Washington routed Washington State 45-10 last year at Husky Stadium, the Huskies’ most lopsided Apple Cup victory in 15 years, but defensive tackle Elijah Qualls and his teammates know a very important piece was missing from the Cougars offense.
Without prolific quarterback Luke Falk, the Cougars didn’t put up a challenge against Qualls and the Huskies’ Pac-12-best defense. Washington’s defense was so dominant that it scored more touchdowns (three) than the Cougars’ offense (one). Qualls, a junior defensive tackle, is expecting a much stiffer test from Falk and No. 23 Washington State (8-3 overall, 7-1 Pac-12) on Friday in Pullman, Wash.
The winner between the sixth-ranked Huskies (10-1, 7-1) and Cougars captures the Pac-12 North title and will play in the Pac-12 championship game against either Colorado or USC.
“That always frustrated me (that Falk didn’t play), because all the Cougar fans, they’re like, ‘Oh, if we had Luke Falk …’ ” Qualls told the Seattle Times. “Come on, man. I’m not going to lie: The dude is good. But 35 points? I don’t know about that.
“But I hope — I really do hope — they play their absolute ‘A’ game because I want that challenge. I don’t want it to be another blowout like we had last year and then they make up another excuse or something. I like the challenge — I want it to be a game. I like those hard-fought games. Plus, I get to actually stay in the whole game instead of getting subbed out. I could actually get my plays up.”
Falk, out because of a concussion during last year’s Apple Cup, enters this week among the most prolific quarterbacks in the FBS. Washington safety Budda Baker sounds like he is part of Washington State’s team wondering why Falk hasn’t gotten more recognition.
“Luke’s a great quarterback,” Baker said. “I feel like he’s not really getting looked at right now, but I feel like he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the country.”
The Huskies enter the week with the Pac-12’s top-ranked scoring defense (17.9 points) and the league’s second-best passing defense, having allowed 12 touchdown passes with 13 interceptions in 11 games.
Falk and the Cougars have the second-best passing offense in the FBS, averaging 380 yards per game.
Washington quarterback Jake Browning leads the Pac-12 with 37 touchdown passes, against seven interceptions, completing 193-of-300 (64.3 percent) of his passes. Falk is right behind with 36 TD passes, against seven interceptions, on 380-of-532 passing (71.4 percent). With a strong final push, both could challenge Jared Goff’s Pac-12 record of 43 touchdown passes in a season with Cal last year.
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Jake Browning’s 75-yard touchdown pass to Chico McClatcher against Arizona State last week was the longest play from scrimmage of the year for the Huskies. It was the ninth play of 50 yards or more for the Huskies from scrimmage this season. Browning completed 15 straight passes from the 6:06 mark in the second quarter to the end of the Huskies first drive in the third quarter. It was part of a 17-0 scoring run for Washington.
–WR Dante Pettis caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Browning. It was his longest reception of the year and 12th touchdown catch this season. He moved into a tie with Jermaine Kearse for third-most touchdown receptions in a season at Washington. Pettis finished the game with 105 yards receiving. It was his fourth game eclipsing the century mark this season. He is tied for fifth most 100-yard games in a single season and the seventh player in Washington history with as many.
–CB Kevin King’s one-handed interception in the second quarter against the Sun Devils was his second of the year the sixth pick of his career.
–WR John Ross caught a career-high 12 passes against ASU. It is tied for fourth most in Washington history and was the most by a Husky since Reggie Williams caught 13 in 2003 against Arizona.
–PK Cameron Van Winkle became the first Washington kicker with 60 or more PAT’s in a season. He has converted a school record 61 in 64 attempts. Erik Folk held the previous record making 56 in 2011. Van Winkle reached 100 points for the season with his third quarter 30-yard field goal. He is the first Husky to reach the century mark twice in a career (also 107 in 2014) and it is the sixth time a Husky kicker has reached 100 points in a season. He also became the third Husky to pass 300 points in their career. With 304 on the season, he trails only Jeff Jaeger (380) and John Anderson (363).