Huskies’ offense shut down by No. 1 Alabama in 24-7 Peach Bowl loss
Dec 31, 2016, 3:33 PM | Updated: 6:19 pm
Myles Gaskin and the Washington Huskies' rushing attack struggled all day against Alabama's defense. (AP)
(AP)
Washington’s defense proved that the Huskies deserved to be in the College Football Playoff. Alabama proved why it’s considered the best of the four-team field.
The Huskies scored the first touchdown of the game, but that was the last time they found the end zone as the undefeated Crimson Tide’s vaunted defense led the way in a 24-7 Peach Bowl victory, ensuring Alabama will try to win back-to-back titles in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Jan. 9.
The Husky defense limited Alabama to converting just 3 of 11 third downs in the first three quarters, but the Tide kept all of Washington’s key weapons on offense – wide receivers John Ross and Dante Pettis, and running backs Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman – from making much of impact on the game. When all was said and done, the Huskies managed just 194 yards of total offense, Browning had been sacked five times, and Washington had committed three turnovers.
‘They beat us at our own game’ | 710’s reaction | Photos | Stats
Pettis hauled in a pinpoint 16-yard pass from quarterback Jake Browning in the corner of the end zone on the Huskies’ second offensive series, but that was the last time he – or UW’s offense as a whole – was able to make Alabama’s defense look anything resembling human. The Crimson Tide answered Pettis’ score quickly, needing just nine plays and 2:55 of clock to go 78 yards for a touchdown of their own – an 18-yard rush by bruising running back Bo Scarbrough.
Alabama added a 41-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter, but it was towards the end of that frame where things really started to unravel on Washington.
Under pressure, Browning made an unfortunate decision to try and dump a pass off into the flat. Alabama’s Ryan Anderson was there, bringing the ball down for an interception and returning it 26 yards to the end zone. It was the first career pick six for Browning, whose stellar sophomore season ended with an uncharacteristically ugly performance – he had just 150 yards on 20-for-38 passing with one touchdown and two interceptions.
The Huskies’ defense did what it could, forcing the Tide to punt on six straight drives in the second and third quarters. But on Alabama’s first series of the fourth quarter, Scarbrough proved to be too much to contain, busting off an impressive 68-yard touchdown run to give the Tide a comfortable three-score lead. That was plenty of cushion for Alabama, which now goes on to play either Ohio State or Clemson in the championship game in Tampa, Fla.
As for Washington, it ends 2016 with a 12-2 record and having made the national semifinals in just the third season under head coach Chris Petersen.
Takeaway: The Huskies’ defense held up its end of the bargain, limiting Alabama to just 57 yards through the air and holding down the Tide’s high-powered rushing attack as long as it could. Washington’s offense, however, learned a lot about what it means to be a national title contender, as the Crimson Tide’s menacing defense took UW quarterback Jake Browning out of his game and gave him plenty to think about in the offseason.
Turning point: Ryan Anderson’s 26-yard pick six just before halftime killed any momentum the Huskies had, gave Alabama a two-score lead and threw Washington’s offense out of sync for the rest of the game.
Play of the game: Bo Scarbrough’s 76-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter was a sight to behold, the Crimson Tide running back making Washington’s stingy defense suddenly look out of its element – if only for one play.
Player of the game: It has to be Scarbrough, who rushed for 180 and two touchdowns on just 19 carries against a talented Washington defense. Honorable mention should go to Alabama cornerback Anthony Averett, who had eight tackles (six solo), a sack and made a heady play in the second quarter to strip Washington’s John Ross of the ball, forcing a fumble that led to a Tide field goal.
Missed opportunity: In the middle of the third quarter, Washington linebacker Psalm Wooching forced a fumble by Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts in Crimson Tide territory. Wooching nearly recovered it, too, which would have given Washington favorable field position and a chance for its offense to finally take a chunk out of a 10-point Alabama lead. The ball escaped his grasp, however, and Alabama’s Jonah Williams jumped on it, allowing the Tide to pin Washington inside its own 10 with a punt two plays later.
