University of Washington
Idaho
Washington Walks Over Idaho, 53-3
September 22, 2001 | Football
Sept 22, 2001
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
SEATTLE - Washington had another spectacular day on defense and special teams and the offense finally managed to get untracked as the No. 13 Huskies beat Idaho 53-3 on Saturday.
The Huskies took control early, scoring on a kickoff return, blocked field goal and punt return. Early in the second quarter, Washington led 24-3.
The Vandals took a big blow when they lost senior quarterback John Welsh in the first quarter with a separated right shoulder.
Welsh released a pass that went complete for 20 yards to Chris Lacy in the final minute of the opening quarter and he was hit by Washington defensive tackle Terry Johnson.
The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Welsh left the game and did not return. He was replaced by sophomore backup Brian Lindgren.
Idaho (0-3), which lost here 44-20 last season after committing five turnovers, did not force Washington (2-0) to punt until the third quarter.
Washington's Roc Alexander ran a kickoff return back 95 yards for the Huskies' first touchdown and a 10-3 lead with 3:21 left in the first quarter.
Larry Tripplett blocked a 36-yard field-goal attempt by Brian Pope, and cornerback Chris Massey scooped up the ball and ran 69 yards into the end zone as the first quarter expired. That put Washington up 17-3.
Freshman Charles Frederick started the second quarter with an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown. He had fumbled on his first punt return try in the first quarter.
It was a similar scene Sept. 8 when the Huskies came back in the fourth quarter to beat Michigan 23-18 behind some key plays on special teams and defense.
Washington scored its first offensive touchdown of the season Saturday on quarterback Cody Pickett's 25-yard run with 5:40 left in the second quarter. The Huskies scored another four minutes later when Braxton Cleman ran 7 yards into the end zone to give Washington a 37-3 halftime lead.
Washington - which had a far different second game than if it had played No. 1 Miami last weekend as scheduled - also lost key players to injury in the first quarter.
Standout tight end Jerramy Stevens broke his left foot. He went to the locker room midway through the first quarter to have an X-ray and returned to the field just before halftime wearing sweats and using crutches.
Starting tailback Willie Hurst left the game in the first quarter with a strained hamstring and did not return.
In his second career start, Pickett completed 15 of 20 passes for 158 yards and one interception.
He was picked off for the first time since being named the starter in spring drills to replace departed Marques Tuiasosopo, now with the Oakland Raiders. Backup Taylor Barton saw his first action of the season in the third quarter.
Idaho's points came on Pope's 38-yard field goal in the first quarter.
Welsh has completed 45 of 81 passes for 455 yards and five touchdowns this season, while throwing just one interception. He was picked off for the first time this season Saturday by Alexander. He completed 5 of 9 passes for 40 yards before leaving the game.
