GAME: Washington (6-4 overall, 4-2 Pac-12) at Colorado (1-9 overall, 1-6 Pac-12). WHEN: Saturday, 1o:30 a.m., PT., Folsom Field, Boulder, CO. MEETING: 13th (Washington leads 6-5-1). COACHES: Steve Sarkisian, Washington; Jon Embree, Colorado. RANKINGS: Neither ranked. LINE: UW by 20½. TV: FX. RADIO: KJR-950 AM, 102.9 FM.
Due to the Pac-12’s new television package, a bane to those who prefer football be in broad daylight, Washington has had just one of its 10 games this season start before 4 p.m., local time. But Saturday, when the Huskies take on the hapless Colorado Buffaloes, the game is at 10:30 a.m.
“I’m pumped, man,” Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said this week. “I’m so excited to get up, eat breakfast and go to the stadium and play the game. “I know the guys are actually pretty excited about it — to get up the morning of the game and eat their Wheaties and go play.”
Especially when the opponent is Colorado, 1-9 overall, its only victory coming against Washington State.
Washington, bowl eligible for the third consecutive season, opened as a 20-point choice to dispatch the Buffaloes, who are having one of the worst seasons in school history and also one of the worst in recent conference history. Consider this comparison:
In 2008, when Washington went 0-12, the Huskies scored 159 points and allowed 463. In 10 games this season, Colorado scored 176 points and allowed 472, an average yield of 47.2 points per game. The 2008 Huskies allowed 451.8 yards per game, worst in school history. The 2012 Buffaloes allow 505.0 yards per game.
Colorado ranks 10th in the Pac-12 in rushing offense (112.1 yards per game) and 11th in passing offense (195.3), and last in everything else, including scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense and total defense.
With ColoradoSaturday and Washington State next week, the Huskies have a chance for eight victories for the first time since 2001. To help ensure that, Sarkisian will use tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins at defensive end again in long-yardage, third-down situations for the final two games.
Seferian-Jenkins, who became the leading receiver (96 catches) among tight ends in school history Saturday against Utah, also played defensive end against the Utes for a half a dozen snaps. The Huskies do not plan on turning Seferian-Jenkins’ defensive role into an every-down thing.
“Austin is a big, talented individual. He picks things up pretty quickly,” said UW defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox. “There’s a definite possibility we could see him there (defensive end) again. It’s always going to be up to Coach Sark and what he sees fit for the team.
“He did a good job when he was in there, but he wasn’t perfect. A good rush doesn’t always end up in a sack. A good rush is you set the tackle into the quarterback’s feet. Those things make a difference. And Austin’s a big, strong, athletic guy who’s got good quickness. So he has the tools.”
Seferian-Jenkins this week was named a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s best tight end.
SERIES: Dates to Nov. 26, 1915, when UW scored a 46-0 victory at Denny Field in Seattle. Washington has won the last three meetings (2011, 2000, 1999) after the Buffaloes won three in a row between 1989-99). In last year’s contest, a 52-24 Washington victory, quarterback Keith Price completed 21 of 28 passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns at Husky Stadium. Chris Polk had 117 rushing yards and caught a 14-yard TD pass from Price.
UW HEAD COACH: Steve Sarkisian (25-23-0) is in his fourth season. After a 5-7 record in 2009, Sarkisian guided the Huskies to a 7-6 record in 2010 that included a 19-7 victory over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. That marked Washington’s first postseason game since the 2002 Sun Bowl. Sarkisian coached the Huskies to another 7-6 record in 2011, including a berth opposite Baylor in the Alamo Bowl. Prior to joining the Huskies, Sarkisian served as a USC assistant under Pete Carroll (2001-03, 2005-08). He also worked as an Oakland Raiders assistant in 2004. Sarkisian played quarterback at Brigham Young University and later played in the Canadian Football League.
UW STATS / NOTES
- SEASON SUMMARY: Record: 6-4. Home: 5-1. Road: 1-3. Neutral: 0-0. Vs. Pac-12: 4-3. Vs. Pac-12 North: 3-1. Vs. Pac-12 South: 1-2. Vs. Non-Conference: 2-1. Points For: 220 (22.0). Rushing Yards Per Game: 134.3. Passing Yards Per Game: 208.1. Total Offense Per Game: 342.4. Points Against: 252 (25.3). Opp. Rushing Yards Per Game: 186.3. Opp. Passing Yards Per Game: 186.6. Total Defense Per Game: 372.9.
