Polk scores five TDs to carry Huskies past Arizona
SEATTLE – In a game that often seemed to stretch the bounds of convention, it was the Huskies who finally found some firm footing Saturday night.
Washington used five touchdowns by Chris Polk to rally in the fourth quarter and subdue the Arizona Wildcats, 42-31, in a wild affair in front of 59,825 at Husky Stadium.
Polk scored on a 5-yard run with 8:21 remaining to put the Huskies ahead 35-31 then scored another on a 2-yard run with 3:59 left to put the game away for good.
The Huskies fell behind early 10-0, appeared ready to break the game open in the third quarter before a bizarre 91-yard interception return by Arizona swung things back the way of the Wildcats, then finally pulled away.
After Polk’s run put UW ahead, Arizona had broken into Husky territory with 7:14 left when Juron Criner fumbled and Washington’s Princeton Fuimaono at midfield.
UW then drove easily for another Polk touchdown to end the suspense.
UW improved to 6-2 on the season and clinched bowl eligibility for the second straight season under third-year coach Steve Sarkisian.
Polk topped the 100-yard mark in both receiving and rushing for what was believed to be the first time in school history.
Polk’s go-ahead touchdown was set up by a 48-yard pass from Keith Price to Kasen Williams, a true freshman who made the biggest play of his young Husky career. Johnson caught the ball over the middle then broke a tackle to take the ball to the 21.
A game that was strange throughout grew stranger in the third quarter when Arizona tied it up on a play as wacky as the old stadium has likely seen.
UW, leading 21-13, seemed ready to take control of the game when Price threw a pass to James Johnson deep in Arizona territory. But Johnson bobbled the ball right into the hands of Arizona safety Robert Golden, who grabbed it, then bobbed and weaved his way across the field, breaking three tackles in the process, and eventually breaking free down the left side and into the end zone.
A two-point pass then tied the game with 10:40 remaining in the third quarter.
The Huskies momentarily regained control with a 12-play, 76-yard drive capped by a 1-yard run by Polk to go back ahead 28-21 with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter.
But Arizona came right back as Arizona QB Nick Foles completed four straight passes, the final a 9-yarder to Criner for a TD to tie the game – the drive was helped by a personal foul penalty on Nate Fellner for a hard hit on Dan Buckner, a flag that drew the wrath of the crowd – one of several controversial calls on the night.
After a UW three-and-out, Arizona then took the lead at the 14:10 mark of the fourth quarter on a 24-yard field goal by John Bonano to make it 31-28.
UW drove into Arizona territory but a Price pass was intercepted by Arizona’s Trevin Wade at the Husky 29 with just more than 12 minutes left – a career-high three picks for Price.
But the much-maligned Husky defense forced a three-and-out and UW got the ball back at its 19 with 10:41 remaining and drove for the go-ahead score.
Polk, UW’s do-everything tailback, had four catches for 100 yards and 144 yards on 34 carries.
Price was 16 for 30 for 277 yards and one touchdown, with three interceptions, two off tipped or bobbled passes.
| Arizona | 10 | 3 | 15 | 3 | — | 31 |
| Washington | 0 | 14 | 14 | 14 | — | 42 |
UA—FG Bonano 36
UA—Criner 24 pass from Foles (Bonano kick)
UW—Je.Kearse 6 run (Folk kick)
UA—FG Bonano 47
UW—Polk 1 run (Folk kick)
UW—Polk 17 pass from Price (Folk kick)
UA—Golden 91 interception return (Douglas pass from Foles)
UW—Polk 1 run (Folk kick)
UA—Criner 9 pass from Foles (Bonano kick)
UA—FG Bonano 24
UW—Polk 5 run (Folk kick)
UW—Polk 2 run (Folk kick)
A—59,825.
| UA | UW | |
| First downs | 25 | 24 |
| Rushes-yards | 19-36 | 43-179 |
| Passing | 388 | 310 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 32-50-3 | 17-31-3 |
| Return Yards | 89 | 14 |
| Punts-Avg. | 4-37.3 | 4-41.0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 2-1 | 0-0 |
| Penalties-Yards | 6-56 | 8-73 |
| Time of Possession | 27:43 | 32:17 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Arizona, Antolin 9-27, Carey 4-14, D.Jenkins 1-4, Tutogi 2-3, Foles 3-(minus 12). Washington, Polk 34-144, Callier 2-12, Sankey 1-9, Price 4-9, Je.Kearse 1-6, Team 1-(minus 1).
PASSING—Arizona, Foles 32-50-3-388. Washington, Price 16-30-3-277, Aguilar 1-1-0-33.
RECEIVING—Arizona, Criner 11-118, Crump 6-55, Roberts 4-57, Douglas 4-48, Carey 2-63, Buckner 2-27, Antolin 2-8, A.Hill 1-12. Washington, Polk 4-100, Je.Kearse 4-59, Williams 2-60, K.Smith 2-34, Aguilar 2-26, Johnson 1-16, Seferian-Jenkins 1-14, Campbell 1-1.