Washington Pulls Off Third, Huge Last-Second Upset of a Top-Ranked Team in Double Overtime
There is nothing, repeat nothing, that succeeds like success.
For the Washington Huskies, their last victory was their third trip to the top of the mountain in the past two years, and the view was indeed sweet.
Last season, it their third game under new coach Steve Sarkisian and his coaching staff of hard-working, excited motivators, the Huskies upset then 3rd-ranked Southern California 16-13 at home on a 22-yard field goal by Erik Folk with 3 seconds remaining.
That incredible finish from a team that had gone winless (0-12) the prior year, really set the tone for what is happening this season.
After being slammed 56-21 at home this year by the 6th-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers, the Huskies packed their bags and headed to LA to confront the 18th-ranked Southern Cal Trojans.
Once again, Washington pulled off a 32-31 upset with another 32-yard field goal by Erik Folk as time expired, proving that there is a world of difference between wanting to win, preparing to win, and having a NEED to win.
Arizona State rolled into Husky Stadium the following week, and once again the youth, inexperience and lack of focus by the players caught up to them as the Sun Devils won, 24-14.
But Washington refused to buckle twice in a row. A really physical, nasty Oregon State Beaver team hit Husky Stadium and was greeted with a firestorm as the Huskies jumped out to a 21-zip lead. The Beavers refused to blink, and the game ended at 21-up after a scoreless 4th quarter.
Both teams scored a touchdown in the 1st overtime, and the Huskies scored first again in the 2nd overtime on a 21-yard pass from Jake Locker to Jermaine Kearse. Jacquizz Rodgers then scored on a 2-yard run and Oregon coach Mike Riley decided to go for a 2-point conversion and the victory rather than deal with a 3rd overtime period.
Not to be outdone, the Huskies needed a play and got one from linebacker Cort Dennison, who disrupted the conversion pass to Joe Halahuni as the ball went through his hands and fell to the ground, signaling another impressive, last-second, 35-34 victory.
It is important to note that Dennison did not try to do too much defensively. He did exactly what he was supposed to do, pick up the receiver in that formation as the play developed, and he was successful in disrupting the potential winning touchdown catch.
There were enough heroes to fill a playbook, but two really stood out - Senior quarterback Jake Locker threw a career-high 5 touchdown passes, and junior wide receiver Jermaine Kearse caught a career-high 4 touchdown passes.
These three stunning victories have given the Huskies a trifecta or "hat trick" of upsets worth remembering, and have brought the Washington Huskies back into the game on a national level - it is hard to ignore teams that consistently play better than their experience and mistakes might justify.
Sark, as Steve Sarkisian has become known around the Montlake Campus, said it best: "Winning is hard... preparing to win is hard... you earn victory... it doesn't come easy." In the Husky locker room, a sign on the wall boils it down - Expect to Win.
The University of Washington football program under head coach Steve Sarkisian, defensive coordinator Nick Holt, offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and the rest of the Husky coaching staff is just getting started.
One can only guess where the Huskies will be two years from now. Wherever the Huskies are, it is almost a given that it will not be dull for long.