UW’s Zach Durfee says Apple Cup loss ‘ignites a fire’ to beat WSU this year

Zach Durfee tried to move on from the 116th Apple Cup.

The Washington fifth-year edge rusher attempted to forget about watching Washington State fans celebrate at Lumen Field a year ago. Durfee wanted to flush the anger — exacerbated by his limited participation as he tried to play through the turf toe injury that eventually cost him his season.

But then, Durfee will see a video clip from Washington’s 24-19 loss and he’ll feel the frustration. The “gross feeling” bubbling under the surface. Again. It’s something he’s thought about even more as the 117th Apple Cup quickly approaches.

“It just ignites a fire in you,” Durfee said. “Makes you angry.”

Durfee and the rest of the Huskies have a chance for retribution and retaliation at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, when Washington and Washington State contest the 117th Apple Cup at Martin Stadium in Pullman. It’s a chance for UW to reinstate its superiority over The Evergreen State and expel the disappointment from the past Apple Cup’s disappointing conclusion.

When asked if his dissatisfaction after the 2024 Apple Cup is a team-wide sentiment, Durfee — a Husky captain now in his third season at Washington — responded curtly.

“It’s got to be.”

Durfee and the Huskies (2-0), who experienced the last-second loss are the ones tasked with teaching the many new arrivals on UW’s roster what the Apple Cup means to the program and the Washington fan base. Junior center Landen Hatchett, another captain and one of just 21 players who list Washington as their home state, said he’s talked to a handful of players to explain the importance of bringing the Apple Cup back to Seattle.

But that message has been paired with one about staying in control and preventing the moment from getting too big against the Cougars (2-1), Landen said. Sixth-year right guard Geirean Hatchett said most of the team can recognize the Apple Cup’s regional significance, and have experience playing in other intrastate rivalry games.

“The house is torn in half. Geirean said. Lots of people in Washington state are Wazzu fans. Lots of people are UW fans. A lot of it is just in-state rivalry stuff. I’d probably explain it like that. Just a big in-state rivalry. Always a big game, no matter what. Every year.”

And of course, losing in 2024 adds extra motivation in 2025. Geirean wasn’t part of the team a year ago. He spent the past season at Oklahoma, where he watched the Apple Cup from afar, and said he was disappointed with the loss.

Geirean, however, was on the 2022 Washington team that rebounded from its 40-13 loss in the 2021 Apple Cup to blow Washington State out 51-33 during former coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive lineman said that team used the goal of reclaiming the Apple Cup trophy as motivation for the entire 2022 season.

“We feel like it should be here no matter what,” he said, “so we’re just preparing mentally. Physically. Just playing really hard right now to just try and bring it back here to Seattle.”

Players aren’t the only ones leaning on that extra motivation entering rivalry week. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jimmie Dougherty already had a healthy understanding of the Apple Cup rivalry because of his previous stint at Washington.

Dougherty spent four seasons coaching wide receivers as part of Steve Sarkisian’s staff between 2009-12. He said he can still vividly remember Jermaine Kearse’s game-winning touchdown catch on a 27-yard pass from Jake Locker with 45 seconds remaining to clinch the 35-28 Washington win in the 2010 Apple Cup in Pullman.

Kearse’s catch clinched bowl eligibility for the Huskies, a first bowl appearance since 2002, and Dougherty said it was immediately evident how much the game meant to the fan base in the immediate aftermath.

“We know the importance of it,” he said. “All the coaches do. And we’ve done everything we can to educate our players as well.”

Dougherty acknowledged the 2024 Apple Cup was particularly devastating because of how it ended. Washington State’s goal-line stand on the 1-yard line late in the fourth quarter secured the win for the Cougars after the Huskies were unable to gain a yard on a speed-option run to the short side of the field. But Dougherty said the past year’s results don’t impact this year’s game plan, and added that he believes UW is well prepared for this year’s opportunity.

While Dougherty prepares for his sixth Apple Cup game as a coach, defensive coordinator Ryan Walters will be participating in his first. Walters said he’s looking forward to the atmosphere and environment, and added his players have practiced with an edge honed by the past year’s defeat. However, Walters said his emphasis has been on ensuring his players stay disciplined and focused on the goal ahead.

Walters’ message resonated with junior safety Alex McLaughlin. The Northern Arizona transfer will play in his first Apple Cup too, but said he’s been aware of the rivalry his whole life growing up as a college-football obsessed kid in Chandler, Ariz. McLaughlin, who started his college career playing FCS football, said he’s excited for a competitive, chippy rivalry clash.

“It’s a big game,” he said. “A trophy game. The one championship game we’re guaranteed. So we’ve got to go out there and compete.”