Washington Football: 3 takeaways from Pac-12 title win over Utah

3. Defense played a huge role in Washington’s victory

The Pac-12 proved on Friday night that they are not allergic to defense. Washington and Utah put on a clinic on solid championship-level defense, with the two sides playing the first scoreless first quarter in the eight-year history of the Pac-12 championship game. Through three quarters, the two teams had managed only a field goal apiece.

Washington, though, proved to have the better defense in the end. While the Huskies finished with 306 total yards of offense, the UW defense held Utah in turn to just 188 total yards. Forcing the Utes to pass the ball, they eventually forced the Pac-12 South champion to crack on Friday night.

Defensive back Byron Murphy ended up scoring the first touchdown of the game. Murphy snatched a ball that Siaosi Mariner juggled and then caromed off the receiver’s leg upward into the cornerback’s hands, then returned it 66 yards for a score that turned the game late in the third quarter. The redshirt sophomore had another interception in the fourth quarter.

Murphy was justifiably the MVP of the 2018 Pac-12 championship game. He will get his chance to shut down the Pac-12 champion next at the Rose Bowl.