SEATTLE (AP) — Freshman tight end Hunter Bryant had nine catches for 121 yards and an a touchdown, Jake Browning threw for two scores and ran for another, and No. 6 Washington cruised to a 38-7 victory over California on Saturday night.
Bryant was a standout on an otherwise routine, late-night thumping by the Huskies. It wasn’t a flashy performance full of major highlights for the Huskies (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12), yet was a thorough domination of the Golden Bears.
Washington held California (3-3, 0-3) to 46 total yards in the first half and the Bears were under 100 yards of offense until late in the fourth quarter.
Browning was 27 of 40 for 215 yards passing and had a 21-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down option play in the first half. Myles Gaskin added touchdown runs of 8 and 7 yards, and even defensive players got in on the act for Washington. Sophomore defensive end Justiss Warren caught a 2-yard TD pass from Browning after lining up as a fullback.
But Bryant was the star of the night. Bryant had 10 catches for 158 yards on the season coming into Saturday, but the potential he has shown in those limited flashes was entirely on display against the Bears. No play was better than Bryant wrestling a touchdown away from California defensive back Josh Drayden in the first quarter to give the Huskies an early 7-0 lead. It was a risky throw by Browning, but Bryant had enough control of the ball when he hit the turf that officials awarded touchdown.
Bryant was targeted 11 times and five of his receptions went for first downs.
California’s one highlight came on Darius Allensworth’s 37-yard fumble return for a touchdown late in the third quarter after Dante Pettis lost control of the ball trying to make a move in the open field.
California quarterback Ross Bowers was under duress all night by Washington’s pass rush. Bowers finished 11 of 18 for 80 yards and was sacked seven times, most of the pressure coming from just three or four rushers.
THE TAKEAWAY
California: The Bears brutal schedule has caught up with them. After starting 3-0, the Bears have dropped three straight to Southern California, Oregon and Washington. The Bears were thoroughly dominated along the line of scrimmage by the Huskies and it doesn’t get easier next week with undefeated Washington State visiting.
Washington: If there was one complaint it would be the Huskies downfield passing game. Aside from Bryant, Washington had only four pass plays of 10 or more yards and none longer than 13.
PAC-12 AFTER DARK
Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said Saturday night that the member schools have to accept being stuck with late kickoffs as the tradeoff for increased exposure and revenue.
Scott spoke at halftime and was peppered with questions about Washington coach Chris Petersen’s complaints from earlier this week of the Huskies being stuck with late kickoff times so far this season. Saturday’s game kicked off at 7:50 p.m.
“The night games rate better than the day games,” Scott said. “So what tends to happen is, the better you do the more attractive you are for TV and the more you’re going to get scheduled in the night.”
