Washington Doesn’t Need Offense

Two games into his first season as a starter, Cody Pickett still has not thrown a touchdown pass for Washington.

So far it hasn’t mattered.

The No. 13 Huskies had another spectacular day on defense and special teams and the offense finally managed to get untracked in a 53-3 victory over Idaho Saturday at Seattle.

Pickett did score Washington’s first offensive touchdown of the season in the second quarter, a 25-yard run that put the Huskies ahead 30-3.

“As long as we’re winning, I don’t care if I throw one all season,” Pickett said.

The Huskies (2-0), originally scheduled to play their second game of the season against No. 1 Miami last week, took control early, scoring on a kickoff return, blocked field goal and punt return by three minutes into the second quarter.

Idaho (0-3), which lost, 44-20, at Seattle last season after committing five turnovers, did not force Washington to punt until the third quarter.

Washington’s Roc Alexander ran a kickoff return back 95 yards for the Huskies’ first touchdown and a 10-3 lead with 3:21 left in the first quarter.

Larry Tripplett blocked a 36-yard field-goal attempt by Brian Pope, and cornerback Chris Massey scooped up the ball and ran 69 yards to the end zone as the first quarter ended. That put Washington up 17-3.

Freshman Charles Frederick started the second quarter with an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown. He had fumbled on his first punt return try in the first quarter.

It was a similar scene Sept. 8 when the Huskies came back in the fourth quarter to beat Michigan, 23-18, behind key plays on special teams and defense.

Washington, however, lost two starters to injuries for at least eight weeks--standout tight end Jerramy Stevens (broken left foot) and running back Braxton Cleman (broken clavicle).

Washington State 51, California 20--Jason Gesser threw for a career-high 432 yards and four touchdowns for the Cougars at Pullman, Wash., in the Pacific 10 opener for both teams.

Washington State (3-0) started the season with three victories for the first time since 1998. The Cougars passed for 513 passing yards, surpassing the school record of 492 set in the 1992 Copper Bowl.

Gesser’s favorite target was Nakoa McElrath, who caught nine passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns.

Two other Cougar receivers caught passes for more than 100 yards. Mike Bush caught five for 144 yards and a touchdown and Jerome Riley had 124 yards and a touchdown in three catches.

Gesser completed 19 of 43 passes and was intercepted once. Gesser’s 432 yards surpassed his previous best of 348 last year against Arizona.

Washington State had 605 yards of total offense, compared to Cal’s 367 yards.

The Bears (0-3) lost 118 yards on 12 penalties, lost two fumbles and quarterbacks Kyle Boller and Eric Holtfreter were intercepted twice.