Against his former team, Washington defensive coordinator Ryan Walters’ defense opened the game against Purdue with momentum-generating stops. The effort from that side of the ball set the tone in Washington’s 49-13 win over Purdue on Saturday night. Washington recorded an interception and forced two turnovers on downs against the Boilermakers. On the other side of the ball, Washington’s offense turned to Adam Mohammed and Jordan Washington in the absence of Jonah Coleman. The two were responsible for four combined first-half touchdowns that ultimately put the game out of reach.
Washington Defeats Purdue
Momentum Generating Stops
In the first quarter, the Husky defense forced back-to-back turnovers on downs that each led to scoring drives. The fourth down stops would serve as the catalyst for Washington’s early lead and set the tone for the remainder of the game. Purdue drove the football inside the Husky 40-yard line on two of its three first-quarter drives. On both drives, the Boilermakers were faced with a fourth and one, and both times they opted to keep the offense on the field. Xe’ree Alexander and Zach Durfee were responsible for the first stop. It was on fourth and one at the Husky 38-yard line. Washington took over and drove the football 62 yards for a touchdown.
On the very next Purdue possession, the offense stayed on the field for another fourth and one. It was at nearly the exact same spot on the field as the prior possession, this time the Husky 37-yard line. This time, Alexander made another play with a two-yard tackle for loss. Washington’s offense took over and drained more than seven minutes off of the clock on another touchdown drive.
LB Xe’ree Alexander
“I think it was really big,” Alexander said after the game when discussing the two fourth-down stops. “I don’t feel like it was just me that made a play, everybody did their job, so I gotta give credit to all my guys.” Alexander is playing his best football at this point in the season. He recorded back-to-back double-digit tackle games against Illinois and Wisconsin. Against Purdue, he led the team with eight tackles (tied with Deven Bryant) and 1.5 tackles for loss. “Film study, just extra time in the facility, in the weight room, in the gym,” Alexander said when asked about how he’s been able to elevate his game of late. “That’s my main focus, I always just try to get extra [time and film study].”
100-Yard Running Back
“We’ve got some fast dudes,” Fisch said after the game. “Speed’s good. We knew when Jordan [Washington] made the first guy miss, there was no one catching him. So that was fun to watch him.” Washington was the first Husky running back to rush for more than 100 yards in a single game since the UC Davis game, where Jonah Coleman rushed for 111 yards.
Washington attacked a crease on the right side of the line, bounced it to the outside, and outran a Purdue defensive back to the sideline. He went untouched into the end zone. Washington’s 68-yard touchdown run was the longest rushing play of the season for the Husky offense. Washington finished as the team’s leading running back with five carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 21.6 yards per carry.
Next Man In at Wide Receiver
Washington was without Denzel Boston against Purdue, and Raiden Vines-Bright was injured in the first half of the game (an update on him below). Like last week, the offense needed a next man in, and Audric Harris was that guy. He was the leading wide receiver against the Boilermakers, finishing with 90 receiving yards and a touchdown on just two catches. Prior to the game, he had caught only two passes on the season for 10 yards. Harris’ touchdown reception was a 61-yard pitch and catch, where he came wide open behind the defense. That reception was the Huskies’ longest passing play of the season.
“Audric’s been phenomenal,” Fisch said after the game. “He’s done a great job of being ready. We called upon him, we needed him, and he did a great job for us.” That touchdown pass from Demond Williams was the longest passing play of the season for the Husky offense. “He comes in every day ready to work regardless of where he’s at on the depth chart,” Williams said of Harris after the game. “They called his number and he was ready to go.”
Update on Raiden Vines-Bright
During Washington’s second scoring drive, wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright remained down on the field after being hit on a 10-yard reception. He was immediately surrounded by trainers before being lifted onto a stretcher and into an ambulance. Vines-Bright appeared to show movement by bending his knees while lying on the turf. During the game, it was confirmed inside the press box that Vines-Bright was responsive with movement in his extremities after he was taken out of the stadium. Fisch said after the game that the freshman wide receiver was fully mobile, fully awake, and fully aware. He added that Vines-Bright was responsive while lying on the field and that the measures taken were precautionary.
Main Image: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
