WSU Football | Huskies lock up the Apple Cup 30-0

Coach Steve Sarkisian and the Washington Huskies had just enough to dominate Washington State for a 30-0 victory in the Apple Cup.

How does that work? Just enough to dominate?

Washington had one player suited up in purple and gold who was the difference-maker.

Jake Locker.

If there's a better quarterback than Locker in the country, please enlighten me.

Locker has improved his passing skills this season. He's always had a rocket launcher for a right arm. A year of guidance by Coach Sarkisian has refined his skills and touch throwing the football downfield.

Washington State played with the intensity expected in a rivalry game. Coach Paul Wulff had the team well prepared, in terms of a game plan.

In the end, the Cougs were a player short. Washington State lacked consistent play from the quarterback position.

Coach Wulff put in several new razzle-dazzle plays in the offensive game plan. If the Cougs were going to pull off an upset, it wasn't likely to come from doing the same thing they've been trying to do all season. It didn't take him long to dip into that bag of tricks.

Setting the scene, Cougs' defense stalled the Huskies on their first possession, forcing a punt that might have put WSU pinned back in their territory. A UW penalty gave the Cougar offense a start on their own 42. Two first downs later, WSU was on the Husky 34. Coach Wulff had a flea flicker signaled end that nearly worked to perfection. Kevin Lopina handed to Dwight Tardy who lateralled back to Lopina. Lopina lofted the ball for Gino Simone who was open. Simone appeared to have lost his position on the field and leaped too early to make a catch for what should have been the first score of the game.

That play served as a microcosm of Cougar football in 2009. WSU has been close to getting the job done all year. Close isn't good enough in Pac-10 football.

While the Cougar defense was off to a good start to begin Apple Cup 2009, the unit was short-handed. They held the Huskies to 13 first half points and just 143 yards of offense. If WSU hoped to come away with a win the level of effort from the Cougar 'D' gave the team a chance to earn a victory.

The second offensive series for WSU saw things take a turn for the worse. Lopina was hammered and went down with an injury that sent him to the sidelines. He was replaced by Marshall Lobbestael who was knocked out of the game with about 5 minutes left in the first half. With the heart of a warrior, Lopina went back in and was promptly sacked trying to convert a fourth down.

Just when it seemed things couldn't get much worse for Coach Wulff's no huddle offense...it did. While Lobbestael was clearing cobwebs on the bench, Lopina took yet another huge hit and wouldn't return to the game.

Yes, backup punter Dan Wagner found himself playing quarterback in an Apple Cup.

Shuffling quarterbacks in and out of the lineup won't get the job done.

Lobbestael came back out to play the entire second half, but couldn't find a rhythm. Credit the Husky defense directed by defensive coordinator Coach Nick Holt with creating a nightmare for Lobbestael.

Staying with the second half, Locker and Chris Polk were on the field too often for the WSU defense to hold them down.

Not likely Locker will be with the Huskies next season, but Polk will return having already established himself in the University of Washington football record books.

Chris Polk rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. His Apple Cup total was more than enough for him to become the first Husky freshman to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

In the end, WSU just couldn't make plays on offense. Cougar receivers dropped  passes they could have pulled in. WSU running backs were a step away from breaking off nice runs.

Common thread?

Washington State could use even more speed on defense and more size on the offensive line.

Where did my comment about speed on defense come from? Easton Johnson played another good game in the defensive secondary. Johnson spent the entire season with the wide receiver corps until Coach Wulff asked him to shore up the D-back unit last week. The key to Johnson playing well these last two games was the tremendous speed he brings.

This season has been an experience for Washington State and their fans. As frustrating as the experience has been, there is good reason to look forward to next season.  Seriously, consider some of the positive benchmarks set this year:

- During 2009, WSU had a combined 102 starts by student/athletes who entered the season having yet to play a single down at the Football Bowl Championship level.

- With four starts by freshmen today against the Huskies in the Apple Cup, the Cougars recorded 60 during the 2009 season, more than in any full season in at least the past 20 years. The most in the last 20 years prior to this season was 47 in 1999.

- The Cougars started 14 different freshmen during the 2009 season, more than in any season in at least the last 20 years. The previous known high was 11 in 1999. Six of the starters have been true freshman, also the highest total in at least the last 20 years.

- Each of WSU’s six true freshmen starters made multiple starts in 2009: defensive end Travis Long (12), wide receiver Gino Simone (11), quarterback Jeff Tuel (5), offensive linemen Alex Reitnouer (4) and Tyson Pencer (4) and fullback Jared Byers (2).

- Sophomore linebacker Mike Ledgerwood’s 14 tackles were a career high. The double-digit effort was the first of his career.Ledgerwood has set career highs in each of the last two weeks, recording nine against Oregon State.

-With four receptions for 33 yards against the Huskies, sophomore wide receiver Jared Karstetter completed his 2009 season with at least one catch in every game. Karstetter has caught a pass in each of the last 15 games. Karstetter’s team-high 38 catches and team-leading 540 yards set career highs.

- Redshirt junior punter Reid Forrest punted seven times for 277 yards against the Huskies, bringing his season totals to 86 and 3,718, respectively…the total punts mark ranks second on WSU’s all-time single-season list, passing Kareem Anderson (82; 1999). The total yardage mark ranks first on WSU’s single-season list, passing George Martin (3,689; 1994). Forrest’s average of 43.2 yards per punt this season ranks tied for eighth on the all-time single-season list. Forrest also booted 18 punts of more than 50 yards this season, including four of more than 60 yards.

Those are a few of the student/athletes will be back for more Cougar football in 2010. They will be joined by an outstanding group of redshirt freshmen and what promises to be an outstanding class of recruits.

Coach Wulff and the entire Cougar football program will now begin an offseason focused on an aggressive strength and conditioning program supplemented with appropriate diet.

The season is over, but twelve months will fly by all too quickly for the Huskies and Coach Sarkisian.

That's right.

Washington State will be ready to win the biggest rivalry game to be played in 2010.

The Apple Cup.

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