Notebook | UW sells run, buys 98 pass
A play called “Z Stutter” resulted in the longest gain from scrimmage in Washington history Saturday.
“It was a great play called at a perfect time,” said quarterback Jake Locker of a 98-yard touchdown pass to Marcel Reece in the second quarter of Washington’s 48-41 loss to Arizona Saturday at Husky Stadium.
The longest previous play was a 94-yard run by Sterling Hill in 1898.
“That’s exciting, but I’d probably feel a little bit better if we ended it with a win,” said Reece.
The Huskies were backed up to the 1-yard line after a good Arizona punt, and used a Locker sneak for 1 yard on the final play of the first quarter.
On the next play, the Huskies brought in goal-line personnel, trying to make Arizona think it would again run the ball. Locker faked a handoff, then threw deep to Reece, who got behind the Arizona secondary.
Lappano said the play was designed for third-and-short situations, but offensive-line coach Mike Denbrock suggested it with UW backed up near the end zone.
“We worked on it last week, and it worked every time, so I said ‘what the hell,’ ” Lappano said. “I thought they did a great job of selling everything.”
Thomas’ second chance
Arizona receiver Mike Thomas walked out of the locker room grinning, a game ball tucked under his arm. After catching three touchdown passes, including the winner with two minutes left, Thomas gave all the Wildcats reason to smile.
The day didn’t begin so well.
On the first play of Arizona’s second drive, Thomas blew past Washington cornerback Byron Davenport and nothing between him and the end zone. But as Thomas jumped to catch the pass from Willie Tuitama, the ball hit him in the hands.
“I was ready to kill him,” Arizona coach Mike Stoops joked.
On the next play, Thomas got past Davenport again, and this time he caught Tuitama’s pass for a 66-yard touchdown.
“I was mad at the play before,” said Thomas, who caught 10 passes for 165 yards. “I knew I had let my teammates down, my coaches down … so I had to come back and make a play.”
Thomas caught a 2-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and also the winning score, a 27-yard pass from Tuitama.
“Those guys are starting to develop a little bit of a trust factor,” offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes said.
Davenport takes a seat
Washington coaches benched Davenport after the 66-yard touchdown pass from Tuitama to Thomas. True freshman Vonzell McDowell played the rest of the game in his place.
Said Willingham of the move: “We were not comfortable at that time so we made a substitution change.”
What happened with Davenport, defensive coordinator Kent Baer said “I don’t know. You’d have to ask him.”
Davenport wasn’t available afterward.
Options limited
Asked about the possibility of making changes to UW’s defensive scheme afterward, Willingham said being this deep into the season limits the options.
The Huskies have allowed 147 points in the last three games and is giving up 474 yards per game, which would obliterate the school record of 419.1 set in 2005, Willingham’s first season as UW’s coach.
“I think that is a question that you have to look at,” Willingham said. “But this stream that we’re going down, you can’t have any major overhauls at this time to really help yourself. You’re awfully risky in any direction that you go. … Scheme-wise, I think that is very dangerous to make that move right now.”
Notes
• When UW senior Jordan Reffett got a hand on the extra-point try by Arizona kick Jason Bondzio in the second quarter, it ended the Wildcats’ streak of 58 consecutive made extra points.
• Jordan White-Frisbee started at right guard in place of Casey Bulyca, Cody Habben at left tackle for Ben Ossai, and true freshman Mason Foster at weakside linebacker for E.J. Savannah. Willingham said all the moves were for disciplinary reasons. Bulyca and Ossai returned after the first two series. Savannah came back in the second quarter but was in and out of the lineup because of a persistent pinched nerve.
• Lappano was frustrated about UW’s five turnovers and some key penalties. “We could have had 650 yards and 55 points if we don’t do that,” he said. “I thought we were beyond the turnover deal, but obviously we weren’t.”
• Locker has 694 rushing yards, only 3 yards shy of Dennis Fitzpatrick’s school record for rushing yards by a QB set in 1974. Locker passed the 571 Marques Tuiasosopo had in 1999 on Saturday.
• Due to some injuries, the Huskies often had three true freshmen in its nickel defense.
• The homecoming crowd of 61,124 was the smallest at Husky Stadium this season.
Seattle Times staff reporter Tom Wyrwich contributed to this notebook.
Long gone
Saturday’s 98-yard pass is the longest play from scrimmage in UW history and ties for the fifth-longest play overall:
Yds
Player
Type
Year
100
Hugh McElhenny
Punt return
1951
100
Paul Arnold
Kick return
1999
99
Anthony Allen
Kick return
1979
99
Jim Krieg
Kick return
1971
98
Marcel Reece*
Pass
2007
98
Toure Butler
Kick return
1998
98
George Guttormsen
Kick return
1924
94
Sterling Hill
Run
1898
93
Al Burleson
Int. return
1975
92
Steve Bramwell
Punt return
1963
92
Dean Derby
Run
1956
91
Napoleon Kaufman
Run
1994
91
Hugh McElhenny
Run
1950
* From Jake Locker