SEATTLE — A postcard-quality day by Lake Washington was picture-perfect for the Washington Huskies.
Everything clicked Saturday in a 44-19 win over Illinois after two unconvincing wins to start the season.
Those worries about a defense that allowed 52 points last week to Eastern Washington? A wave of pressure from the defensive line washed those away.
Linebacker Shaq Thompson nearly outscored the Illini offense. He returned an interception 36 yards and a fumble 52 yards for two first-half touchdowns.
Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt never had time to test UW’s young and depleted secondary. He was sacked six times and did more scrambling than a breakfast cook at an egg farm.
“I’m proud of our defense flying around and making plays,” UW coach Chris Petersen said. “That’s how it should look on defense.”
Saturday’s game was a blowout by the time Clark County viewers finally got to tune in, thanks to a baseball game on Fox that didn’t end until the second quarter of the football game.
What local TV viewers missed was a first quarter where everything went right for Washington.
Cyler Miles completed nine of his first 10 passes, including a 75-yard touchdown pass to John Ross that gave Washington a 14-3 lead with 5:34 left in the first quarter.
Three plays later, UW led 21-3 when Thompson dropped into coverage, stepped in front of an Illini receiver and returned the pass 36 yards down the right sideline.
Thompson’s second defensive TD put the game away with 10:33 left in the second quarter. Andrew Hudson sacked Lunt, forcing a fumble that Thompson returned 52 yards for a touchdown.
That stretched the lead to 35-5 and gave Husky fans an excuse to begin an extended sun-soaked halftime tailgate party.
“This game is so much about turnovers,” Petersen said. “When you can score off them, that’s game-changing stuff.”
Petersen and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski knew Illinois (2-1) was going to attack UW’s secondary, which started two freshmen and a sophomore. That unit, which allowed seven TD passes last week, was without standout junior Marcus Peters (suspension) and starting corner Jermaine Kelly (injury).
But the big Huskies up front weren’t going to let anyone pick on the pups in the defensive backfield. Led by Hau’oli Kikaha’s three sacks, the defensive front never allowed time for passing routes to develop.
Lunt was held to 230 yards passing one week after throwing for 456 yards against Western Kentucky.
“We got better up front and better in the secondary,” Thompson said. We just helped them out in practice to go out and play with more confidence in the game.”
Miles ran the offense efficiently, completing 15 of 20 passes for 191 yards and no interceptions. He also ran nine times for 55 yards, helping a running game that used nine players to amass 245 yards.
“I feel more settled in,” said Miles after his third career start. “Every day, every game you feel a little more comfortable. The whole offense is getting more comfortable as well.”
And on a day near 80 degrees and a double-digit lead for three-and-a-half quarters, comfort was the word of the day for Washington.
