The Washington Huskies have looked shaky so far in 2014, but they're 2-0 after escaping 59-52 from the Eastern Washington Eagles. Both teams threw their cares and defenses to the wind, combining for 111 points and well over 1,100 yards of total offense.
Washington vs. Eastern Washington final score: 3 things we learned from the Huskies’ 59-52 escape
Washington is 2-0, but have looked far from impressive along the way. It took a late surge to avoid being upset by FCS Eastern Washington at home.
The statistical star of the game has to be Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. Adams went 31-46 for 476 yards and seven (seven!) touchdowns, setting a new school record. He also attempted an onside kick with three minutes left, but couldn’t get the ball back. Connor Kupp and Kendrick Bourne both went for over 100 yards receiving, and Kupp hauled in three touchdown passes.
For Washington, the rushing game led the way. The Huskies rushed for 355 yards and seven touchdowns as a team, and Lavon Coleman led the team with 118 yards and a touchdown. Cyler Miles (three), Dwayne Washington (two), and Shaq Thompson also had rushing scores.
The Eagles took a 45-44 lead with less than three minutes left in the third quarter, but two Husky touchdowns in the first half of the fourth quarter gave them enough cushion to hold on for the win.
Three things we learned
1. Chris Petersen’s maiden voyage in Seattle may be rough. Petersen’s Boise State teams were known for their incredible preparation and ability to start seasons fast against stiff competition. So far, the Huskies have faced Hawaii and Eastern Washington, and while they’re 2-0, they’ve been far from convincing along the way. It’s always possible that they could put it together as the season progresses, but the Huskies could be in for a rough time when they face the upper crust of the Pac-12.
2. Cyler Miles seems to be good at football. The Washington offense struggled last week with Miles suspended and Jeff Lindquist pulling the strings. With Miles back in charge this week, the points flowed more freely. The Huskies went for 536 total yards, and Miles himself scored four touchdowns (one passing, three rushing). The rushing offense particularly looked sharp, but having Miles back gave Washington new dimensions.
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3. Schedule Eastern Washington at your own peril. Upper-echelon FCS programs are no joke. Programs like Eastern Washington and North Dakota State are not your average lower-level body bags, and should be given the utmost respect by teams who are looking to pay for an out-of-conference win. Mess around and you just might pay a couple hundred thousand dollars for a loss.
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