UW Unveils Familiar Look ‘Wazzuesque’ Attack Dominates Arizona

Brock Huard had a catchy name for this new University of Washington offense, though it’s not one that’s likely to find its way onto T-shirts around Montlake.

“It’s kind of Wazzuesque,” Huard said of the four- and five-receiver offense the Huskies unveiled Saturday in pounding the host Arizona Wildcats 58-28 in front of a stunned 50,585 at Arizona Stadium.

That Washington State-style offense almost was upstaged by two huge plays turned in by the Huskies’ special teams and defense - Ja’Warren Hooker’s 89-yard return of the opening kickoff for a touchdown and Jermaine Smith’s 91-yard return of an interception for another score.

Combined with a bend-but-don’t-break defense, the Huskies produced the kind of all-around effort that hadn’t been seen since they dismantled Brigham Young in the opener seven weeks ago.

Washington took a 41-14 halftime lead, scored on its first drive of the second half, and then coasted to an easy victory in a game that looked dangerous after Arizona had knocked off Stanford a week ago.

“It would have been interesting to keep all those engines running the whole game,” Huard said, referring to the fact that UW’s starters spent most of the last 20 minutes on the bench. “I think we could have put a lot on the board. But 58 wasn’t bad.”

Fittingly, the victory enabled the Huskies to keep pace with Washington State in the Run for the Roses as the No. 10 Huskies improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Pacific-10 play. Wazzu, meanwhile, beat California 63-37 to go 6-0, 4-0.

While it was the spread offense that won the game for UW, it was Hooker’s return that set the tone for the day.

A Parent’s Day crowd on a sparkling, 85-degree afternoon had barely settled in when Hooker took the opening kickoff on the left sideline, saw a hole cleared through the middle by a Jerome Pathon block, then dashed down the right sideline untouched.

It was the first time that Hooker - generally acclaimed as the greatest sprinter in state history after a standout career at Ellensburg High - had touched the ball as a collegian.

“They didn’t come out with the same fire after that,” Huard said of the Wildcats.

Indeed. Arizona failed to move on its first possession and the Huskies took over on their own 17.

On second down, Huard found Fred Coleman deep over the middle for 48 yards, eventually setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Rashaan Shehee.

Arizona scored to make it briefly appear a contest. But the Huskies then went full-fledged into their new spread attack, with Huard hitting Coleman for a 39-yard TD pass late in the first quarter to make it 21-7.

The Huskies added the spread offense in practice this week, deciding it would be foolish to try to beat Arizona’s strength, which is its run defense and interior line.

UW had used a similar game plan in beating Arizona 31-17 at Husky Stadium last year as Huard threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns. He likely could have matched those totals Saturday, but didn’t need to, finishing 13 for 25 for 207 yards and three touchdowns.

“We knew it was better to go that way than to try pounding them underneath,” said UW coach Jim Lambright. “Plus the matchups we had, we felt we had a pretty good advantage (throwing the ball).”

The offense caught the Wildcats off guard.

“They did a great job with the no-back,” said Arizona coach Dick Tomey. “It was something they hadn’t shown a lot of. It made it a man-to-man game and they were better than we were.”

A 6-yard pass from Huard to Pathon made it 28-7 early in the second quarter. Arizona then threatened again, driving to the UW 9-yard line.

The Wildcats then tried to get tricky, putting in backup quarterback Keith Smith at running back. Smith took a handoff, went around the right end, then turned and lofted a pass back to quarterback Ortege Jenkins.

But UW cornerback Jermaine Smith intercepted the pass and ran untouched for a touchdown and a 34-7 lead.

Any thoughts that Arizona might rally in the second half were quickly ended when Shehee broke for a 62-yard TD on UW’s second play of the third quarter to make it 48-14.

The Huskies kept the ball on the ground the rest of the way, and piled up 254 rushing yards in all.

Washington 58, Arizona 28

Washington 21 20 14 3 - 58

Arizona 7 7 7 7 - 28

Was-Hooker 89 kickoff return (Lentz kick), 14:44.

Was-Shehee 1 run (Lentz kick), 9:10.

Ari-Eafon 11 run (McDonald kick), 3:49.

Was-Coleman 39 pass from Huard (Lentz kick), 1:31.

Was-Pathon 6 pass from Huard (Lentz kick), 13;14.

Was-Je.Smith 91 interception return (kick failed), 8:49.

Ari-Eafon 6 run (McDonald kick), 3:28.

Was-Brigham 3 pass from Huard (Lentz kick), :16.

Was-Shehee 62 run (Lentz kick), 12:30.

Ari-Eafon 4 run (McDonald kick), 10:07.

Was-Shaw 6 run (Lentz kick), :52.

Ari-Williams 32 pass from Jenkins (McDonald kick), 14:02.

Was-FG Lentz 26, 7:49.

A-50,585.

Was Ari First downs 19 26 Rushes-yards 43-254 38-97 Passing 218 348 Comp-Att-Int 14-27-0 22-47-2 Return Yards 143 0 Punts-Avg. 7-46.3 9-43.1 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1 Penalties-Yards 11-89 8-60 Time of Possession 29:53 30:07

RUSHING-Washington, Shehee 15-136, Shaw 13-53, Tuiasosopo 3-22, Harris 6-20, Huard 2-18, Conniff 4-5. Arizona, Eafon 23-140, Hinton 5-2, Myles 1-0, K. Smith 1-(minus 6), Jenkins 8-(minus 39).

PASSING-Washington, Huard 13-25-0-207, Tuiasosopo 1-2-0-11. Jenkins 22-46-1-348, K. Smith 0-1-1-0.

RECEIVING-Washington, Coleman 5-132, Pathon 4-53, Shehee 3-19, Reddick 1-11, Brigham 1-3. Arizona, Northcutt 10-135, Brennan 4-67, Williams 4-62, Lucky 1-44, Eafon 1-19, K. Smith 1-11, Hinton 1-10.