Huskies Notebook | Lappano sticks up for Locker
Maybe the stats would show that Jake Locker could have been a bit more efficient with his throws, hitting just 12 of 35 passes in Washington’s 42-35 loss to Washington State in the Apple Cup Saturday.
But Washington offensive coordinator Tim Lappano didn’t want to hear that afterward, launching into a hearty defense of his quarterback from any suggestion that Locker could have done more.
“He tried to take this team on his back and he almost pulled it off,” Lappano said. “There were a couple of throws down the field that he missed that were wide open. But he still played great. He’s not going to make every throw. People think he is going to run for 150 yards every game and make every throw - that’s not going to happen. He played an unbelievable football game.”
Locker played his first game since suffering a strained neck at Oregon State, and Lappano said he thought Locker was a little rusty throwing as a result.
Still, Locker passed for 224 yards and also rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns, tying Mark Brunell in 1990 for rushing TDs in a season for a Huskies quarterback.
Lappano was impressed with some of Locker’s runs Saturday.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Locker’s second TD came on a fourth-and-one play, though Lappano said his quarterback “was totally exhausted. I was worried about running him into the ground.”
Locker has 910 rushing yards and broke the Pac-10 record for rushing yards in a season by a quarterback by UCLA’s Jeff Dankworth (815 in 1976).
Locker said he felt good. “For the most part, I felt like we executed the passing game pretty well today,” he added.
Of losing his first Apple Cup, Locker said, “It’s a tough loss. But every one is. They are not easy. There is not a lot of excitement after a game like that.”
Quick start
It took Washington’s Louis Rankin only 15 seconds to turn in the longest kickoff return for a touchdown in the history of the Apple Cup.
Rankin, a senior playing the final home game of his Washington career, took the opening kickoff from Washington State at the 11-yard line near the left hash mark, juked past one tackler, broke through another, then burst through a big hole and down the right sideline for the score.
“It was blocked up perfect. I just hit the hole and the rest was history,” Rankin said. “That was a good way for us to start up the game and it built up a lot of momentum.”
It was only the second kickoff for a TD in the history of the UW-WSU series, which celebrated its 100th game Saturday. Washington’s Ernie Steele had an 87-yard return for a TD in 1940.
Not Huskies football
Defensive end Greyson Gunheim of Washington said afterward he felt like apologizing to all former Huskies players, alumni and fans.
“That’s not what Washington football is all about,” Gunheim said. “And I just feel like we don’t deserve this. We work so hard and we don’t have much to show for it and a loss like this is just a real tough loss.”
Notes
• The Huskies introduced 22 seniors before the game and there were no surprises. Center Juan Garcia, a fifth-year senior who has another year of eligibility if he chooses, was not introduced, indicating that he is coming back for another season. He had said earlier in the week that he was considering being introduced if he had decided not to return next season.
• Three seniors were introduced as captains for the season - Rankin, defensive end Greyson Gunheim and defensive tackle Jordan Reffett. Garcia also served as a captain.
Ranking Rankin
Louis Rankin gained 72 rushing yards Saturday, and his 1,149 this season moved him up to No. 6 in Huskies season rushing:
Player
Year
Yards
1.
Corey Dillon
1996
1,695
2.
Greg Lewis
1990
1,407
3.
Napoleon Kaufman
1994
1,390
4.
Napoleon Kaufman
1993
1,299
5.
Greg Lewis
1989
1,197
6.
Louis Rankin
2007
1,149
7.
Joe Steele
1978
1,111
8.
Hugh McElhenny
1950
1,107
9.
Napoleon Kaufman
1992
1,084
10.
Rashaan Shehee
1997
1,055