University of Washington Huskies take back the Apple Cup

PULLMAN – The 114th edition of the Apple Cup between the No. 13-ranked Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars on Nov. 26 came with major implications for both teams.

Washington was no longer eligible for the 2022-23 College Football Playoff after wins by the Utah Utes and University of California-Los Angeles Bruins earlier in the day, ensuring the Huskies wouldn't have an opportunity at the PAC-12 Championship, which was their only path to the Playoffs.

But a win against Washington State would ensure Washington had a more-than-realistic chance at another New Year's Six Bowl.

With a Washington State win, the Cougars would get an opportunity at a higher-tier bowl game and head coach Jake Dickert would become the only Washington State head to coach multiple Apple Cup games and have a winning record, and the seniors would be sent out with a win in the last home game of their collegiate careers.

Kalen DeBoer and his Huskies team ultimately left Pullman with the Apple Cup, winning 51-33 after holding the Cougars to six points in the second half.

"We gave up 51 points," Washington State head coach said while addressing the offense. "I'm not focused on the offense. We win as a team, we lose as a team. It wasn't our best performance, (but) I thought the offense gave us a shot to stay in the game. Those are the things we'll continue to look at, but I thought we played aggressively."

Aggressiveness was a highlight for Washington State, especially in the first half. The University of Washington's offense was one of the best in the country, with junior transfer quarterback Michael Penix Jr. coming into the game on Saturday with 3,870 passing yards and 26 touchdowns to only seven interceptions.

The Cougars had to match the offensive output of the Huskies to have a chance at winning – and for two quarters, they did.

Washington State opened the game with a 50-yard field goal by kicker Dean Janikowski, which barely made it in after bouncing off the crossbar.

The game was back-and-forth from that point forwards, with Penix connecting with receiver Ja'Lynn Polk on a 26-yard touchdown snag, before Cougars' quarterback Cam Ward found the endzone on a 14-yard keeper to end the first quarter with a 10-7 Washington State lead.

39 total points proceeded to be scored in the second quarter, with the Huskies finding the endzone first via a 47-yard touchdown pass from Penix to receiver Rome Odunze. Once again, the Cougars responded, this time through the air with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Ward to senior receiver Robert Ferrel.

Penix responded with a quarterback keeper of his own, using his legs for a 30-yard touchdown to take a 21-17 Washington lead.

Washington State with a 15-yard touchdown reception by running back Nakia Watson from Ward to retake the lead, followed by a second touchdown run by Penix, this time from four yards out.

The Cougars couldn't take the lead before halftime and settled for a 29-yard field goal from Janikowski to go into halftime down 28-27 to the Huskies.

Washington State scored one touchdown in the third quarter via a four-yard rush by Watson, and failed an ensuing two-point conversion attempt. Those points would end up being the Cougars' last of the game, and the Huskies would put up 23 points in the second half to take a 51-33 win in the highest scoring Apple Cup in history.

Washington State finished the regular season 7-5 overall and 4-5 in PAC-12 competition. The Cougars will end up making a bowl game, but ultimately will head into the game with a sour taste in their mouths following another loss against a PAC-12 opponent in which they had the lead.

Throughout the season, Washington State had leads and were competitive in multiple games against nationally-ranked PAC-12 opponents such as USC, Oregon, Utah and now Washington, but the competitive nature of the game provided little, if any solace to Dickert.

"Unfortunately in this game there's no celebrating close," Dickert said. "And we've been close in a lot of different games against a lot of really good opponents. I think everyone realizes the PAC-12 might be the premiere conference this year in the country. Yes we lost to five top-20 teams, but at the end of the day we need to do what we need to do to get over that hump. And it's about building this roster going forward. I feel very great about where we're at (with players) one-through-35, but we got to continue to build 35-through-85."

A loss to the cross-state rival will leave a sour taste in the mouth of the Cougars, but the season is not over as there is a bowl game looming for Washington State, which will be determined on Sunday, Dec. 4.

Ward talked about the mentality of the team heading into the bowl game.

"Got to win," Ward said. "Last game of the season, just leave it all out there... keep playing how we want to, defense keep playing how (it's) been playing – fantastic defense all year – so just got to win the game, got to end the season on the right note going into the offseason."