UW vs. Stanford, the ugly aftermath
Sunday, September 28, 2008 | 11:48 am
There's no good way to spin last night's game for the Huskies. It was bad on a lot of levels. Quarterback Jake Locker is out for a while with a broken thumb, and the team's bowl hopes, and well as coach Tyrone Willingham's future here, look bleak.
Since the game was so late, our online coverage is a little better than what you saw in today's paper. Here's the game story and here's a sidebar looking at the Huskies continuing defensive struggles.
Also, we had a notebook that was supposed to run online, but for some reason I couldn't get it to post last night, so here's what it looked like. And hopefully we'll get it on the web today.
By Rich Myhre and John Boyle
Herald Writers
SEATTLE -- Don’t be surprised if the University of Washington introduces a new face on defense for next Saturday’s road game against Arizona.
Would you believe Jake Locker starting at safety against the Wildcats? It could happen.
Locker, Washington’s starting quarterback last season and through the first four games in 2008, suffered a broken thumb while throwing a block on a reverse running play in Saturday’s game against Stanford. Locker watched the second half in street clothes on the UW sideline.
And while the talented sophomore can’t throw a pass with a cast on his throwing hand, he could possibly play in the defensive secondary, where he excelled as a high school athlete. In fact, former UW defensive coordinator Kent Baer once called Locker the best high school safety prospect he had ever seen.
That, factored in with the injuries that have decimated the Huskies at the safety position—Victor Aiyewa, Darin Harris and Jason Well were all unavailable again this week—makes the idea of Locker in the defensive backfield seem like a realistic option.
So does Locker, who was not available to talk to the media after Saturday’s game, want to play defense?
“There’s a rumor going around that he’s already said that,” said UW offensive coordinator Tim Lappano.
With his speed, running ability and toughness, Locker could probably play tailback, too.
“But he can’t play tailback with a cast on his hand,” Lappano pointed out. “But he’d do something. He would.”
So will it happen? “That’s (head coach Tyrone Willingham’s) call,” said Lappano with a smile.
Locker was evidently hurt throwing a block for wide receiver Jordan Polk on a reverse midway through the second quarter. After the play, Lappano -- who was on the sideline -- noticed Locker favoring his hand.
“It’s just a freak thing,” Lappano said. “But you know him, he’s going to (throw a block). I think he thought, ‘If I throw a block there, (Polk) is going to score.’”
Northwest native: In something of a homecoming game, Tacoma product Tavita Pritchard completed 16 of 24 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns as Stanford’s starting quarterback. The junior from Clover Park High School also rushed four times for 12 yards.
“This was his best night as a quarterback here at Stanford,” said Cardinal head coach Jim Harbaugh. “He had one heck of a game.”
Prichard not only enjoyed the game, but the chance to see several family and friends. And, he said, a return to the Northwest scenery.
“It’s great to come back to Washington,” Pritchard said. “It’s clean air up here. I love it up here. When I flew in here and saw all the green, I was telling these guys it’s God’s country up here. It’s beautiful. I love coming back up.”
Career nights: Apparently playing Washington is good for opposing offensive players, as several members of Stanford’s offense achieved career highs Saturday. Fifth-year senior Anthony Kimble gained a career-high 157 yards on 15 carries, and had a career-long run of 83 yards.
Pritchard’s three touchdowns were a career high, while his 16 completions and 222 yards were season highs. His 61-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin was the longest pass play of Prichard’s career, and that play also marked Baldwin’s first touchdown and career-long catch.
Two new starters: The Huskies made a couple of changes to the starting lineup on defense, going with Matt Houston instead of Josh Gage at linebacker, and Tripper Johnson instead of Johri Fogerson at free safety.
Fogerson has been slowed by an ankle injury, which is why Johnson got the start, though Fogerson did play.
Houston apparently simply overtook Gage for the linebacker job.
"Matt Houston had been alternating with Josh Gage for a couple of weeks, and we thought he was probably playing just a little bit better, but we still intend to work both of those guys in," Willingham said.
Since the game was so late, our online coverage is a little better than what you saw in today's paper. Here's the game story and here's a sidebar looking at the Huskies continuing defensive struggles.
Also, we had a notebook that was supposed to run online, but for some reason I couldn't get it to post last night, so here's what it looked like. And hopefully we'll get it on the web today.
By Rich Myhre and John Boyle
Herald Writers
SEATTLE -- Don’t be surprised if the University of Washington introduces a new face on defense for next Saturday’s road game against Arizona.
Would you believe Jake Locker starting at safety against the Wildcats? It could happen.
Locker, Washington’s starting quarterback last season and through the first four games in 2008, suffered a broken thumb while throwing a block on a reverse running play in Saturday’s game against Stanford. Locker watched the second half in street clothes on the UW sideline.
And while the talented sophomore can’t throw a pass with a cast on his throwing hand, he could possibly play in the defensive secondary, where he excelled as a high school athlete. In fact, former UW defensive coordinator Kent Baer once called Locker the best high school safety prospect he had ever seen.
That, factored in with the injuries that have decimated the Huskies at the safety position—Victor Aiyewa, Darin Harris and Jason Well were all unavailable again this week—makes the idea of Locker in the defensive backfield seem like a realistic option.
So does Locker, who was not available to talk to the media after Saturday’s game, want to play defense?
“There’s a rumor going around that he’s already said that,” said UW offensive coordinator Tim Lappano.
With his speed, running ability and toughness, Locker could probably play tailback, too.
“But he can’t play tailback with a cast on his hand,” Lappano pointed out. “But he’d do something. He would.”
So will it happen? “That’s (head coach Tyrone Willingham’s) call,” said Lappano with a smile.
Locker was evidently hurt throwing a block for wide receiver Jordan Polk on a reverse midway through the second quarter. After the play, Lappano -- who was on the sideline -- noticed Locker favoring his hand.
“It’s just a freak thing,” Lappano said. “But you know him, he’s going to (throw a block). I think he thought, ‘If I throw a block there, (Polk) is going to score.’”
Northwest native: In something of a homecoming game, Tacoma product Tavita Pritchard completed 16 of 24 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns as Stanford’s starting quarterback. The junior from Clover Park High School also rushed four times for 12 yards.
“This was his best night as a quarterback here at Stanford,” said Cardinal head coach Jim Harbaugh. “He had one heck of a game.”
Prichard not only enjoyed the game, but the chance to see several family and friends. And, he said, a return to the Northwest scenery.
“It’s great to come back to Washington,” Pritchard said. “It’s clean air up here. I love it up here. When I flew in here and saw all the green, I was telling these guys it’s God’s country up here. It’s beautiful. I love coming back up.”
Career nights: Apparently playing Washington is good for opposing offensive players, as several members of Stanford’s offense achieved career highs Saturday. Fifth-year senior Anthony Kimble gained a career-high 157 yards on 15 carries, and had a career-long run of 83 yards.
Pritchard’s three touchdowns were a career high, while his 16 completions and 222 yards were season highs. His 61-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin was the longest pass play of Prichard’s career, and that play also marked Baldwin’s first touchdown and career-long catch.
Two new starters: The Huskies made a couple of changes to the starting lineup on defense, going with Matt Houston instead of Josh Gage at linebacker, and Tripper Johnson instead of Johri Fogerson at free safety.
Fogerson has been slowed by an ankle injury, which is why Johnson got the start, though Fogerson did play.
Houston apparently simply overtook Gage for the linebacker job.
"Matt Houston had been alternating with Josh Gage for a couple of weeks, and we thought he was probably playing just a little bit better, but we still intend to work both of those guys in," Willingham said.
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