> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # No Hangover for Huskies in 49-13 Pummeling of Purdue - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/no-hangover-for-huskies-in-49-13-pummeling-of-purdue/ - Published: 2025-11-16T05:56:54.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:57:15.000Z - Author: Aaron Coe - Tags: Huskies, Washington Football, Jedd Fisch, Demond Williams Jr., Raiden Vines-Bright, Adam Mohammed, Jordan Washington, Ryan Walters, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, Xe'ree Alexander [Embed from Getty Images](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2246888853?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) SEATTLE, Wash. — The potential playoff party ended in Wisconsin last week, but there was no hangover for the Washington Huskies on Saturday. UW crushed Purdue 49-13, rebounding from a 13-10 disappointment at Camp Randall a week earlier. The Huskies’ offense, missing running back Jonah Coleman, receiver Denzel Boston and two starting offensive linemen, operated against the Boilermakers with surgical precision. A week after everything went wrong in a third loss that essentially eliminated Washington from College Football Playoff consideration, everything bounced UW’s way on Saturday. No Coleman, no problem against the Boilermakers. Third-string Jordan Washington gained 108 yards on five carries, which included a 68-yard TD run. The redshirt freshman’s run was the longest of the season for UW, which compiled 506 yards Saturday. “Everybody knows he has top-notch speed,” quarterback Demond Williams Jr. said. “You give him a crease, he can take it to the house. "I think he showed that today, and he’s going to continue to get even better each week.” Sophomore Adam Mohammed punished Purdue inside and at the goal line, finishing with three touchdown runs among his 17 totes for 59 yards to help open up a strong passing game that appeared broken last week. “Proud of our guys,” said Washington coach Jedd Fisch, whose team improved to 7-3 (4-3 Big Ten) to take a step up from last year’s 6-7 record in his first season. “Thought our guys played exceptionally well today. A lot of the young guys that were playing were guys that had to step up. It’s fun to watch.” ### Quarterback Bounceback Sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. showed no ill effects after a tough game in Madison, Wis. In front of a Husky Stadium crowd, Williams completed 16 of 19 passes for 257 yards and two TDs. The Boilermakers were unable to sack Williams despite a reconfigured UW offensive line. “I thought our quarterback played exceptionally well,” Fisch said. “… It’s not easy to score 49 points in this conference.” Purdue, which fell to 2-9 overall and lost its 17th straight conference game, attempted to take away Williams’ running lanes, which helped Washington’s other runners gain 189 yards. ### Offensive Line Musical Chairs Playing one of the two winless teams in Big Ten play, Washington dominated despite two new starters on the offensive line, plus significant playing time for a third new piece. True freshman John Mills got his first start at right tackle after nine games at left guard. Redshirt freshman Paki Finau, who played some right tackle at Wisconsin after an injury to Drew Azzopardi and ineffectiveness from Soane Faasolo, moved into Mills’ vacated left guard spot. Zachary Henning filled in for center Landen Hatchett, who was out with a cast on his snapping hand. Henning sent the ball high off Williams’ hands twice, one of which resulted in Washington’s lone turnover. The sophomore seemed to settle in as the game went along. True freshman Champ Taulealea also rotated in at right guard for several series, taking the place of senior Geirean Hatchett. Despite the changes, there were no procedural penalties by the line, and UW finished with four penalties for 50 yards as a team. The biggest change was the move of Mills, who just turned 18 a month ago. “He was a high school tackle, and he came in here with the expectation to play,” Fisch said. “And that’s the best part about John. He just wanted to go in. He didn’t care if it was guard or tackle or whatever it might be when he arrived.” Fisch approached Mills early in the week to discuss the move. “I just went up to him and I said, ‘Hey, I think our best move right now is to move you out to right tackle and let Paki settle in at left guard,’ Fisch said. “And he was like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s go.’ No pause at all, and I thought he handled it exceptionally well all week in practice.” ### Defense Wins for Walters Washington’s defense has been solid all season long, allowing 27 or fewer points in all 10 games. Saturday provided some extra motivation, as UW’s first-year defensive coordinator Ryan Walters coached against the team that fired him last season after two years as the Boilermakers’ head coach. Linebacker Xe’Ree Alexander, holding his game ball after leading the Huskies with 1.5 tackles for loss among his eight stops — including two on first-quarter fourth down by Purdue — was happy they could get it done for his coach. “Amazing,” Alexander said. “He won a game ball today, too, the way he led us to victory.” Fisch smiled coyly when he was asked about how Walters felt about the win. “I don’t think I’m going to answer that question,” Fisch said. “Take a guess.” > [#Huskies](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Huskies?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) linebacker Xe’ree Alexander shows off his interview skills with questions for true freshman Zaydrius Rainey-Sale after UW’s 49-13 win over Pursue. [pic.twitter.com/1FLlRDDuod](https://t.co/1FLlRDDuod?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— Aaron Coe (@Coe\_Aaron) [November 16, 2025](https://twitter.com/Coe%5FAaron/status/1989910249730650526?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) True freshman linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, UW’s highest-ranked recruit in the 2025 class, made a leaping interception one play before Washington’s 68-yard run as his playing time increases each week. Rainey-Sale missed the early part of a season after ACL surgery stemming from an injury at Bethel H.S. (Tacoma, Wash.) during his senior year, but appears fully ready to become an integral part of the UW defense. “Them long days, long nights prepared me for this,” said Rainey-Sale, who also tallied six tackles. “And just keeping my head down and continuing to work every day. That’s what led me to this point — very thankful.” ### Special Teams Rebounds On the game’s opening kickoff, it looked like it might be another tough night for special teams, which suffered multiple issues at Wisconsin. The Huskies let the opening kickoff hit the Husky Stadium turn at the 5-yard line, but Mohammed was able to get it out to the 25\. For the rest of the game, Washington called fair catch for all kickoffs and punts until late in the game. Punting has been an issue in Big Ten games this season, and that was solved by UW needing to punt only twice while rolling up 506 yards compared to just 267 for Purdue. Luke Dunne, who had a punt blocked at Wisconsin and has struggled with inconsistency, averaged 44.5 yards per kick Saturday. ### Raiden Vines-Bright Scare True freshman receiver Raiden Vines-Bright fell limp to the ground in the second quarter after a hit from Purdue’s Myles Slusher. Vines-Bright lay still for some time before being placed on a stabilizing board. An ambulance came onto the field, and he was transported to a nearby hospital, though he was alert. Just told him ‘Everything’s going to be okay,’ We got him, we were going to finish the game for him,” Williams said. Fisch said after the game that Vines-Bright was doing well. “From what I understand, everything has checked out at this point in time, fully mobile, fully awake, fully aware,” Fisch said. “… It’s always a scary moment, because it was right in front of us, you know, kind of saw the hit and then saw the reaction.”