- PAC-12 RANKS: Scoring Offense — 10th (22.0); Scoring Defense — 8th (25.2); Total Offense — 10th (342.6); Total Defense — 5th (372.9); Rushing Offense — 8th (134.3); Rushing Defense — 10th (186.3); Passing Offense — 10th (208.3); Pass Defense — 2nd (186.6); Passing Efficiency — 10th (120.9).
- RB Bishop Sankey ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in rushing at 101.7 yards per game; 13 touchdowns (tied for fifth-most in UW history). Last week against Utah, he notched the UW’s fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. Sankey is the 11th different Husky to rush for 1,000+ yards in a season.
- Among Pac-12 quarterbacks, Keith Price ranks 9th in passing yards per game (204.4) and 10th in passing efficiency (117.9). Price is seventh in total offense at 202.5.
- WR Kasen Williams is 10th with 5.6 receptions per game and 11th in yards (62.0).
- TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins ranks 7th in receiving yards per game, 73.1. Seferian-Jenkins is Washington’s all-time leading tight end receiver with 96 catches (old record 95 by Mark Bruener). Seferian-Jenkins’ 55 catches this season are a school record for the TE position and the most in the nation among tight ends.
- Jaydon Mickens ranks 6th in kick return average at 22.7 yards per game.
- The Huskies have played five teams that are bowl eligible: Louisiana State, Oregon, Oregon State, USC and Stanford.
- According to the NCAA, the UW has played the fourth-toughest schedule in the nation, while the remaining schedule ranks No. 116 in the nation.
- 16 players made their UW debut vs. San Diego State while five more made their collegiate debuts in the game at LSU. Against Portland State, an additional 10 players got on the field for the first time and one more did so at Oregon, meaning that 32 Huskies have played in their first UW games this season.
HUSKIES OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Rushing
| Player | G | Att. | Yards | TDs | Long | Y/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Sankey | 10 | 212 | 1017 | 13 | 61 | 101.7 |
| Erich Wilson | 4 | 25 | 140 | 1 | 31 | 35.0 |
| Kendyl Taylor | 10 | 22 | 122 | 0 | 30 | 12.2 |
| Dezden Petty | 6 | 29 | 99 | 0 | 17 | 16.5 |
| Total | 10 | 357 | 1343 | 15 | 61 | 134.3 |
| Opponents | 10 | 380 | 1863 | 14 | 64 | 186.3 |
Passing
| Player | G | Att. | Cmp. | Yards | TDs/INT | Effic. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Price | 10 | 330 | 201 | 2042 | 11 /10 | 117.8 |
| Total | 10 | 336 | 204 | 2081 | 11 /11 | 117.0 |
| Opponents | 10 | 279 | 147 | 1866 | 14 /13 | 116.1 |
Receiving
| Player | G | Rec. | Yards | TD | Long | Y/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasen Williams | 10 | 56 | 620 | 5 | 35 | 62.0 |
| A. Seferian-Jenkins | 10 | 55 | 729 | 4 | 43 | 72.9 |
| Bishop Sankey | 10 | 23 | 127 | 0 | 15 | 12.7 |
| Jaydon Mickens | 10 | 17 | 160 | 0 | 47 | 16.0 |
| Kendyl Taylor | 10 | 12 | 76 | 0 | 11 | 7.6 |
| D. Campbell | 10 | 10 | 105 | 2 | 21 | 10.5 |
| Cody Bruns | 10 | 8 | 50 | 0 | 19 | 5.0 |
| Kevin Smith | 9 | 6 | 68 | 0 | 22 | 7.6 |
| M. Hartvigson | 10 | 6 | 55 | 0 | 31 | 5.5 |
| Totals | 10 | 204 | 2081 | 11 | 47 | 208.1 |
| Opponents | 10 | 147 | 1866 | 14 | 70 | 186.6 |
HUSKIES DEFENSIVE LEADERS
| Category | Skinny |
|---|---|
| Tackles | Timu 61, Thompson 57, Parker 56 |
| Sacks | Hudson 4.5, Feeney 3.0, Shirley 2.5 |
| Interceptions | Peters 3, Glenn 2, Thompson 2, Timu 2 |
| Passes Defensed | Peters 9, Timu 6, Trufant 5, Watson 5 |
| Forced Fumbles | Parker 3, Shirley 2, 3 with 1 |
| Fumbles Recovered | Glenn 2, Tutogi, Hudson, Shamberger 1 |
Pac-12 Standings / North
| Schools | Overall | Conf. | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 10-0 | 7-0 | Saturday vs. Stan., 5 p.m., ABC |
