Huskies Soar Over Scarlet Knights: Demond Williams Jr. Shines in 38-19 Victory
In a thrilling college football matchup, the Washington Huskies defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 38-19, showcasing the extraordinary talents of quarterback Demond Williams Jr. on Friday night in Seattle. This performance marked a significant milestone for the Huskies and for Williams himself.
Stellar Performance from Demond Williams Jr.
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Passing Accomplishments:
- Threw for 402 yards and 2 touchdowns, completing 21 of 27 passes.
- Became only the 16th player in FBS history to throw for over 400 yards and rush for more than 100 yards in a single game, the first such feat since 2023.
- Rushing Achievements:
- Rushed for 136 yards on 13 carries, scoring 2 rushing touchdowns.
“Demond Williams is a superstar,” said Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch. “He is special, and we’ve known that for a lot of years now.”
Williams acknowledged the role of the Rutgers defense, noting, “I was just taking what the defense was giving me. You could tell their main focus was on Jonah [Coleman], so I was able to pull some of those zone reads.”
School and Career Records
- Williams set a new Washington school record for total offense with 538 yards.
- Additionally, he became the 12th Washington quarterback to rush for over 100 yards in a game.
A Game of Two Halves
Initially, the Scarlet Knights took control, leading 10-0 in the first quarter and 13-10 at halftime. However, Washington’s offense erupted in the second half.
Key statistics included:
- Four consecutive touchdowns scored by the Huskies to open the second half.
“We started to pour on them a little bit, especially in the passing game,” Williams remarked. “We just started off a little shaky."
Key Players in the Matchup
For Rutgers:
- Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis threw for 386 yards with 31 completions on 50 attempts, adding 2 touchdown passes.
- Notable receiver Ian Strong recorded 124 yards on 7 receptions.
For Washington:
- Denzel Boston was a standout receiver with 98 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- Running back Jonah Coleman, despite being held to a season-low 44 yards, contributed with a 1-yard touchdown.
Defensive Highlights
- Washington’s Ephesians Prysock sealed the game with a crucial interception in the end zone with less than two minutes remaining.
- Rutgers struggled with missed opportunities, failing to convert on two fourth-down attempts inside the Washington 10-yard line.
Lessons Learned and Future Games
Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano reflected on the team’s mistakes: “We made too many mistakes in the second half, missed assignments… but [Williams] is a dynamic player.”
Upcoming Challenges
- Next for Rutgers: Hosting Oregon in an attempt to rebound from the loss.
- Next for Washington: A critical away game against Michigan on October 18.
Conclusion
The Washington Huskies showed resilience and skill, particularly through the performance of Demond Williams Jr. As the Huskies look ahead, they aim to build on this momentum and continue their pursuit of success in the Big Ten Conference.
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