Nebraska Tuneup Leaves UW Off-Key Huskies Survive Unpolished Performances In 36-3 Win Over Aztecs

The score is not entirely revealing: Washington 36, San Diego State 3.

But there’s more. Much more.

The final tally does not reveal three Husky fumbles, an off performance by running back Rashaan Shehee and a botched series near the goal line in which Washington had three plays inside the 3 but mustered only a field goal.

The score indicates San Diego State is no better than Brigham Young, which the Huskies beat by 22 points the previous week. It says lopsided victory, easy home opener, good times at Husky Stadium and bring on the Cornhuskers.

But wait. There’s more.

Before third-ranked Washington meets No. 6 Nebraska this Saturday in what will likely be the biggest football game in town in the last 10 years, there’s the matter of Washington’s inability to run.

“Down on the goal line like that, that’s a pride thing,” center Olin Kreutz said. “I don’t care how many people they have in the box. We should be able to push for 3.

“That’s got to get better… . We were complacent. Our heads weren’t into it. I don’t know why.”

Defensively, the score tells you everything you need to know about Saturday’s non-conference game. No touchdowns is a good place to start. It’s the fewest points the high-scoring Aztecs have had in 12 years. Last week, they scored 45 on Navy.

“You have to be able to run the football, no matter how skilled your wideouts are,” Aztecs coach Ted Tollner said. “If you can’t run the ball, you put too much pressure on them.”

The Aztecs couldn’t run. Not even a little bit. Their longest run was 11 yards and no running back had more than 17.

They were held to minus-7 yards rushing and BYU had just 2 yards against Washington.

Asked to comment on Washington’s suffocating defense, linebacker Jerry Jensen seemed momentarily stunned.

“What can I say,” he said, smiling.

And there really is nothing to say. The numbers do that. San Diego State had 26 rushing attempts, minus-7 yards. Washington had four sacks, one safety and held the Aztecs to 40 yards passing in the second half.

Clearly the defense is better than a week ago, better than a year ago. And it’s drawing comparisons to the Huskies that earned a share of the national championship in 1991.

“My best friend is the defense, and today they were unstoppable,” quarterback Brock Huard said. “They looked like the ‘91 defense. I remember watching some games that year when the offense didn’t play real well and the defense carried that team.

“If the defense plays like that, we’re going to have a lot of fun.”

Because of the defense, Jerome Pathon’s fumble on the opening drive wasn’t costly. And the Huskies didn’t crumble when Shehee was stripped of the ball in the third quarter.

Three of San Diego State’s first six drives ended because of turnovers. The Aztecs crossed midfield four times and three times were inside the 30, but came away with just three points.

Washington had no early answer for Aztec receiver Az-zahir Hakim, who finished with seven receptions and 108 yards. However, his fumble at the 1-yard line might have turned the game.

“That probably was the turning point,” Washington safety Tony Parrish said. “They had a lot of momentum, but then …”

Then nothing.

“At the time it was critical,” Tollner said.

The defense allowed Huard time to establish a rhythm. Against an Aztec defense intent on stopping the run, Huard passed for a career-best 313 yards and four touchdowns.

Without Shehee, who ran for 76 yards on 16 carries, Washington relied on Pathon’s career-best 182 yards and two touchdowns.

And when it was over, Washington scored four touchdowns and compiled 467 yards. Still, there was a feeling they didn’t play near their potential.

“What you see out there is good and everything, but we can be a lot better,” All-America guard Benji Olson said. “We just have to clean up some stuff. We can put a lot more points up than we are.”

MEMO: Changed from the Regional edition.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Washington 36, San Diego St. 3 San Diego St. 0 3 0 0 - 3 Washington 7 10 10 9 - 36 WashPathon 12 pass from Huard (Jones kick) 10:04 WashFG Jones 18, 12:30 WashColeman 9 pass from Huard (Jones kick) 1:42 SDSUFG Tandberg 31, 0:07. WashPathon 53 pass from Huard (Jones kick) 8:21 WashFG Jones 29, 3:19 WashSafety, Graham downed in end zone, 7:37. Wash-R.Davis 12 pass from Huard (Jones kick) 5:05 A-71,081.

SDS WASH First downs 10 20 Rushes-yards 26-(-7) 34-153 Passing 203 314 Comp-Att-Int 16-28-2 17-27-0 Return Yards 128 148 Punts-Avg. 8-38 4-42 Fumbles-Lost 4-1 3-3 Penalties-Yards 13-124 6-41 Time of Possession 28:50 31:10 RUSHING-SDSU, Evans 6-17, Watson 4-2, Graham 4-1, J.Lewis 5-(minus 3), M. Smith 3-(minus 4), McKechnie 4-(minus 20). Washington, Shaw 14-79, Shehee 16-72, J. Harris 2-4, Huard 2-(minus 2). PASSING-SDSU, McKechnie 16-28-2-203. Washington, Huard 16-26-0-313, Tuiasosapo 1-1-0-1. RECEIVING-SDSU, Hakim 7-108, T. Johnson 2-54, J. Lewis 2-15, Flick 2-11, Evans 2-3, Reyes 1-12. Washington, Pathon 8-182, Coleman 3-70, Cleeland 1-28, DeSaussure 1-17, R. Davis 1-12, Jarzynka 1-4, Riddick 1-1, Shehee 1-0.