The Cougars battled, but the University of Washington ended with the win Friday at Husky Stadium. The stadium was packed with fans, both Huskies and Cougars, with an energy of rivalry in the air.
On the third-and-five of the opening drive for Washington, Darryl Paulo sacked Keith Price for a 6-yard loss, starting the momentum for the Cougars off strong. Yards were held down on both sides throughout the first half, but the Cougars took advantage of some momentum in the first half to jump to a 10-3 lead at the break on a Halliday to Rickey Galvin touchdown.
Keith Price threw for two turnovers in the first half but Bishop Sankey slowly turned the tide in the second half. the two UW All-Americans Sankey and Austin Seferian-Jenkins made big plays for touchdowns that gave the Dawgs a 20-10 lead going to the 4th. Price also rebounded nicely and played a near-flawless half of football.
Halliday led the charge back, pulling the Cougs within three, but towards the late stages of the 4th quarter threw an interception at 20-17 Huskies, and caused a change in momentum that was not in the Cougs’ favor. Halliday ended the night with two touchdowns, two interceptions, and 282 yards, a solid game but with costly interceptions in the last five minutes.
There’s a good chance WSU will be going to a bowl game this year, the first time since 2003. They end at 6-6 while the Huskies ended at 8-4 and will definitely go bowling, possibly to the Sun Bowl or Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco.