San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
DEFENSE LIFTS WASHINGTON TO 10-0 RECORD
For all the attention quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has deservedly received this season, it was the oftmaligned defense for No. 5 Washington that showed up for the final 30 minutes on Saturday and left the Huskies sitting at 10-0 for only the second time in school history.
Penix threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and Washington pitched a shutout in the second half to rally for a 35-28 win over No. 18 Utah.
The Huskies (10-0, 7-0 Pac-12) extended the second-longest active win streak in the nation to 17 games and stayed in the middle of the College Football Playoff conversation. The only other time Washington reached the 10-0 mark came in 1991, when the Huskies claimed a share of the national title with Miami.
“It's all the work we've put in. We're right where we saw ourselves at. We just have to continue to keep working,” Penix said. “We've got two more in the regular season to
Washington CB Dominique Hampton (7) grabs an interception against Utah receiver Mikey Matthews. try and finish off with two more wins, go 12-0, and it's right there in front of us.”
Penix wasn't at his best on a blustery day on the shore of Lake Washington. But he made enough big plays in the pass game and allowed Washington's defense to make key adjustments at halftime after being
unable to slow down the Utes (7-3, 4-3) in the first half.
Washington watched Utah score touchdowns on four straight possessions at one point of the first half. In the second half, Utah had six possessions and crossed midfield only once.
“We know we we didn't come out and play our best brand of football in the first half. But that's how it should be every game. We should come out and play like we did in the second half every game,” Washington cornerback Jabbar Muhammad said.
Penix hit Rome Odunze on both of his touchdown throws, and ran for a 2-yard TD in the first quarter. Penix was 24 of 42 passing for 332 yards. Odunze had three catches for 111 yards and Dillon Johnson rushed for 104 yards a week after running for 256 yards against USC.
“We knew coming into this game that it was going to be the most physical team was going to win this game and we were the most physical team,” Johnson said.
Washington took a 33-28 lead on Penix's 33-yard touchdown pass to Odunze in the third quarter and appeared on the verge of extending the lead only to see linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala return an interception 76 yards before dropping the ball at the 1yard line on his way into the end zone. Washington ended up getting a safety on the next play and had a 35-28 lead after three quarters.