BRENT STECKER

Chris Petersen hoping No. 7 UW gains an edge following first loss

Nov 15, 2016, 7:00 AM | Updated: 8:31 am

Washington's offense was held to just 13 points in its loss to USC, the first of the season, last S...

Washington's offense was held to just 13 points in its loss to USC, the first of the season, last Saturday. (AP)

(AP)

In the Washington Huskies’ 10th game of the season, they finally suffered their first loss. But while last Saturday’s defeat to USC delivered a significant hit to UW’s national title hopes, it is still well in reach of its first conference championship in 16 years.

That’s why the Huskies’ final two regular-season games – this Saturday against Arizona State and the Apple Cup in Pullman the following week – still have plenty riding on them.

“We need to learn from it and we need to respond,” coach Chris Petersen said Monday in regards to the USC loss. “Sometimes everything goes really well for you in the season and it’s like, it doesn’t always go like that. I’ve been saying it all along. I just really believe on any given night in this league, who we play, who we are, we could get knocked off.”

Not only does Petersen want his team to learn from the loss, he hopes it gives them a little extra drive.

“I hope our guys have a new edge to them a little bit,” he said. “If you’re so disappointed because of this loss with all this football left to be played, then you’re in the wrong locker room and you haven’t been hearing a word that we’ve been talking about. There’s a lot of football left and awesome things to play for.”

The Huskies just may need that edge considering they are heading into the end of the Pac-12 schedule and the postseason without two of their most important defensive players. Linebacker Azeem Victor, UW’s leading tackler, is almost assuredly done for the year after undergoing surgery for a fracture in his right leg on Sunday, joining leading pass-rusher Joe Mathis (foot surgery) on the sideline.

The impact of those two absences was already felt against USC. Without Mathis, the Huskies struggled to get a grip on elusive Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold from the outset. And after Victor was carted off in the first half, the middle of the field opened up for USC and Darnold, who took advantage on the way to a 26-13 win.

Asked about the depth behind his two star linebackers and if it was possible the Huskies could ever get to the point that they wouldn’t see a drop off in production when key players go down, Petersen was realistic in his answer.

“I don’t know if anyone does that. Maybe Alabama,” he said. “I think every coach in America, for the most part, you get a really good player and you lose him – you might have a good young player, but they’re just not there. I don’t know if you ever get there.”

Brent Stecker

Seattle Mariners Scott Servais...

Brent Stecker

How concerning is Mariners’ series loss to Dodgers with 13 games left?

The Seattle Mariners' tough September continued as they were swept by the NL West champion Dodgers. So where are they with 13 games to go?

7 days ago

Seattle Mariners Bryan Woo...

Brent Stecker

Mariners Notebook: How Woo came up big; Kelenic’s other foot

Scott Servais and J.P. Crawford share what was so impressive about Bryan Woo's crucial win for the Seattle Mariners, plus an update on Jarred Kelenic's status.

11 days ago

Seattle Mariners Teoscar Hernández...

Brent Stecker

Playoff Race: Where the Mariners stand with 3 weeks to go

What does the AL playoff picture look like for the Seattle Mariners with only 22 games left to go in the regular season? We break it down.

13 days ago

Seattle Mariners Julio Rodríguez...

Brent Stecker

Mariners lucked out, but they can’t miss on huge opportunity now

The Seattle Mariners actually gained ground in the AL West race while dropping a series in New York. But now comes an opportunity they can't miss on.

20 days ago

Seattle Mariners...

Brent Stecker

Mariners Check-In: How Seattle’s trade deadline looks a month later

The Seattle Mariners left people scratching their heads with their moves at the trade deadline. How does it look now? Brent Stecker checks in.

21 days ago

Seattle Mariners Eugenio Suárez Ty France...

Brent Stecker

Mariners Playoff Race: Are M’s making Buhner-style surge for AL West?

The Seattle Mariners have played themselves into position for a wild card, but do they have more than that in them? A look at the playoff race.

1 month ago

Chris Petersen hoping No. 7 UW gains an edge following first loss