UW plays like ‘finest group in the nation’ in 4th

• Paolo Uggetti, ESPNNov 5, 2023, 01:33 AM ET

LOS ANGELES– When the Pac-12 dissolves with realignment next season, one of its last season’s memories may be Saturday’s night offensive surge in between No. 5 Washington and No. 20 USC.Under the lights of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, two of the nation’s best offenses, led by two of the country’s top quarterbacks, went mostly undeterred over 60 minutes, amounting to more than 1,000 lawns while bouncing from one goal to the other as if in a game. The defenses that were expected to be stopping them may too have been wallpaper.But when the fourth quarter got here, a defense did need to make a stand, and it was Washington’s. The Huskies held USC scoreless in the last frame, resulting in a 52-42 victory that kept Washington’s undefeated record undamaged, while more igniting their currently impassioned confidence.

“We believed we were the very best group in the country entering into the season,” Washington linebacker Zion Tupuola-Fetui said. “So, we simply got to go out there and prove it every week. I know that there might be a specific design in manner ins which individuals want us to win, but a win is a win.”

Washington coach Kalen DeBoer did not pretend that he and his group hadn’t heard the chatter that had actually surrounded them in recent weeks. After winning a three-point thriller against Oregon in Seattle, the Huskies had proceeded to escape close contests against Arizona State in a 15-7 success and Stanford in a 42-33 win.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated What appeared unbecoming of a top-5 group with College Football Playoff goals was, to DeBoer and his players, affirmation of their abilities and inspiration for what is to come.”I’m thrilled about the method we recovered,

considering kind of everybody’s ideas on what we were doing the last couple of weeks, “DeBoer said with a slight smile.” I seem like that’s what we do best is when the lights are brightest, our guys are all set to play.” Saturday’s game was proof. Washington ended up with 572 backyards of offense, sustained by over 300 backyards on the ground and approximately nearly eight lawns per play. The Huskies tallied 27 very first downs, seven third-down conversions, nine tosses of 15 lawns or more and 9 runs of 10 lawns or more. DeBoer’s team made 7 journeys to the red zone and never showed up empty-handed.”The one thing I prepared for was a win, however it came, however it went about, “Penix Jr. stated when asked if he expected a shootout.” We simply got to continue to keep our foot on the pedal and never get complacent. “While this had been pegged as a juggernaut match in between Penix Jr. and reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams, it was running back Dillon Johnson– assisted by USC’s sieve of a running defense– who had the performance of the game. Johnson carried 26 times for a whopping 256 rushing yards– an average of 9.8 yards per carry. The junior back included 4 touchdowns, including the last one which sealed the outcome.”I simply came into the fourth quarter attempting to round off USC,”Johnson stated.”The last two weeks we haven’t played up to our requirements. … We simply wanted to be the most

physical team and we were.”In a conference where offense is the primary currency, Washington understands it will need to be more than simply a one-sided team to achieve all of its objectives, not to mention an

unbeaten season. When it mattered on Saturday, the defense stepped up, keeping Williams and USC’s offense at bay in the 4th quarter thanks to a game-shifting sack that forced a Trojans punt. “[ We have actually] discovered various ways to win, “Penix Jr. stated.”When I returned it had to do with getting that 2nd year with these guys and I knew that we were going to be able to do something unique and we’re doing it. “Winning in more than one way will be useful in possible Pac-12 and CFP matches. But before the Huskies start visualizing larger games, plenty stays on their slate. With USC and Oregon in their rearview mirror, Washington still has 3 difficult matchups between it and an unbeaten regular season. The Huskies will host Utah next week before traveling to Oregon State for what’s most likely to be another top-20 match before the Apple Cup finale versus Washington State.” They’re confident since we’ve done it not simply one game. We’ve done it for a number of years now with the exact same guys,”DeBoer said.” We’re always going to continue to enhance, however I do seem like we have the makings of what it takes to be a championship football team.”