Washington Huskies 3-7 Overall (2-5 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Oregon State 48 – Washington 21

Next Week’s Opponent: BYE

Sometimes it is important to just take a step back and look at the big picture.

To some, it might feel like it has been a disappointing season considering how promising things looked in the early stages. But really, coming off of a winless season and breaking in a brand new head coach, if you were told that you’d be heading into the Apple Cup with three wins including USC and Arizona, would you not have been ecstactic to hear that as a Huskies fan?

As disheartening as this Saturday may have been, it marked only the third time of the season the Huskies were beaten by double digits; a pretty remarkable turn around from last year, which had eight double-digit losses at this point in the season. Losing heartbreaking games like Notre Dame in overtime, Arizona State on the last play, and UCLA hurt; but they are part of the maturation process. As are, unfortunately, spankings like this one.

The defense was powerless to stop one of the Pac-10’s most powerful offenses. Despite only surrendering 372 yards, the final score indicates that. Jake Locker went 14/23 for 153 yards, 3 TD, and 1 INT; but unfortunately two of the scores came in the fourth quarter when the outcome was pretty much already decided. Chris Polk had his third straight 100+ yard day on the ground with 116 yards on 19 carries. You can’t say enough great things about the freshman, who has averaged five yards per carry and has a great chance of going over 1000 yards on the season.

As frustrating as the losing streak has been, it should come to an end next week against Washington State, which would be sweet revenge for last season’s loss. But for this week, the Huskies get the week off to relax and get a little healthier for the last two games.