No. 8 Washington Defeats Rutgers 30-14 in Season Opener

Friday, September 1

Piscataway Township, NJ

5:00 PM

University of Washington

1-0

Rutgers

0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Washington

Rutgers

September 01, 2017 | Football

Box Score Game Gallery UW-Rutgers Stats PDF Watch: Dante Pettis Punt Return TD Watch: Highlights Listen: Highlights (Bob Rondeau)

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Dante Pettis woke up No. 8 Washington just before halftime with his sixth career punt return for a touchdown and Jake Browning threw two second-half touchdown passes in a tougher-than-expected 30-14 victory over rebuilding Rutgers on Friday night.

Pettis' blistering 61-yard return gave the Huskies their first lead at 10-7 with 3:50 left in the half. He tied former California star DeSean Jackson's Pac-12 career record for punt returns for scores.

A senior receiver, Pettis actually set up the Huskies' first three scores this season. His 51-yard catch set up the first of three field goals by Tristan Vizcaino and his catches of 10 and 24 yards ignited an early third-quarter drive that Browning capped with a 7-yard swing pass to halfback Lavon Coleman for a 17-7 lead.

Browning was 17 of 30 for 284 yards. He also found halfback Myles Gaskin on an 18-yard TD pass on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 27-7 lead.

Louisville transfer Kyle Bolin threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Janarion Grant on Rutgers' first possession for a 7-0 lead and a 34-yarder to Dacoven Bailey with the game pretty much decided. Bolin finished 24 of 34 for 178 yards and had two passes intercepted by Byron Murphy.

The Scarlet Knights have lost 10 straight under second-year coach Chris Ash, but Rutgers showed a lot of improvement, especially against Washington. The Huskies, who were returning a big chunk of their team, beat Rutgers 48-13 last year in the opener in Seattle en route to a 12-2 record that included a Pac-12 title and a trip to the college football playoffs.

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The Huskies play Montana in their home opener Sept. 9.