That is why a huge emphasis on improvement in that area was laid down in fall camp. On Saturday, it was the team’s saving grace – two punt-coverage turnovers, three Erik Folk field goals and a long Jesse Callier kickoff return – in the Huskies’ 30-27 victory over Eastern Washington.
From start to finish at Husky Stadium, it was the area that sparkled most. Consider:
• On Eastern’s first chance to get the ball, senior Matt Johnson tried fielding a punt in Eagles’ territory – only to be met immediately by UW defensive back Desmond Trufant, who got his hand on the ball.
“I just went and dove at the guy pretty much full speed,” Trufant said. “I didn’t know I had stripped the ball.”
Gregory Ducre was right there to scoop up the ball and give UW a turnover at the EWU 23. Three plays later, Keith Price threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jonathan Amosa for a 7-0 lead 21/2 minutes into the game.
• Alertness paid dividends again for the UW’s punt-coverage team in the third quarter. Kiel Rasp’s bouncing punt took a wicked hop and hit Eastern’s Darriell Beaumonte on the side of the helmet as he was set to block.
Reserve defensive back Anthony Gobern was in the right spot to recover the ball at the Eagles’ 27 – setting up Price’s 6-yard scoring pass to Kasen Williams.
“We’ve been talking all through camp about how our special teams has to be one of the greatest things we do,” Gobern said. “Now we have our proof that it should be.”
• Callier’s 38-yard kickoff return late in the first quarter – the second-longest of his career – set up a UW drive at its own 47. The Huskies scored on Price’s 9-yard pass to James Johnson.
• It also appears Folk is over any confidence issue he might have suffered at the end of last season. He kicked field goals of 53, 47 and 40 yards.
And Rasp continued his stellar punting with a 46.8-yard average, landing two inside the Eagles’ 20-yard line.
“That is what won the game – Erik Folk making those field goals that he made, the punt team causing fumbles and Kiel Rasp punting inside the 20,” said UW linebacker John Timu.
Pass coverage was a different story as Eastern converted five third downs of 10 yards or longer – including a third-and-26 in the third quarter, and a third-and-19 in the final quarter.
EWU’s first touchdown – Bo Levi Mitchell’s 32-yard strike to Ashton Clark in the first quarter – came on a fourth-and-12 play.
Sarkisian noted after the game the defense really misses the playmaking ability of senior cornerback Quinton Richardson (ankle), who might return next week against Hawaii, another spread offense.
INJURY REPORT
The most notable injured were receiver Jermiane Kearse (sprained ankle) and quarterback Keith Price (sprained knee).
Kearse went down hard after an 8-yard catch in the first quarter, and did not return. Price said an Eastern defender rolled over his right knee after a scramble late in the first half. The team’s athletic training staff immediately fit him for a brace, and he played the rest of the game.
Also dinged up were linebackers Garret Gilliland (concussion) and Cort Dennison (thigh), and defensive backs Justin Glenn, James Sample and Ducre were treated for cramping.
EXTRA POINTS
Sixteen UW players saw action for the first time in their careers. ... Running back Chris Polk (123 yards) recorded his 12th 100-yard rushing effort, tying Robin Earl for third-most in team history. ... Five Huskies made their first career receptions. They were Amosa, Williams, tight ends Austin Seferian-Jenkins (10-yarder) and Michael Hartvigson (7-yarder) and DiAndre Campbell (7-yarder).
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
