After the Washington Huskies suffered a 35-6 loss to Penn State, coach Jedd Fisch didn’t wait to back fifth-year senior Will Rogers, stating that the Mississippi State transfer would start Friday night against UCLA.
Rogers struggled against the Bruins, completing 13 of his 21 passes for 115 yards, a touchdown, and 2 interceptions that came on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter. Then, Rogers was replaced by true freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who showed exactly why Fisch dubbed him the future of the Washington program.
Williams led the Huskies on two scoring drives in the second half, completing 7 of 8 attempts for 67 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Decker DeGraaf, adding six rushing attempts for 31 yards in Washington’s 31-19 win.
The freshman’s ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs seemed to unlock Washington’s offense and gave it a pace and energy that it hadn’t shown all season. Which raises the question, when the Huskies travel to Autzen Stadium for a matchup with No. 1 Oregon on Nov. 30, who will start under center?
“I’m going to use the bye week for that,” Fisch said after the game, “And certainly announce that at the right time, or not, and let them defend two quarterbacks, I guess, for those 13 days.”
Thanks to the win, no matter who starts against the Ducks, Fisch will also get the opportunity to utilize both players in a bowl game.
[lawrence-related id=8288,8281]