Huskies Get Bowl Eligible With 35-28 Win Over Cougars

It wasn't how the Huskies would have drawn it up at the start of of the season but the Washington Huskies are going to a bowl game for the first time in eight years following their 35-28 win over the Cougars to win the Apple Cup.

In a game that had everything Washington got off to a quick start scoring on their first possession to lead 7-0. After Jeff Tuel couldn't get the Washington State offense going, Washington made it 14-0 following Jake Locker's 7 yard scamper. It looked like Washington would cruise to their second Apple Cup victory in a row. The Cougars had other ideas. After Loker threw a pick in the en zone, Jeff Tuel got his offense fired up and went for a touchdown to only trail 14-7 at Halftime. 

Coach Steve Sarkisian at halftime got the Huskies to regroup. On the Huskies first possession Jake Locker on a third and five would find Jermaine kearse for a 66 yard Touchdown pass to regain the 14 point lead. Washington State though would battled back. With 5:53 to go in the third quarter Jeff Tuel would trim the lead back to seven with a 16 yard Touchdown pass pass. It would remain that way to the fourth when Chris Polk went for a 57 yard touchdown run to give the Huskies a 28-14 lead. After the Cougars scored twice in a row Jake Locker and the Huskies offense went on a legendary drive to save the Huskies season and maybe Coach Sark's job. With 44 seconds to go on a 1st and 21 Locker found an open Jermaine Kearse for the wining touchdown. 

It is said in sports sometimes big time players make big time plays. In Saturday's win no Husky made bigger plays than Chris Polk. He ran for 284 yards on 29 carries with two touchdown runs. His effort could only be described as clutch. His 284 yards sits second all time in Huskies history.

When people talk about rivalry games not many people mention the Apple Cup. On Saturday we saw a classic example of how any team can beat any team on any given day more so in rivalries. I think why the Apple Cup is so intense is because most years there is so much on the line. There is bragging rights, bowl berths and in the past Rose Bowl berths. Also, in other rivalries such as Florida - Florida State those are not the only big football schools in the country so you don't get that many close games. But in the Apple Cup the winner is the best football team in the State. 

For Washington State, their fans are feeling sad after another tough season. Paul Wulff in his three years with the team has gone 5-32. The bright side is that the Cougars have a very exciting quarterback who could easily be playing on Sunday's after his Senior year. Tuel this year passed for just under three thousand yards this year and should reach that milestone next year as Tuel will be one year more mature from a football standpoint and his offensive line should be better. For me there was no sock that the game was as close as it was.

For Washington a bowl game means everything. Sarkisian despite his questionable play calling should be the Huskies coach for at least the next two years. Also, with the bowl game Washington will get to practice 15 extra times. This may not seem like much but this should really help players like Chris Polk, Quinton Richarson and Kieth Price as they will be important players for next season as they could use some much need reps.

However, the talk in Seattle is not about next year. On Sunday it was revealed that the Huskies will get another shot at redemption versus the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Washington played brutal in the 56-21 loss in Seattle on September 18th. The Seniors on the Huskies team would love to go out with a epic upset on December 30th.

I will have more on the Nebraska game as the month progresses.