> ## 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. # Huskies Retain Apple Cup With Sloppy 24-10 Win vs. Washington State - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/washington-huskies-retain-apple-cup-sloppy-win-washington-state-cougars/ - Published: 2026-09-07T02:22:30.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:13:29.000Z - Author: Aaron Coe - Tags: Game Day, Analysis, Jedd Fisch, Apple Cup, Demond Williams Jr., Jacob Manu, Rashid Williams, Huskies Football SEATTLE, Wash. — It lacked the offensive outburst the Washington Huskies expected, but the Apple Cup trophy will stay in Seattle this year. Washington pulled away from an outcome that was in doubt until the final minutes for a 24-10 victory to secure the second straight win over the Washington State Cougars after head coach Jedd Fisch lost his first attempt in 2024\. “Washington State had a really good plan, played really hard, did a nice job,” Washington head coach Jedd Fisch said. “Very challenging week one to really make sure that we kind of knew what we wanted to get done. We felt like we didn't play at the level we would like to play at, but we also are very happy with the victory.” It was a relatively sloppy game in front of an announced crowd of 71,056 for the Huskies, who committed 12 penalties for 130 yards, extending WSU drives with two unsportsmanlike conduct calls. In addition, second-year safety Rylon Dillard-Allen committed two personal fouls and was ejected for targeting. A mostly dominant performance by the UW defense was overshadowed by undisciplined play and an uneven afternoon by the offense in the season opener for both teams. The Huskies compiled 403 yards — thanks to 143 combined on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives — but came away empty-handed several times early on. “I don't think we started the way we wanted to for sure, but it's really just going back to the drawing board, understanding our preparation,” said quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who completed 24 of 35 pass attempts for 268 yards and a TD. “When we needed it the most, you know that 10-7 ballgame and being able to respond in back-to-back drives and understanding that. I mean, I think it just speaks volumes of our team.” For much of the game, it seemed like the Huskies defense would be enough on Sunday to push the UW’s record to 78-34-6 in the rivalry that started in 1900. The Cougars struggled to move the ball with former UC-Davis quarterback Caden Pinnick, who lost 70-10 to Washington last season. Yet there he was, faking a pitch and running 11 yards up the middle for a touchdown to close the gap to 10-7 with 10:15 remaining to cap an eight-play, 51-yard drive. Williams responded with two big pass plays — a 29-yard pass to Chris Lawson and a 44-yard flea-flicker pass to Rashid Williams that was originally called a 46-yard TD. Two plays later, Demond Williams Jr. threw his lone TD pass of the game, a 1-yarder to Rashid Williams. It was the first score in Husky Stadium for the receiver who missed most of last season with a pair of injuries. “I think he played great the whole game,” Fisch said. “Rashid was awesome today, so I'm glad that he was rewarded with a touchdown. The thought process going into the game was that we're going to be able to find him in numerous different ways, target him in certain past concepts that were really conducive to his skill set. So I'm glad to see that it landed in the end zone and he got that touchdown.” WSU kicker Jack Stevens missed his first two field goals on Sunday, but his 42-yarder with 4:33 to go pulled the Cougars within a TD once again, 17-10\. Washington appeared to be stalling again on the ensuing drive, when a false start by freshman left tackle Kodi Green put the Huskies in a third-and-9 situation from their own 33\. Demond Williams Jr. dropped back, then scrambled as two Cougars converged. He wriggled free and gained 21 yards, and two plays later the Huskies regained control. Williams found Chris Lawson for a 35-yard gain to set up Jayden Limar’s 11-yard TD rumble for a commanding 24-10 lead with 2:25 remaining. With WSU containing Washington’s running game for much of the day, Fisch called aggressive pass plays in the fourth quarter. “I was like, you know, if we play this wrong, we're going to end up punting with two minutes left in a seven-point game, and I didn't want to play like that,” Fisch said of the shot to Lawson, who filled in with four catches for a team-high 87 yards when starting X receiver Christian Moss left with an injury early. “I felt like we were going to get a one-on-one matchup.” Early on, the Washington defense ruled. The Huskies blanked WSU for three quarters, holding the Cougars to 242 total yards in the Apple Cup. It was three turnovers, though, that cost the Cougars in a game that was still in doubt until late. “Yeah, I think it just comes in practice attacking the football,” said fourth-year safety Alex McLaughlin, who spurned the Cougars late by intercepting a Pinnock pass. “I think Coach Walt (defensive coordinator Ryan Walters) and every position coach just harps on taking the ball away because we know when we give the ball back to our offense, how explosive they can be.” Freshman cornerback Jeron Jones, who started at slot and also played outside, intercepted a pass that was tipped by freshman defensive lineman Derek Colman-Brusa. That set up a 21-yard drive capped by Demond Williams Jr.’s 5-yard TD run that ended with a leap inside the pylon. He finished with 61 yards on the ground. Edge Isaiah Ward also forced and recovered a Cougars fumble. While the freshman, including edge Ramzak Fruean, made an immediate statement, it was senior linebacker Jacob Manu who led the team with 11 tackles (seven solo), including a sack. Manu played in just four regular season games last year as he recovered from a 2024 knee injury and made sure he could play a fifth season. “I feel like we looked pretty clean, but there's definitely work we could do,” Manu said. “I feel like they had too many yards rushing and passing, but there's stuff we could work on. “I felt like it was just the first game of jitters. You know, after that, we kind of settled in.”