UW Wins Big Ten Debut Over Northwestern 24-5

Saturday, September 21

Husky Stadium

4:00 PM

University of Washington

3-1 , 1-0

Northwestern

2-2 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northwestern

Washington

September 21, 2024 | Football

Box Score Gameday Central Final Stats Highlights Postgame Press Conference Tickets Postgame Notes Photo Gallery

SEATTLE (AP) -- Will Rogers threw a pair of first-half touchdowns to Denzel Boston, Jonah Coleman added a second-half touchdown run, and Washington made its Big Ten Conference debut with a 24-5 win over Northwestern on Saturday night at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium.

The Huskies (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) rebounded from last week's loss by thumping the overmatched Wildcats in their first conference game.

Rogers was excellent in the first half when he found Boston on touchdowns of 46 yards on Washington's second possession and a 13-yard strike in the second quarter.

Coleman scored on an 8-yard touchdown run less than a minute into the fourth quarter, capping a drive where he made an excellent catch then cleanly hurdled Northwestern Evan Smith as part of a 16-yard reception.

Rogers finished 20 of 28 passing for 223 yards, while Boston had seven catches for a career-high 121 yards.

The Wildcats (2-2, 0-1) played without top running back Cam Porter due to a lower-body injury. The Wildcats had just 59 yards rushing and their inability to get any push against Washington's defensive front was most obvious near the goal line.

Northwestern received a gift when Rogers fumbled a snap and the Wildcats recovered at the Huskies 33. Northwestern had first-and-goal at the 4, but couldn't convert on three attempts, and on fourth-and-goal from the 1 opted for an 18-yard field goal rather than going for the touchdown.

The kick by Jack Olsen pulled the Wildcats within 17-5.

Early in the fourth quarter, Northwestern had the ball on the Washington 2 and the Huskies stopped the Wildcats on four attempts - three of them passes - to turn the ball over on downs.

Northwestern finished with 112 total yards. Quarterback Jack Lausch was 8 of 27 for 53 yards passing and two interceptions.

The Huskies continue to be stout defensively. Withholding the first half last week against Washington State when the Cougars scored 17 points, the Huskies have allowed just 24 points in the other 14 quarters this season.

Saturday was the first time in nearly 100 years UW held an opponent to exactly five points.

Washington embarks on its first Big Ten road trip next week when the Huskies travel to Rutgers next Friday. The game, which kicks off at 5 p.m. PDT, will be televised on FOX.

Chill out, Jonah ?? @jonahcoleman8 pic.twitter.com/BMYFPZZmUJ
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 22, 2024

For more information on Washington Football, follow @UW_Football on X and Instagram.

About Washington Athletics

Washington athletic teams have claimed 56 team national championships across 11 different sports, beginning with its first titles in 1923 in men's rowing and women's rifle, and counting its most recent national championship, also in men's rowing (2024). Traditions of Washington Athletics include 320 Olympians and Paralympians, originating The Wave during the third quarter of a 1981 football game, the familiar Huskies nickname in 1922, and its iconic Sailgating activities and encompassing view at what is known as The Greatest Setting in college football.