SEATTLE (AP) — Jake Browning threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns, Ty Jones had two touchdown receptions , and No. 9 Washington finally pulled away in the second half for a 45-3 victory over North Dakota on Saturday.
The Huskies home opener was a chance to regroup after the letdown of last week’s season opener loss to No. 7 Auburn. It was a game Washington believed it should have won, and the hangover from the buildup surrounding the opener showed up against the Fighting Hawks (1-1) with a shaky performance on offense
Browning was sharp at times, but also had stretches of missing open receivers and threw two poor interceptions. Washington’s run game was spotty at best against the FCS opponent. Washington picked up just one first down between the middle of the second quarter and the 5-minute mark of the third quarter, the one coming on a meaningless final play of the first half.
Browning was 23 of 37 passing with short TD passes to Jones and Cade Otton. Backup QB Jake Haener added a 12-yard TD pass to Jones in the fourth quarter.
Perhaps most concerning for Washington was the lack of a run game. The Huskies finished with 195 yards rushing on 34 carries, but had just 79 yards through three quarters. Myles Gaskin had a 2-yard TD run in the first half and Sean McGrew added a 23-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
John Santiago had 18 carries for 139 yards for North Dakota, putting together a performance that was better than what Saquan Barkley did against Washington last year in the Fiesta Bowl. Santiago’s 69-yard dash in the third quarter set up North Dakota’s only points on Brady Leach’s 20-yard field goal.
Browning was wearing a brace on his right knee, which he appeared to injure on Washington’s final offensive play of the loss to Auburn. His mobility didn’t appear to be effected, but he was forced to move from the pocket more than the Huskies would have preferred. But his inconsistency seemed to flummox even Washington coach Chris Petersen, who dropped his head in frustration in the third quarter when Browning overthrew an open receiver in the end zone. Browning capped that drive with a 1-yard TD pass to Otton, but made a poor throw on Washington’s next possession and was intercepted by Hayden Blubaugh.
Washington’s issues on offense aren’t isolated to Browning.
The Huskies had just 30 yards rushing on 15 carries before Gaskin ripped off a 24-yard scamper on a meaningless final play of the first half. Washington turned the ball over on downs at the North Dakota 20 early in the second quarter when it couldn’t convert third- or fourth-and-1 on running attempts by Gaskin and Browning.
Ultimately the inconsistency of the run game didn’t matter against the Fighting Hawks. But it could be an issue next week against Utah.
THE TAKEAWAY
North Dakota: The Fighting Hawks run defense is legit. As week after holding Mississippi Valley State to minus-27 yards rushing, North Dakota clogged run lanes and never let Gaskin or Salvon Ahmed control the game on the ground.
Washington: The return of WR Quinten Pounds continues to be a major boost for the Huskies passing game. Pounds had a one-handed touchdown catch in the opener, and followed up with three receptions for 98 yards in the first half against North Dakota, including a 57-yard catch. … Two key starters didn’t suit up for the Huskies: Center Nick Harris and linebacker D.J. Beavers. Beavers had a walking boot on his left foot on the sideline.
UP NEXT
North Dakota: The Fighting Hawks will be at Sam Houston State.
Washington: The Huskies will be at Utah for the Pac-12 opener.
