Rapid Reaction: Huskies Outclassed at Michigan, Lose 24-7 in Ann Arbor
The Washington Huskies football team showed once again it can compete in the Big Ten, but beating the blue bloods is another matter.
UW moved the ball at times against Michigan, but lost the turnover battle against the Wolverines, who responded to Michigan coach Sherrone Moore’s challenge to play in a more blue-collar style.
In the end, Washington fell 24-7 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The Huskies, who lost 24-6 at home to No. 1 Ohio State on Sept. 27, dropped to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. The Huskies are likely to be favored in their next four games — Illinois, at Wisconsin, Purdue and at UCLA — before the season finale against Oregon at Husky Stadium as they try to remain in the College Football Playoff conversation.
Here’s what went down as the Huskies fell at Michigan:
Demond Williams Jr. Starts Throwing Interceptions
The UW sophomore quarterback had only thrown two interceptions in 263 career attempts entering Saturday. Suddenly, he gave up two in four pass attempts as the game turned in the third quarter. The Wolverines got him a third time with 4:10 to go in the fourth quarter on a ball that went through UW receiver Denzel Boston’s hands and into the arms of Michigan defensive back Jacob Oden, who was on the ground after falling down.
A defense that had given UW a chance all day failed to respond during the game’s final 17 minutes. Williams threw his first interception to linebacker Cole Sullivan, and Michigan running back Jordan Marshall wasted no time making Washington pay. He followed the pick with a 14-yard TD run on the next play to give the Wolverines a 14-7 lead with 1:20 to go in the third.
Williams responded with 33 yards on two passes to Dezmen Roebuck and Boston, but Jimmy Rolder became the second linebacker to read Williams’ eyes for Michigan’s second interception in a span of 56 seconds of clock. Again, the defense couldn’t bail out the offense, as Michigan capped a nine-play, 62-yard drive with a wide-open 14-yard TD reception by Zach Marshall.
A game that seemed like a coin flip suddenly proved out of reach for the Huskies.
Fresh off becoming the 16th player in FBS history to pass for 400 yards and rush for 100 in a game, Williams was outgunned by true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. The Michigan signal caller completed 21 of 27 passes for 230 yards and two touchdown passes while avoiding the turnovers that plagued Washington on Saturday. Underwood, who also rushed for 25 yards, was sacked just once for a loss of five yards when UW defensive lineman Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei ran him out of bounds.
William finished with 209 yards passing on 20-for-32 passing with three picks and no TD passes. He rushed for -19 yards on five attempts, which included two sacks for -24.
Quentin Moore Injury
Washington’s sixth-year tight end went down early in the game on a UW punt. He was taken off on a stabilizing board. UW staff said he was conscious and able to move before going to the hospital for precautionary reasons.
"We'll see if we can bring him back with us, or if we'll have to leave someone here for the day,” Fisch said after the game.
Though Moore has not caught many passes this season, his blocking is key to the UW offense. Fisch has said multiple times this year that Moore is one of the best blocking tight ends he’s coached. His absence made that very clear when sophomore tight end Decker DeGraaf was blown by to set up Derrick Moore’s sack of Williams on fourth-and-3 with 8:34 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Huskies, already missing left tackle Carver Willis and left guard John Mills, struggled to block the Wolverines consistently, though Michigan recorded just two sacks — both by Moore. A UW squad that can ill afford injuries had a few more pop up on Saturday. Maximum McCree, who was backing up Willis at left tackle, is likely out for the season with a foot injury, Fisch said. Tight end Kade Eldridge also suffered a foot injury and “it didn’t look good there, either,” Fisch said.
UW, already thin at tight end with injuries to Moore and redshirt freshman Charlie Crowell, may have to lean on true freshmen Austin Simmons and Baron Naone more than ever imagined this season.
Disasters Averted Early
The Huskies initially dodged a bullet before taking many when Michigan defensive back Jyaire Hill nearly got to Williams for an early pick-6 before the Wolverines’ defense started catching everything. Michigan running back Semaj Morgan dropped a pass on fourth-and-1 that looked like a big gain, which led to an eventual miss of a 36-yard field goal attempt by Grady Gross. Those seemed like plays that might jump-start a UW offense, which showed flashes.
Washington hung in there, gaining 257 yards to Michigan’s 306 through the first three quarters. Michigan posted 111 yards in the fourth quarter, putting the game away by holding UW to -8. The Huskies, who had outscored opponents 80-10 combined in the final quarter this season, saw the inverse in Ann Arbor.
Washington Fails to Finish Early
Though the late-game woes proved most costly, UW’s third-straight slow start cost them. The Huskies drove to the Michigan 34 and then its 18 on the first two drives but got no points. A Geirean Hatchett false start set back the first drive. On the second drive, Boston split double coverage for a 48-yard gain, and might have scored if he had kept his footing after making an adjustment to catch Williams’ pass. The drive stalled, and Grady Gross went wide right on the 36-yard field goal attempt.
False starts by tight end Decker DeGraaf and right tackle Drew Azzopardi hurt Washington’s third drive. The Huskies picked up two first downs, but settled for a Dunne punt.
Williams Responds After First Sack
Though the offense failed to score points on its first three drives for the third straight week, Washington was able to pull even at 7-7 at halftime. Williams was sacked for a loss of nine yards after UW reached the Michigan 33 one play before the first-half 2-minute timeout. Williams responded with a 31-yard seed to true freshman receiver Raiden Vines-Bright.
That play set up Jonah Coleman’s 1-yard plunge, his 13th trip to the end zone this season, as the Huskies avoided being shut out in the first half. The second half proved to be another matter. Coleman couldn’t find much running room and ended the day with 16 rushes for 50 yards.
Defense Gets Things Done Early
The Huskies’ defense may not make a lot of bone-jarring, jaw-dropping plays, but it has given the UW offense a chance to win each week. Though the dam broke late in the game, Washington’s defense held Michigan to seven points in the first half. The next 17 points all came after UW turnovers.
The Wolverines finished with 417 total yards, including 40 rushes for 187.
UW’s defense, particularly along the front, is not going to be dynamic this season. It seems unlikely there’s anyone on the defense that’s going to be an All-Big-Ten type player, but as a group, the unit has done enough to compete against the likes of Ohio State and Michigan, allowing 24 points in both matchups.
