Huskies Take Another Step Forward In Oregon Win
October 08, 2016 | Football, General
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
This one felt good.
Washington's 12-game losing streak against Oregon is over, finally.
What a way to win.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock during the No. 5 Huskies 70-21 victory at Autzen Stadium, players posed for photos. They enjoyed the moment. And, when the game was over they sang the fight song with their fans in the end zone.
"It feels amazing," linebacker Keishawn Bierria said. "That was one of the most fun games we've played all year. We felt like it was more than just this team, but for past teams that have been here. It was equally as important as any game, but we definitely needed this one."
But, while it felt good to end the slide against Ducks, they enjoyed the game for what it was, a win against a Pac-12 opponent that push the program's record to 6-0.
This team has lofty goals, and this is another step in the right direction.
"It felt great," said Myles Gaskin, who rushed for 197 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. "Putting up 70 on those guys is a good feeling. I can't say anything else. Playing like that, it really wasn't about them at all. We were just going out there trying to get better each and every snap. It feels good to know we did that."
For someone like me who grew up watching Husky football, a fandom forged during the 1991 national championship season, this win meant a little more. This victory was something to savor.
"It feels good to get that for all the fans," said Dante Pettis, who had eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns. "As a team, we try not to focus too much on the past and what the streak was, but I know there are a lot of people who wanted us to get that done and it feels good to get that for them."
To listen to a group of players treat a win for what it is, that is something Husky fans should truly celebrate, because it is a sign this is only the beginning, another step toward a truly special season.
"Everything is another step, no matter what it is," Gaskin said. "Practice, school, everything, we're just trying to create something special here, trying to get better each and every day."
On a night when Jake Browning showed a national television audience what he can do – he threw a school-record six touchdowns and his eight total scores (he rushed for two) is also believed to be a record – the Huskies offense erupted for 682 yards of total offense.
"It feels good to get a win over our rival and put up as many points as we did," Browning said. "The way we won, I thought it was pretty exciting."
After the win, there wasn't any trash talk. The Huskies didn't dance at midfield. They shook hands with Oregon players and then sang the fight song in the end zone.
Last week's win over Stanford was a declaration that Washington had returned to prominence. A week later, well, this victory for the Huskies was subtly satisfying.
For fans, though, the celebration continues. Like the slogan says, "Let Purple Reign Again."
As the players jogged off the field, Michael Kneip wrapped a sweaty arm around my shoulder and we reveled in a win long overdue. At that moment, we were two fans shaking off the sting of 12 straight losses.
"That felt like high school," he said with a smile before running toward the locker room.
And it was at that moment, the magnitude of the win settled in.
This one felt good.