| Stanford | 8-2 | 6-1 | Saturday at Oregon, 5 p.m., ABC |
| Oregon St. | 7-2 | 5-2 | Saturday vs. Cal, 7:30 p.m., Pac-12 |
| Washington | 6-4 | 4-3 | Saturday at Colo., 10:30 a.m., FX |
| California | 3-8 | 2-6 | Saturday at OSU, 7:30 p.m., Pac-12 |
| WSU | 2-8 | 0-7 | Saturday at ASU, 12 p.m., Pac-12 |
Pac-12 Standings / South
| Schools | Overall | Conf. | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 8-2 | 5-2 | Saturday vs. USC, 12:05 p.m., TBD |
| USC | 7-3 | 5-3 | Saturday at UCLA,12:05 p.m., TBD |
| Arizona | 6-4 | 3-4 | Saturday at Utah, 7 p.m., ESPNU |
| ASU | 5-5 | 3-4 | Saturday vs. WSU, 12 p.m., Pac-12 |
| Utah | 4-6 | 2-5 | Saturday at Arizona, 7 p.m., ESPNU |
| Colorado | 1-9 | 1-6 | Saturday vs. UW, 10:30 a.m., FX |
COLORADO NOTES: Colorado defeated Washington State (35-34) and lost to Colorado State (22-17), Sacramento State (30-28), Fresno State (69-14), UCLA (42-14), Arizona State (51-17), USC (50-6). Oregon (70-14), Stanford (48-0) and Arizona (56-31) . . . Colorado ranks 12th in scoring offense in the Pac-12 at 17.6 points per game, 12th in scoring defense (47.2), 12th in total offense (304.7), 12th in total defense (505.0), 10th in rushing offense (112.1), 12th in rushing defense (227.6), 11th in passing offense (195.3), 11th in pass defense (277.4) and 12th in pass efficiency (107.3) . . . Christian Powell leads Colorado in rushing at 69.4 yards per game, with seven touchdowns . . . Quarterback Jordan Webb ranks 11th with 155.7 yards per game and in passing efficiency at 106.9 . . . There are no Washington state natives on the Colorado roster.
COLORADO HEAD COACH: John Embree is in his second year at the Colorado. He was named the schools 24th full-time head football coach (26th overall, including two interim) in program history Dec. 6, 2010, returning home to the state where he starred as a player in high school and college, as well as where he got his start in coaching. Though this is his first head coaching position on any level, he brought 18 years of coaching experience to the CU program. That includes 10 seasons (1993-2002) as an assistant on the Colorado staff under three head coaches, Bill McCartney (1993-94), Rick Neuheisel (1995-98) and Gary Barnett (1999-2002). Embree was a tight end for the Buffaloes in the mid-1980s.
COMING UP: The bowl-eligible Huskies close out their regular season Nov. 23 with the Apple Cup at Washington State.
University of Washington 2012 Schedule/Results
| Date | Opponent | UW Rnk | Opp Rnk | W/L | Score | Rec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/1/12 | vs. SD State | — | — | W | 21-12 | 1-0 |
| 9/8/12 | at LSU | — | 3 | L | 41-3 | 1-1 |
| 9/15/12 | vs. Port. State | — | — | W | 52-13 | 2-1 |
| 9/27/12 | vs. Stanford | — | 18 | W | 17-13 | 3-1 |
| 10/6/12 | at Oregon | 23 | 2 | L | 52-21 | 3-2 |
| 10/13/12 | vs. USC | — | 11 | L | 24-14 | 3-3 |
| 10/20/12 | at Arizona | — | — | L | 52-17 | 3-4 |
| 10/27/12 | vs. OSU | — | 7 | W | 20-17 | 4-4 |
| 11/2/12 | at California | — | — | W | 21-13 | 5-4 |
| 11/10/12 | vs. Utah | — | — | W | 34-15 | 6-4 |
| 11/17/12 | at Colorado | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11/23/12 | at WSU | — | — | — | — | — |
2012 RECAPS
UW 21, San Diego State 12 (Sept. 1): Keith Price completed 25 of 35 passes for 222 yards and an eight-yard TD to Kasen Williams, and Will Shamburger returned a fumble 44 yards to a touchdown as Washington defeated San Diego State in front of 53,742 at CenturyLink Field. The UW defense, maligned throughout the 2011 season, gave up 199 rushing yards but just 128 passing yards, recovered two fumbles, had three sacks and an interception.
