle run.

“The offensive line did great with their blocking assignments. I just saw a hole and ran for daylight.”

Alexis finished with 128 yards in the game for the eighth 100-yard game of his Husky career. Washington has yet to lose when Alexis' reaches the century mark.

Williams described his touchdown in a way only No. 1 can.

“It was a hitch and go,” Williams explained. “I got a good ball from Cody and the guy bit real hard. After that it was just me and the endzone.”

Never mind the fact that Reggie was nearly raced down from behind. That, Reggie claims, was done intentionally so the defensive back “wouldn’t feel bad.”

Asked if he liked his chances once he caught the pass, the junior receiver appeared insulted by the question.

“Like my chances? Williams exclaimed. “I knew there was nobody in front of me and nobody is going to catch me from behind.”

Stanford tied up the game at 14 after that Williams touchdown, and eventually took a 17-14 lead midway through the third quarter. But the Huskies never laid down. A third quarter touchdown from Pickett to Williams pushed Washington back in front before Johnson’s interception return closed the door on the Cardinal for good in the final three minutes.

That never-say-die attitude by Washington is something senior defensive tackle Terry Johnson loves about this Husky team.

“It was a long and hard game. Those guys fought real hard,” Johnson explained, sporting a vintage Michigan State Magic Johnson jersey after the game. “It was a game we had to win and we came through. It was great for us as a defense, knowing we played well for four quarters.”

Ahead for the Huskies lies the dreaded UCLA Bruins, a team that has haunted the UW over the past half decade. The Huskies will head down to Pasadena next Saturday, the spot where they gave up over 300 yards rushing to DeShaun Foster in 2001 in what amounted to a lopsided loss to the hands of the Bruins.

What will be the keys this time when the Huskies head to the City of Angels? Alexis thinks he knows the answer.

“We have to go out there and start fast because we’ll be on the road,” he said. “When we go down there to Pasadena, we’re not in our element; we’re in somebody else’s territory. We have to stay fast, stay focused and stay confident.”