Butler Does It for Huskies When Huard Can’t

Cornerback Toure Butler proved Saturday that Washington doesn’t need Brock Huard to put up Heisman Trophy-like numbers in order to win.

In a game in which Huard completed only 16 of 33 passes for 178 yards, Butler scored touchdowns on a 98-yard kickoff return and a 35-yard fumble return as the ninth-ranked Huskies defeated Brigham Young, 20-10, at Seattle.

“We know [Butler’s] able to make a big play for us,” teammate Joe Jarzynka said, “we know he can return the football.”

Washington (2-0) won its 13th consecutive home opener and defeated BYU (1-2) for the fourth time in a row.

In a matchup of teams that had defeated Arizona State the past two weeks, Huard and Washington’s offense were unimpressive after winning a 42-38 shootout over the Sun Devils two weeks ago. The Huskies, who led 14-0 at halftime, went the final three quarters without a touchdown.

It was the first time in Huard’s three years as a starter that the Washington offense produced only one touchdown.

“Today, they struggled offensively becasue our front seven was so physical,” said BYU middle linebacker Rob Morris, who had 14 tackles.

BYU free safety Jason Walker Cougars didn’t think much of Huard.

“You can watch his eyes and then once he turns his shoulders you know exactly where he’s going,” said Walker, whose first quarter interception was one of two thrown by Huard. “I strongly believe we’re a lot better team than the one we lost to today,” Walker added.

No. 22 Oregon 58, San Jose State 3--Akili Smith had three touchdown passes and Michael Fletcher and Rashad Bauman scored on long returns as the Ducks (3-0) handed the Spartans (1-2) their worst defeat in 30 years at Eugene, Ore.

Oregon had the ball for only 71 seconds in the first quarter, but scored touchdowns on Fletcher’s 70-yard punt return, a 55-yard pass play from Smith to Jed Weaver, and Bauman’s 80-yard interception return.

Oregon ran only six plays in the quarter, gaining 94 yards. For the game, the Ducks outgained the Spartans, 441-255.

Smith, erratic in Oregon’s 33-26 victory over Texas El Paso last week, was eight for 11 for 220 yards. His other touchdowns came on pass plays of 55 yards to Tony Hartley and 17 yards to Damon Griffin.

Arizona State 34, North Texas 15--J.R. Redmond ran for 122 yards and three touchdowns in 15 carries for the Sun Devils at Tempe, Ariz.

Redmond scored on runs of 13, 24 and 13 yards. Ryan Kealy threw touchdown passes of 60 yards to Kenny Mitchell and nine yards to Lenzie Jackson, and had a two-point conversion pass to Jackson.

Arizona State (1-2) fell out of the Top 25 from a No. 8 preseason ranking after losses to Washington and Brigham Young.

North Texas, in its fourth year in Division I-A, received $370,000 for playing at Sun Devil Stadium.

California 13, Oklahoma 12--Sophomore Marcus Fields ran for a career-high 140 yards to help the Golden Bears overcome penalties at Norman, Okla.

California (2-1) was penalized 16 times for 130 yards, but Oklahoma (2-1) wasn’t able to take advantage in part because of three turnovers.

Fields had two 24-yard runs in a 60-yard drive that Tim Wolleck capped with a 27-yard field goal for the decisive score with 5:56 remaining

Stanford 37, North Carolina 34--Kevin Miller kicked a 20-yard field goal with no time left to give the Cardinal (1-2) the victory at Stanford.

It was the most points allowed by North Carolina (0-2) since a 41-40 victory over Duke on Nov. 19, 1994.

The winning field goal was set up when backup quarterback Joe Borchard ran 41 yards on a broken play. Starting quarterback Todd Husak was injured on the previous play.

Washington State 24, Idaho 16--Nian Taylor had 254 yards and three touchdowns on eight receptions as the Cougars defeated the Vandals at Pullman, Wash., in the first meeting between the schools in nine years.

Taylor had a school-record 97-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

Washington State (3-0) increased its advantage in the series that began in 1894 to 63-14-3. Idaho (2-1) last defeated the Cougars in 1965.

No. 16 Arizona 35, Iowa 11--Trung Canidate’s first-half touchdown runs of one and 38 yards gave the Wildcats (3-0) all the points they needed in the victory over the Hawkeyes (1-2) at Tucson, Ariz.