LSU 41, Washington 3 (Sept. 8): No. 3 LSU sacked Keith Price four times, hit him an additional dozen times and romped easily to victory over Washington in the Huskies’ first trip to the Southeastern Conference since 1983. LSU outgained Washington 437 yards to 170 and held Price to 157 passing yards with one interception.
UW 52, Portland State 13 (Sept. 15): Keith Price threw three touchdown passes in the first 23 minutes, Bishop Sankey ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns, Shaq Thompson blocked a field goal that Tre Watson returned 79 yards for a touchdown, and the Huskies massacred the Vikings at CenturyLink Field. It marked the Huskies’ biggest win since a 53-3 win over Idaho in 2001.
UW 17, Stanford 13 (Sept. 27): Keith Price threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Kasen Williams late in the fourth quarter and Desmond Trufant made a game-sealing interception as Washington shocked No. 8 Stanford at CenturyLink Field. One year after UW lost to Stanford by 44 points and a week after the Cardinal defeated national title contender USC, Washington used a stifling defense to upset Stanford, holding the Cardinal to just 235 yards and no offensive touchdowns. Bishop Sankey ran for 144 yards for UW and scored on a 61-yard run on the last play of the third quarter, sparking Washington’s stagnant offense.
Oregon 52, UW 21 (Oct. 6): Oregon freshman Marcus Mariota passed for four touchdowns and the No. 2 Ducks recorded their ninth consecutive victory over UW in Eugene. The 23-ranked Huskies aided the Oregon cause with a series of mistakes, including three personal fouls. Quarterback Keith Price completed 19 of 31 for 145 yards and two interceptions. Bishop Sankey scored on a pair of short runs and Eric Wilson added a TD with 32 seconds to play.
USC 24, UW 14 (Oct. 13): Anthony Brown blocked a punt and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown, Jawanza Starling forced a key fourth-quarter fumble, and No. 11 USC used big plays from its defense and special teams to overcome an inconsistent offense. The Huskies held Trojans (5-1, 3-1 Pac-12) scoreless in the second half but got help from a defense that sacked Washington QB Keith Price five times and forced four turnovers to give USC its third straight win. The Huskies points were on a 17-yard TD pass from Price to Kasen Williams and a two-yard pass from Price to Austin-Seferian-Jenkins.
Arizona 52, UW 17 (Oct. 20): Matt Scott threw for 256 yards and four touchdowns, Ka’Deem Carey ran for 172 yards and Arizona raced out of its bye week with a rout. The Wildcats had their way with Washington’s defense from the opening drive, eclipsing 500 total yards (533) for the sixth time this season. Washington (3-4, 1-3) had no chance against Arizona’s fast-paced offense. Quarterback Keith Price had another so-so game in the Huskies’ third straight loss. Price matched Scott with 256 yards passing, but his line didn’t look quite as good, needing 52 attempts to get there, and with two interceptions to offset his one touchdown.
UW 20, Oregon State 17 (Oct. 27): The Huskies stemmed a season spiraling downward and ended No. 7 Oregon State’s shot at the first 7-0 start in school history at CenturyLink Field. Bishop Sankey ran for 92 yards and two touchdowns, Travis Coons kicked a 30-yard field goal with 1:20 left and Washington took advantage of four interceptions from Oregon State’s Sean Mannion. OSU became the second AP Top 10 team to be upset by the Huskies at home this season. Washington knocked off then-No. 8 Stanford 17-13 in late September. Keith Price, who committed 10 turnovers in the previous three games, started Washington’s decisive drive hitting tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins for 20 yards, just his third catch of the night. On third-and-7, Kasen Williams made a juggling catch along the sideline for 19 yards and an additional 15 yards was tacked on for a personal foul against Oregon State to move the ball to the Beavers’ 18 to set up Coons’ game-winner.
UW 21, California 13 (Nov. 2): Bishop Sankey ran for 189 yards and two touchdowns and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins caught eight passes for 152 yards and a touchdown, which snapped the Huskies’ six-game road losing streak. The UW won despite four turnovers and 12 penalties for 108 yards.
UW 34, Utah 16 (Nov. 10): Keith Price finally broke out, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another. Washington became the last BCS conference team to top 21 points against an FBS opponent when Bishop Sankey scored on a two-yard toss sweep late in the third quarter for a 27-15 lead. Sankey finished with 162 yards on 36 carries and became the 11th 1,000-yard rusher in Washington history. Price threw touchdowns to Kasen Williams and DiAndre Campbell and ran for a four-yard TD, his first rushing touchdown this season.