Dawgged Determination Leads To Big Td Reception

Key play

Not even Dave Janoski could provide a satisfactory explanation.

“I wish I knew,” the Washington receiver said Saturday, trying to figure out how he turned what appeared to be an impending interception into a 42-yard touchdown catch that proved to be a pivotal play in the Huskies’ 33-30 Apple Cup victory. “I’d like to see the film on that one.”

With Washington State leading 22-15 early in the fourth quarter and UW facing third-and-15, Huskies quarterback Damon Huard went for Janoski in the end zone. Huard’s pass was risky because WSU defensive backs Brian Walker and Duane Stewart appeared to have Janoski covered on the play. Walker nearly made the interception, but the ball somehow found its way into the hands of Janoski, who made the catch as he fell on his back.

“I had the ball in my hands, but he just reached down and took it,” said Walker, a senior cornerback. “I mean, it’s a good play by him.”

The Huskies followed the TD with a two-point conversion pass for a 23-22 lead with 10:51 left in the game. WSU would not lead again.

“We had it covered,” added Stewart, a sophomore safety. “We just made a few little mistakes. We did our job. It just seemed like they got a lucky play. He was covered. The corner had him. I kind of overran it. I was supposed to be in front of the receiver.”

It was a stunning play in a game filled with momentum swings.

“First of all, it was disbelief,” Walker said. “I couldn’t believe he had it. Then it was like, they scored and now they’re ahead.”

Janoski, who riddled the Cougars for 162 yards on six catches and had two long punt returns nullified by penalties, has been known more for his skills as a possession receiver than a big-play threat.

“It’s been just the last three games,” said Janoski, who caught a 32-yard pass against UCLA last week and a 49-yarder against Oregon two weeks back. “Before that, I’ve been mainly short. Defensive backs, you know, they watch a lot of film, and so when they see that I’m doing only underneath stuff, toward the end of the season they’re going to start sitting on that.

“And so it’s nice to be able to get some calls to go deep on some guys.”

A junior, Janoski leads the Huskies with 40 catches for 557 yards and two scores.

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