SEATTLE — While much of the attention coming into Saturday’s contest between UCLA and Washington was devoted to the players running the ball, Brett Hundley reminded everyone he might just know a thing or two about throwing it.
The redshirt junior quarterback turned in one of his sharpest performances of the year in guiding No. 18 UCLA (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) to a 44-30 victory over Washington (6-4, 2-4 Pac-12) in a game in which the Bruins never trailed.
“He played with great certainty. He looked extremely poised in the pocket. He stepped up and threw the ball well with great accuracy,” said coach Jim Mora. “He practiced that way all week and he performed that way tonight.”
Hundley and the UCLA offense looked dominant throughout, putting together eight scoring drives and 476 yards of total offense against a UW defense that was statistically one of the top four in the conference heading into the game.
After running for an average of 106 yards over the last four games, Hundley instead took advantage of a depleted Washington secondary that featured three true freshman after the Huskies dismissed starting cornerback Marcus Peters earlier this week.
Hundley finished with 302 yards on 29 of 36 passing and four total touchdowns in a game that the Bruins moved the ball seemingly at will.
“We could do whatever we wanted – we could run the ball, we could pass the ball,” said sophomore receiver Thomas Duarte, who was one of ten Bruins with a reception. “We saw that we could take advantage of their secondary, and we could play faster than them. Our speed was better than theirs. I believe it showed tonight. We were just more physical than them.”
The Huskies looked outclassed offensively through much of the night as the Bruins raced to a season-high 31 first-half points, with Hundley picking apart the middle of Washington’s secondary.
After failing to produce a score on the team’s opening drive, Hundley led the Bruins to consecutive scores, notching one of his two first-half touchdown runs for the initial score, and then finding redshirt sophomore receiver Kenny Walker 57 yards downfield to net UCLA an early 14-0 lead.
The first-quarter strike moved Hundley into first place on UCLA’s all-time touchdown passes list, breaking former quarterback Cade McNown’s mark of 68.
“It’s a blessing and an honor and to do it. In three (years), its even a bigger thing,” Hundley said. “It’s huge for us and to be able to put a game together like this offensively and defensively and special teams. It just goes with what we are trying to do – finish out the season strong and keep winning.”
But before UCLA could do that, they had to finish off a pesky Huskies team that refused to go away in the second half.
After mustering just 129 yards of total offense and 10 points in the first half, the Huskies offense came alive in the final two quarters.
Washington put together three different drives of ten or more plays in the second half, netting 17 points in the process. Those sustained marches down the field were interspersed by a 100-yard kickoff return from wide receiver John Ross, which cut UCLA’s lead to 38-20 with 5:47 to go in the third quarter.
But as he did all night, Hundley had an answer.
The Bruins responded to each of those Huskies scores with one of their own, as Hundley found freshman receiver Mossi Johnson for a 15-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter and junior kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn added two second-half field goals.
Washington was never able to get closer than 14 points, and because of that, UCLA got that much closer to a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Now, with a bye next week and their final two games both coming at home, the Bruins believe they are poised to put together a strong finish.
“We played a complete game, and that’s what you want to be doing in November. You want to be hitting your stride and playing your best football,” Mora said. “We have to focus on continuing to build consistency, continuing to get better every single day in our preparation and try to keep winning.”
If Hundley plays like he did Saturday in Washington, that might not be a problem.