Jake Locker only completed five passes and the Washington Huskies only scored 19 points, but those stats were just enough, for the Washington Huskies to defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 19-7, for their first bowl win since the Rose Bowl in 2001.
Washington defense stepped up in a big way by having pressure on QB Taylor Martinez and backup QB Cody Green. Green came into the game after the Martinez ankle injury in the third quarter. At that time he was also trying to find the rhythm in the Nebraska offense however, the rhythm was no where to be found as the Washington Huskies defense forced two turnovers and got their first safety since 2003.
You can say what you want about Nebraska having a letdown or not wanting to be at the Holiday Bowl, but you have to tip your hat to Steve Sarkisian and the whole Washington Huskies team. On Thursday night it was a whole team effort and everyone contributed.
Especially, Sophomore running back Chris Polk. His 177 yards on 34 carries and one touchdown run proved that he can be a good back against a good defense of Nebraska who, came in to the game with the ninth best defense in the Nation.
The 19-7 victory for the Huskies caps off a very up and down season. When the Huskies fans look back on the season I think they will consider it a successful season. Not only did the Huskies make it to a bowl game for the first time in since 2002, but they won four games a first since 2000 where they won five games on there way to the Rose Bowl. For me the Huskies season was very successful. The Huskies got a huge win at USC, gutted a big win at home against Oregon State. Also when you win the games down the stretch when the games mean the most and most importantly improved on their win total of last year by two wins.
For Huskies players and coaches it was a good year with a very emotional end. All the time during the season the Huskies players said "we have to get into a bowl for Jake" That statement is somewhat true. The statement is somewhat true because Locker was the Huskies team captain and decided to come back to try to get this team back to a bowl game. In contrast, the statement is somewhat false thou because when the team was 3-6, it wasn't just Jake Locker playing bad it was the whole team playing bad. However, in Washington's recent four game wining streak it wasn't Locker stepping up, it was the whole team stepping up. For example, if the Huskies would have lost this game 56-19, everyone would blame Locker for only completing five passes. But the Huskies won 19-7 so everyone is saying how good he is by making the right decision and throwing the ball away.
In Jake Locker's four years as the Huskies he accomplished more than people think. Yes he got the Huskies into a bowl and a bowl win. He was a team leader, a great guy in the Locker room and more importantly a great attitude. When Jake Locker was sidelined for most of the 2008 season, It wasn't just Locker who went down with an injury, it was half of the offense. Jake Locker is one of those players that make the other players better on the field. He has definitely got a winning attitude back on the Huskies campus.
The best thing about the 19-7 win over Nebraska was the Huskies defense played like they were back in the Don James Era. When Don James was the coach from 1975 to 1992 , the Huskies had a very dominating defense. When Don James was the coach the Huskies defense allowed 40+ points only four times. However, since 2007 the Huskies have allowed 40+ points 14 times. If what we saw in the Holiday Bowl are signs of what to come than the Huskies have a bright future ahead of them.
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