University of Washington
Idaho
Huskies Rout Vandals
September 02, 2000 | Football
Sept. 2, 2000
SEATTLE - The Washington Huskies looked ready for Miami.
"We're excited. It's a big game anytime the No. 5 team in the country comes into your house," said 6-foot-5, 335-pound Chad Ward, the standout of the No. 14 Huskies' powerful offensive line.
Marques Tuiasosopo passed for a touchdown and ran for another as Washington opened the season with a 44-20 victory over Idaho on Saturday.
Washington recovered four fumbles, intercepted a pass and blocked a punt to start coach Rick Neuheisel's second year in Seattle impressively. It was the most points scored by the Huskies in a season opener since they shut out Texas-El Paso 55-0 in 1982.
The Huskies will face Miami, a 61-14 winner over McNeese State on Thursday night, next Saturday at Husky Stadium.
"Playing Miami gives you a boost of energy heading into next week," Tuiasosopo said. "We're going to celebrate tonight, start getting ready tomorrow and try to elevate our game."
Tuiasosopo accounted for 313 yards, completing 16 of 30 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown with one interception. He gained 80 yards and scored a touchdown on 15 carries to pass quarterback Chris Chandler, now of the Atlanta Falcons, for sixth place on Washington's career total offense list with 4,638 yards.
"I played good for an opener, but there's a lot of room for improvement," Tuiasosopo said.
Said Ward, who is being projected as a first-round NFL draft choice next April: "He's amazing. You can always count on Marques for a big play."
Idaho momentarily stunned Washington by taking a 7-0 lead on the first play when Willie Alderson scored on an 82-yard run, the fourth longest TD run ever against Washington. Alderson went at right guard, bounced outside and went untouched up the right sideline.
"There was a big hole, I read it right and it was history from then on," Alderson said.
Said Neuheisel: "I guess that was the ultimate in a wakeup call."
After Ryan Downes punted 54 yards to the 2, Washington drove 98 yards in five plays to tie it with 3:25 gone in the second quarter on a 32-yard pass from Tuiasosopo to Todd Elstrom.
Forty-seven seconds later, the Huskies went ahead 14-7 on a 21-yard keeper by Tuiasosopo. Tuiasosopo's TD run came on the second play after Washington's Nick Olszewski recovered Nate Griffin's fumble after John Anderson's kickoff.
Inside linebacker Ben Mahdavi scored Washington's third touchdown of their 20-point second period when he recovered Idaho quarterback John Welsh's fumble and ran into the end zone from 35 yards out with 7:46 left in the first half to give the Huskies a 20-7 lead.
"We were just tearing at the ball. Once you get a turnover, your adrenaline starts to flow," said Mahdavi, who set up another touchdown when he blocked a punt in the fourth quarter.
With Idaho trailing 20-13 at halftime, Washington broke open the game in the first 4:38 of the second half. The Huskies took the opening kickoff and drove 84 yards in 10 plays to score a touchdown on Pat Conniff's 8-yard run.
They added a TD 19 seconds later after Nick Olszewski recovered Cleavon Bradshaw's fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Derrick Johnson scored on a 21-yard reverse to put the Huskies ahead 34-13 with 10:22 left in the third quarter.
Paul Arnold, Washington's highly touted sophomore tailback, leaped into the end zone from 1 yard with 1:58 gone in the final period after Mahdavi blocked by blocking a punt by Downes. The blocked punt rolled 43 yards down field before going out of bounds.
"It's miserable to have a punt blocked," said Mahdavi, who happens to be Washington's long snapper for punts.
Later in the fourth quarter, Washington sacked Welsh and caused a fumble, which Hakim Akbar recovered on the 50. John Anderson, who missed two attempts and an extra point in the first half, then kicked a 31-yard field goal.
Welsh was 23-for-29 for 256 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Alderson finished with 140 yards on 18 rushes.
Welsh was knocked out of the game briefly in the fourth quarter when he was hit by outside linebacker Jeremiah Pharms after he released an attempted pass. Welsh suffered a cut lip that required stitches after the game.
First-year coach Tom Cable of Idaho wasn't discouraged by the defeat.
"I think we belonged in this stadium," he said. "I think we're going to be a good team."
By JIM COUR
AP Sports Writer
