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Can the Washington Huskies Keep the Momentum?

By Tanner Sucher

Sep 17, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Chris Petersen strides to the center of the field after a game against the Portland State Vikings at Husky Stadium. Washington won 41-3. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Chris Petersen strides to the center of the field after a game against the Portland State Vikings at Husky Stadium. Washington won 41-3. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Huskies head to Tucson this weekend to face their first Pac-12 foe of the season and their first real test in Arizona.

The Washington Huskies have started off the 2016 with a bang. Its a sigh of relief after a disappointing 2015 season that saw the Huskies finish with only seven wins and six losses.

The Huskies began 2016 with a great 48-13 win over Rutgers. Then they saw another win against Idaho where they completely demolished the Vandals 59-14, and most recently a win over Portland State by a score of 41-3. Washington won their first 3 games by a combined score of 148-30.

Chris Peterson and the Huskies will see a much tougher opponent this weekend against the Arizona Wildcats. Even though the Huskies demolished Arizona last year by a score of 49-3 with a less talented team, the wildcats still should prove to be Washington’s toughest test so far.

2016’s Washington team has came out as a completely different team compared to their 2015 squad. Jake Browning has came out firing; he has thrown 53 completions on 74 attempts for 744 yards. Don’t let me forget, he has also thrown 12 touchdown passes compared to only one interception through only three games.

On the ground the Huskies have done pretty decent also. Myles Gaskin has ran for 217 yards on 40 carries with two touchdowns. Receiving-wise, Washington has also got some great production out of  Chico McClatcher and John Ross. McClatcher has caught 10 receptions for 197 yards and four touchdowns, while Ross has caught 13 passes for 167 yards and four touchdowns.

Sep 17, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; The Washington Huskies defense tackle Portland State Vikings quarterback Paris Penn (2) during the second quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; The Washington Huskies defense tackle Portland State Vikings quarterback Paris Penn (2) during the second quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

Arizona is in quite the pickle right now. First off, they are having issues deciding between Anu Solomon and Brandon Dawkins for the quarterback position. This is a big issue for the Wildcats because neither quarterback has looked impressive at all through Arizona’s first three games. Also, it’s not like Arizona has played some very impressive teams so far. BYU has been their toughest opponent compared to Grambling State and Hawaii.

Arizona will be the first team that Washington has played so far this season to make a bowl game in 2015. This shouldn’t be an issue though for a Washington team that has only allowed 30 points defensively through three games. Especially since Arizona is struggling at the quarterback position.

Offensively the Huskies should be able to man handle the Wildcats defense. Like I stated earlier, the Huskies have scored 148 points through their first three games, while Arizona has given up a combined 65 points to some questionably offensively talented teams, with the exception of BYU.

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Washington should be able to survive their toughest game so far and come out with a win against a disappointing Arizona team. Even though it will be their toughest test so far,  the Huskies should be able to keep the momentum going and plow through Arizona.

The game will be this Saturday, September 24 at 10:30 PM ET in Arizona.

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