Huskies win Pac-12 championship, likely securing playoff spot (2024)

LAS VEGAS — As Dillon Johnson unleashed a guttural roar that followed a 5-yard score, woofs rained from the west side of Allegiant Stadium. No. 3 Washington (13-0) had surged to a 10-0 lead in the final Pac-12 championship game, leaving the west side woofing and the east side reeling.

This, early on, was a UW downpour.

But in a 34-31 Washington win, the Huskies survived a second-half storm.

“Words can’t describe it, man,” said sixth-year senior linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio, who finished with six tackles. “What better story for us than to beat Oregon three times in a row, especially the last one for the Pac-12 [title], after everybody doubted us.

“Ten points [the point spread Oregon was favored by] was ridiculous. We just kept our heads down and worked. We knew how good we were. There was never a doubt. Even when we were losing, there was never a doubt we were going to come back and win.”

Despite entering the game as 9.5-point underdogs, the Huskies didn’t hesitate. They mounted a 15-play, 54-yard march in their opening drive, culminating in a 38-yard Grady Gross field goal. From a play and clock (seven minutes and 26 seconds) standpoint, it was the longest drive of UW’s season.

It was also the beginning of a long day for the Oregon Ducks.

Those Ducks — winners of six straight games after succumbing Oct. 14 in Seattle — went three-and-out on each of their first two drives, unexpectedly stagnant. Washington, meanwhile, produced a 32-yard Germie Bernard punt return that preceded the aforementioned Johnson score to take a 10-0 first-quarter lead.

Plus, Johnson — a 6-foot, 218-pound junior — did more than plow potential tackles. With 6:48 left in the second quarter, the Mississippi State transfer flipped to Bernard, who busted around the left edge and into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown that extended the advantage to 17-3.

“I’m blessed to be in this position, to do something like this,” Johnson said. “Because this comes once in a lifetime.”

Literally.

After Gross tacked on another field goal, the Ducks stared down a 20-3 deficit with 1:39 left in the opening half. To that point, Oregon had been outgained 256 to 82.

But it was two-for-one time.

Oregon ripped off back-to-back touchdowns to end the first half and start the second, on a pair of 2-yard strikes from quarterback (and Heisman Trophy front-runner) Bo Nix to tight end Terrance Ferguson. With nine seconds left in the second quarter, Ferguson snagged the floating football with his left hand to keep it close.

The 6-5, 255-pound tight end’s second touchdown was equally improbable — as Ducks coach Dan Lanning opted to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2. Nix felt pressure, escaped to his right and found Ferguson in the middle of the south end zone.

Twenty-two plays, 150 yards, two drives and two touchdowns later, the deficit was nearly dead.

Which is when two Heisman-contender quarterbacks traded unacceptable mistakes.

First, UW’s Michael Penix Jr. felt pressure on third-and-10 and airmailed wide-open wide receiver Rome Odunze, surrendering an interception to cornerback Khyree Jackson instead. But Nix gave it back two plays later, scrambling right and unfurling a prayer … directly to UW defensive back Mishael Powell.

And yet, with a precarious 20-17 lead, UW couldn’t capitalize.

On third-and-one from Oregon’s 27-yard line, Johnson appeared primed to convert … but fatefully fell for a 1-yard loss. Rather than attempting a 45-yard field goal, the Huskies gambled on fourth-and-two, and Penix was tracked down by Oregon nickelback Nikko Reed for an opportunity-eroding sack.

And when it came to capitalizing, the Ducks did what the Dawgs didn’t. On second-and-three from his own 45, Nix eluded a charging Bralen Trice and took off down the left sideline for a 44-yard sprint. Oregon running back Jordan James barreled into the end zone for a 6-yard score two plays later.

In barely the span of a quarter, the Ducks posted 21 unanswered points.

This was a different downpour.

But UW didn’t drown.

Instead, the Huskies produced a 10-play, 75-yard answer, which Johnson capped with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to retake a 27-24 lead. And after surrendering three touchdowns in its last four drives, UW’s defense suddenly stiffened, as Trice swallowed Nix for no gain on third-and-nine.

Then UW diffused the drama — unsheathing a 12-play, 82-yard, six-minute and 20-second odyssey to upend Oregon. On third-and-goal from the 2, Penix found tight end Quentin Moore for the game-sealing score.

It was only his second catch of the season.

“I’ll tell you exactly where [the play call] came from: Wednesday’s practice,” smiling offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. “Q-Moore caught one in the back of the end zone that was like 9 1/2-feet high and left his feet and snagged it, and that’s all I could picture. Because Q has good hands, and he’s big and I knew he could shed a guy in the end zone.

“We’ve been repping that play for two weeks, and he was going to be ready for the moment.”

Even so, the Ducks didn’t waiver. Needing a desperation score, Nix hit streaking wide receiver Traeshon Holden for a 63-yard touchdown to narrow the deficit to 34-31. But after Oregon’s onside kick bounced out of bounds, Penix connected with McMillan for a 6-yard completion on third-and-four and Johnson galloped for an 18-yard gain on third-and-nine to seal the win.

“It was dark days, man, of going through the injury and knowing I can’t play and help this team,” said McMillan, who missed four games with a lingering leg injury. “I wanted to come out here and make an impact right away, and hopefully that’s what I did.”

Johnson hit double digits for the fourth time this season, amassing 152 rushing yards with 5.4 yards per carry and two touchdowns (plus a passing score). Penix completed 27 of 39 passes, throwing for 319 yards with a touchdown and an interception (earning MVP honors in the process). Wide receivers Rome Odunze (eight catches, 102 yards) and McMillan (nine catches, 131 yards) each crossed the century mark as well.

“I prayed about it; I saw it. I manifested this. This is the vision I wanted this year,” McMillan said.

Added Ulofoshio, as purple confetti and silver streamers littered the field inside Allegiant Stadium, a celebratory pigsty, “On their turf, on our turf, on a neutral turf, [Oregon] will never live this down.”

Together, these undaunted Dawgs survived a storm, secured a (likely) playoff spot, cemented a 20th consecutive win and took down their principal rival to seize the very last Pac-12 title.

The woofs might echo still.

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