Seferian-Jenkins, Sankey lead UW past Cal

BERKELEY, Calif. — After going more than a year without a road win, University of Washington football coach Steve Sarkisian had his players wear suits on the plane to drive home the message that this was a business trip.

The play on the field may not have looked as good as the players did on the plane but the result did.

Bishop Sankey ran for a career-high 189 yards and two touchdowns and Washington overcame four turnovers and 12 penalties for its first road win in 13 months, 21-13 over California on Friday night.

“That was the whole message,” quarterback Keith Price said. “We’re not here for vacation. A lot of guys were home back here playing. That’s not what we were here for. We were here to get a win and we did that.”

Austin Seferian-Jenkins caught eight passes for 154 yards and a touchdown for the Huskies (5-4, 3-3 Pac-12), who had been outscored 145-41 in three road games this season and had lost six straight away games since beating Utah on Oct. 1, 2011.

The Golden Bears (3-7, 2-5) lost for the fourth time in six games at their renovated stadium and are assured of missing out on a bowl for the second time in three seasons. That will only raise more questions about the status of coach Jeff Tedford, who has a 23-25 record since the start of the 2009 season.

“It is not something we’re used to,” Tedford said. “You work very hard, so it is always disappointing to not be able to play in the postseason. It does not happen to us often and it’s not a good feeling.”

Cal played the game without injured star receiver Keenan Allen and then lost starting quarterback Zach Maynard to a left knee injury late in the fourth quarter. Allen might not be back this season, while Maynard was scheduled to undergo an MRI and his status was unknown.

Backup Allan Bridgford drove the Bears to the UW 25 with just over a minute left but he missed C.J. Anderson down the sideline on fourth-and-five to end Cal’s hopes and send the Huskies home happy.

Each team had four turnovers in a sloppy game, including three lost fumbles in a span of six plays early in the fourth quarter. An interception on the next drive helped seal the win for Washington.

Freshman Shaq Thompson intercepted a pass by Maynard near midfield and returned it 33 yards to the Cal 28. Making that play even more painful for the Bears was the fact that Thompson originally committed to Cal before changing his mind when top recruiter Tosh Lupoi left for Washington just weeks before signing day.

Sankey ran four straight plays and scored from 1-yard out to give the Huskies a 21-13 lead.

“We knew we had to close it out and we knew we were on their side of the field,” Sankey said. “It was on the O-line’s back and on the running game and I feel like we did a great job with that.”

Washington needs just one win in its final three games against the bottom teams in the conference, Utah, Colorado and Washington State, to become bowl eligible.

Cal settled for field goals twice in the third quarter after driving deep into Washington territory, which proved costly when Seferian-Jenkins made a leaping grab over the smaller Steve Williams for a 29-yard score on third-and-goal to give the Huskies a 14-13 lead in the final minute of the third quarter.

The score remained 14-13 when Cal failed to capitalize on another good chance. Maynard overthrew an open Chris Harper in the end zone and D’Amato missed wide right from 41 yards, ending a streak of 11 straight makes

.

“I don’t think we executed all of our plays like we were supposed to,” Harper said. “We had a couple of drops and fumbles. All of the turnovers, we need to try to eliminate them. When we’re close to the zone we need to have the mentality that we have to get in.”

Both teams had little trouble moving the ball in the first half but struggled to get it into the end zone. Washington scored on Sankey’s 4-yard run on its second drive of the game but came up empty on three other trips into Cal territory. Sankey was stopped on fourth-and-one twice in the first half and Price was intercepted by Nick Forbes in the closing seconds on third-and-five from the 9.

The Bears also squandered good scoring chances with Isi Sofele losing a fumble at the Washington 21 on their first drive of the game and Brendan Bigelow losing a fumble at the 11 on the second drive.

Cal scored late in the second quarter on Harper’s 14-yard reverse on a drive extended by a personal foul on UW’s Danny Shelton on third-and-long.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Silvertips’ Kaden Hammell (47) enters the rink during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Patterson: Overachieving Silvertips had season worth celebrating

In a season when some thought the team’s playoff streak could end, Everett put together one of its greatest campaigns.

Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, center, watches players on the first day of NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington hires AD Chun away from rival Washington State

UW quickly targeted its in-state rival’s athletic director after Troy Dannen’s sudden departure.

Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger hits a single against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 11, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Why the Mariners could win the AL West, and what could hold them back

Starting pitching, a renovated offense and regression in the AL West are in Seattle’s favor, but injury issues, bullpen concerns and the Houston Astros could be a problem.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.