SEATTLE (AP) – After two weeks of criticism, questions and overall misery, Jimmy Lake finally saw a little bit of enjoyment on the Washington sideline as the time ticked away on a blowout victory.
In the process, the Huskies may have found some answers to their shocking offensive woes from the opening two games.
“Our guys stayed together, stayed united, and so it was awesome just seeing the joy in their eyes,” Lake said.
Dylan Morris passed for 367 yards and three touchdowns, Jalen McMillan had 10 catches for 175 yards and a score, and Washington rebounded from two disappointing losses with a 52-3 win over Arkansas State on Saturday.
After losing stunningly to Montana to open the season and getting run over last week at Michigan, the Huskies (1-2) needed a convincing performance to stop the season from spiraling away before the beginning of Pac-12 Conference play.
They got it thanks to an offense that jolted awake after sleepwalking for two games, and a defense that shut down Arkansas State’s high-powered unit that scored 50 points in a loss last week.
“The momentum that we had coming out of spring football and the momentum that we had coming out of training camp, that’s what it looked like,” Lake said. “That’s what it looked like and it was awesome to see us put our players in position to go out there and make plays.”
Morris pushed his throws downfield and had the best passing day of his young career, topping 300 yards for the first time in seven career starts. McMillan was his favorite target, becoming the first Washington pass catcher with 10 or more receptions since Andre Baccellia had 12 in the 2019 Rose Bowl against Ohio State. McMillian had a 33-yard TD catch early in the second quarter that gave Washington a 28-0 lead.
Sean McGrew had touchdown runs of 13 and 2 yards after not playing in the first two games. Morris also threw a 13-yard TD to Cade Otton, the first of four straight possessions that ended in Huskies touchdowns after going three-and-out on their opening possession and receiving a chorus of boos. Morris capped his day with a 42-yard TD to Terrell Bynum early in the fourth quarter.
Washington also had a 72-yard fumble return for a score by Bralen Trice in the fourth quarter.
The offensive outburst will be a brief reprieve for embattled offensive coordinator John Donovan after the lethargic offensive performance in the first two games. But the real test of whether Washington has been able to make a dramatic change will come when Pac-12 play begins next week.
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