Washington football opens their season against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Catch the highlights here and stay tuned for three stars of the game.
Read Also: 2017 Washington football game-by-game predictions
This is the second part of a cross-country home and home between the Washington Huskies and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Washington dominated Rutgers at home a year ago, winning 48-13. Rutgers will now attempt to hold serve as the Washington makes the return trip to New Brunswick.
These are two programs with entirely different objectives entering 2017. Rutgers is looking to double its win total from a year ago when they finished 2-10. Also on the to-do list: beat a Power-5 opponent. That’s not likely to happen this week.
ESPN FPI gives the Huskies a 93.8 percent chance of victory. An upset tonight would go down as one of the most improbable upsets in college football history. Improbable because the Huskies are coming off a trip to the College Football Playoff and are making plans to return again this season. Jake Browning figures to be in the Heisman consideration and the Huskies have a chance at back-to-back PAC-12 titles.
The stage is set. Will Washington wallop Rutgers once again or will the Knights find a way to withstand the onslaught and keep it close? Stay tuned here for in game updates, highlights and the three stars of the game.
Three Stars
- Dante Pettis showed played well, hauling in three balls for 85 yards including a 51 yard bomb. He’s going to have a productive season in the lead receive role vacated by John Ross. He gave Washington their first lead of the game with a 60 yard punt return touchdown.
- Byron Murphy, a freshman, registered not one but two interceptions in his first game. He shut down any hope of a Rutgers comeback.
- Jake Browning recovered from a pedestrian first half, picking the Knights apart after half time. He finished with 284 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Highlights
https://twitter.com/RFootball/status/903771485638189056
The first 1st down of the game goes to Rutgers. Yes, Washington had the ball first. #UpsetAlert?
— Saturday Blitz (@SaturdayBlitz) September 2, 2017
Rutgers off to a good start with a couple of first downs on its first drive. 1st and 10 at the UW 38.
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 2, 2017
Wait, how is this possible? pic.twitter.com/KGr3JpwfK2
— Saturday Out West (@satoutwest) September 2, 2017
Rutgers leads Washington
— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) September 2, 2017
Touchdown, Rutgers. Bolin to Grant on a 3-yard pass. Scarlet Knights lead, 7-0, 7:08 to go in 1st quarter.
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/MichaelSBriggs/status/903775706873810947
Jake Browning absolutely rocked. pic.twitter.com/qfa9uaJe7W
— Lawrence | Chane (@block_chane) September 2, 2017
Watch: Let's go! Browning ➡️ Pettis for 51 yards. #PurpleReign
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 2, 2017
Watch: @FS1 https://t.co/nJYl6j4Wsx
Washington got inside the Rutgers 10 on a 51-yard connection between Jake Browning and Dante Pettis, but settled for a FG. 7-3 Rutgers.
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) September 2, 2017
Watch: INTERCEPTION!
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 2, 2017
Byron Murphy interception for the Huskies. #PurpleReign
Watch: @FS1 https://t.co/jBWiW2sZzC
https://twitter.com/Pac12Network/status/903788863713312768
Dante Pettis with the punt return for a touchdown! The SIXTH of his career, tying the Pac-12 record (Desean Jackson, Cal). #PurpleReign
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 2, 2017
Halftime: Washington 10, Rutgers 7
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) September 2, 2017
Halftime Stats:
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) September 2, 2017
Passing
K. Bolin: 12/16 68 yds
Rushing:
G. Edwards: 14 car 34 yds
R. Martin: 7 Car 40 yds
Timeout on the field at the 10:11 mark of the 3Q. Washington has a first and goal and leads Rutgers 10-7. #PurpleReign pic.twitter.com/xeizHJqpGH
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 2, 2017
Makin' it look easy.@jake_browning finds @megatronkid for a TD.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 2, 2017
Watch #RUvsUW on FS1 https://t.co/v5eszIIGTT
Well this was almost an incredible catch by Dante Pettis pic.twitter.com/cdmoOqrTuq
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) September 2, 2017
Reigning first team All Pac 12 left tackle Trey Adams among Washington's OL struggling against Rutgers' flashy edge rusher Kemoko Turay. pic.twitter.com/bdqeyAhQVC
— Rob Rang (@RobRang) September 2, 2017
#Washington picks off #Rutgers again. Looks like it's starting to crumble for the Knights
— Saturday Blitz (@SaturdayBlitz) September 2, 2017
.@byronmurpy has some sticky fingers. Check out his 2nd pick of the night for @UW_Football. #Pac12FB
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 2, 2017
🎥: FS1 https://t.co/jT0DEQ1VkY
18-yard pass from Browning to Gaskin. Touchdown! 2nd TD pass of the night for Browning, both to backs. 27-7 Huskies, 14:54 left in game.
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 2, 2017
Watch: WHAT. A. PLAY.
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 2, 2017
Browning ➡️ Gaskin for a Husky touchdown. #PurpleReign
Follow on @FS1. https://t.co/foqJDkXf0f
On a fourth-down play, Rutgers scores on a 34-yard TD, Bolin to Bailey. 27-14 Huskies, 10:31 to play in the game.
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 2, 2017
Before the touchdown the #Huskies had a win probability of 99.8. It's fallen to 98.1
— Saturday Blitz (@SaturdayBlitz) September 2, 2017
So you're saying there's a chance. #Rutgers
Washington has not punted or turned the ball over in the second half. Four drives. Four scores (2 TD, 2 FG)
— Saturday Blitz (@SaturdayBlitz) September 2, 2017
Washington's first sack of the game comes as the Rutgers QB trips and falls down on the last play of the game.
— Saturday Blitz (@SaturdayBlitz) September 2, 2017
#PurpleReign is back pic.twitter.com/t9cU42h4pt
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 2, 2017
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What’s Next
Washington isn’t exactly starting off their season with a bang. After taking on Rutgers the Huskies return to Seattle for their home opener against the Montana Grizzlies on Sep. 9. Rutgers stays at home next weekend and hosts Eastern Michigan in what should be a winnable game for the Scarlet Knights.