Washington led 14-0 on Saturday before Michael Penix Jr. attempted a pass.
On the Cal Golden Bears’ sixth play from scrimmage, quarterback Ben Finley felt pressure from edge Zion Tupuola-Fetui and unrolled a gift to linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio. The sixth-year UW senior captain picked off his first career interception and returned it 45 yards for a Husky touchdown.
This is one way to score points.
Six plays later, UW wide receiver Rome Odunze centered under a punt at his own 17-yard line, darted left, dropped defensive back Cam Sidney and exploded down the left sideline for an 83-yard touchdown.
This is a different way to score.
Postgame coverage: Washington 59, California 32
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It was UW’s first pick-six since Byron Murphy scored against Utah in the 2018 Pac-12 championship game … followed by the Huskies’ first punt return touchdown since Aaron Fuller bombed BYU in 2019.
In UW’s searchable database — which dates back to 1996 — the Huskies have never scored 14 points before their starting quarterback took the field.
“No, never,” Penix said with a smile when asked if he had ever seen an immediate two-touchdown lead. “It’s crazy. But I’m not complaining.”
The statistical oddities didn’t end there in Washington’s 59-32 win over Cal.
UW’s 45 points in the first half on Saturday were both tied for the Huskies’ most points in a half … and Cal’s most points allowed in a half (after also giving up 45 second-half points against Alabama in 1973).
This is also the first time since 1944 that UW has scored more than 40 points in four consecutive games (in the same season) … when the Huskies opened with two meetings each against heavyweights Whitman and Willamette.
“It’s been a few weeks in a row where not only one side of the ball comes out of the locker room to start the game. It’s about every single guy,” UW coach Kalen DeBoer said. “Special teams shows up and scores a touchdown on a punt return. Our kickoff team did a great job. Now you have Eddy [Ulofoshio] with a pick-six.”
UW’s defense and special teams accounted for the first 14 points of Saturday’s Pac-12 opener.
But the Husky offense didn’t need any help.
Penix – the nation’s leading passer – completed 19 of 25 attempts (76%) for 304 yards with four touchdowns and one interception while dishing out fancy dimes along the way. Backup Dylan Morris relieved the Heisman Trophy contender in the third quarter for the second straight game.
Without standout junior wide receiver Jalen McMillan – who missed the game due to injury – Odunze (five catches, 125 yards, 3 total touchdowns) and Ja’Lynn Polk (eight catches, 127 yards, 2 touchdowns) were each outstanding.
“We are obviously very confident when we go out there [as an offense]DeBoer said. “We expect to score on every drive. That doesn’t always happen, but if we just stick with ourselves and do what we do, we’ll have a lot of confidence that we can put points on the board.”
Prior to this season, two Huskies had surpassed 100 receiving yards in the same game only eight times in school history.
That happened in all four games this fall.
“Receivers made great plays,” said Penix, who had 16 interceptions and two interceptions in his first four games. “They make my work easier. I just sit back there and throw the ball.”
But UW’s revitalized running game is also encouraging as the Huskies head into Pac-12 play. They rushed for a productive 140 yards and 4.7 yards per carry on Saturday, led by Mississippi State transfer Dillon Johnson – who had 10 carries for 66 yards and a 3-yard score. Sophomore Sam Adams II caught a 9-yard touchdown while freshman Tybo Rogers recorded a 47-yard reception.
“He’s getting stronger and stronger and stronger,” DeBoer said of Johnson. “I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. Because we know what it looks like on the practice field and what we are pushing him to do. Physically, he’s still getting better every week. Great skills. Team player. He’s really integrated well with our guys as a teammate, so it’s fun to watch him have another great game.”
Better yet, Ulofoshio’s opening pick was the first of three Husky interceptions, with safety Dominique Hampton and cornerback Jabbar Muhammad stealing from an erratic Finley. The Huskies had seven interceptions in their first four games.
They had seven picks in 13 games last season.
“This is exactly what I imagined [when I transferred from Oklahoma State this offseason] – make some big plays and just be electric and greedy on defense,” Muhammad said. “This is exactly what I imagined.”
Cal came closer in garbage time, scoring three essentially irrelevant touchdowns. Finley completed 17 of 32 passes for 207 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions before leaving due to injury. Standout sophomore running back Jaydn Ott managed just 40 rushing yards and a touchdown on 2.9 yards per carry.
But against an offense that produces statistical oddities, it was too little and far too late.
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