The Arizona-Washington Game

Another Saturday morning, another GREAT day for college football!

First up was a check of the high school scoreboard back in southern California. I'm happy to announce that the Rio Mesa Spartans varsity team improved to 3-2 on the season by edging Dos Pueblos 21-7.

Riccardo Conticello's Cabrillo squad lost a close one, 7-0, to Santa Ynez to drop to 1-4 on the year.

Meanwhile, back in Puyallup. . .

Frosty Westering with his grandson

Jason Johnson

Saturday started with a real treat for me as Pacific Lutheran University was playing in Minnesota against Gustavus Adolphus. Jason's grandpa Frosty was the long time Head Football Coach at PLU and is a member of the College Football Hall-of-Fame. He and his wife Donna came over to watch the PLU game on streaming video at the Johnson home.

Jason is SO VERY proud of Frosty and I have been a fan of Frosty's since reading his book about five years ago. What great and positive people to be around!!!

Unfortunately, PLU record dropped to 1-3 as they lost Saturday 34-33.

In other scores of games of interest to the Catania Elephants yesterday we have:

Brandon Bennett's Willamette (5-1) 62 - Lewis and Clark 24

Matt Epperson's Hardin-Simmons (2-4) 13 - East Texas Baptist 10

Denver Wade's Wabash (5-0) 31 - Washington University of Missouri 12

Larry Atkinson's Nebraska-Omaha (5-2) 31 - Washburn 21

Taber LeMarr's San Diego (3-2) 48 - Valparaiso 0

Now it was on to the BIG ONE. . .

University of Arizona (3-1)

at

University of Washington (2-3)

A.K.A.

Jason Johnson

vs.

George Contreras

Last year we drove down to Tucson with Jason and Christie to see this game. Today we would once again sit together as proud alumni of our schools as they squared off in a key PAC-10 game at Husky Stadium.

Mark Johnson

We have been good friends with Mark since 1968! He lives about a five minute walk from Husky Stadium with his wife Susie and daughters Sophie and Mallory. They hosted a great pre-game and post-game affair in their new home on the Montlake Cut seen behind him.

The view East from the Johnson's backyard.

The view West from the Johnson's backyard.

It's Fall in the Pacific Northwest and the colors were AWESOME!

A child playing with leaves

on the UW campus.

The UW Quad

Miller Hall on the left

Miller houses the Department of Education where Laurie worked as a secretary 40 years ago.

UW's Frosh Pond

One of the Montlake Bridge's Towers

If tall ships are going through the Montlake Cut, people in these towers raise the bridge.

We walked acroos the bridge on our way to meet some of Jason's Arizona buddies on our way to the game.

Harry Husky with Laurie outside of

Husky Stadium

The Jim Owens Statue

Thanks again J.O.!

Hec Edmundson Pavilion to the left

It was a chilly 7:20 p.m. kickoff for the game but we were ready!

Jason and Christie in Wildcat Red and Blue

Laurie and I countered with Husky Purple and Gold!

Cool hat Laurie.

Football is a strange game sometimes and this would be one of the weirdest I've ever witnessed.

Let's start with some final game statistics;

Total Plays: Arizona 83-47

First Downs: Arizona 26-14

Net Yards Gained: Arizona 461-256

Time of Possession: Arizona 39:19 -20:41

Points Scored: WASHINGTON 36-33!!!

How is this possible you ask? Well it was interesting indeed!

Bottom line, at the end of the third quarter Arizona was winning 27-21. The Wildcat's kicker, Alex Zendejas, would add two Field Goals of 29 and 24 yards to up the Arizona lead to 33-21 with only 4:22 left in the contest and, truth be told, MANY people wearing Purple and Gold opted to leave the stadium at this point in time.

NOT US!

At the 2:55 mark, Husky QB Jake Locker hit WR Kavario Middleton on a 25 yard TD strike, Erik Folk added the PAT and the score was now Arizona 33- Washington 28.

The Wildcats put their "Hands Team" on the field anticipating a Husky onside kick but the UW opted to kick it deep and pray the defense could come up big.

DID THEY EVER!!!

The Play of the Night

So Arizona has been killing the Dawgs all night with a simple wide receiver screen and the UW seemingly has no answer to how to defend it.

It was exactly at the 2:37 mark that Arizona QB Nick Foles threw yet another of these Bubble Screens. Above you see Foles' pass that has just ricocheted off the left foot of Wildcat WR Delashaun Dean into. . .

. . . the arms of Husky LB Mason Foster!!!

Foster returned it 37 yards for a Husky TD, Locker hit WR Jermaine Kearse for the two-point PAT and VOILA, it was Huskies 36 - Wildcats 33!!!!!

The Wildcats had one last chance but DB Desmond Trufant picked off a Wildcat pass to seal the improbable comeback victory!

Husky Defensive Coordinator Nick Holt with an ecstatic UW Head Coach Steve Sarkisian after the game

"What just happened out there?"

A bottle of "Il Bastardo" Italian red wine back at Mark and Susie's home helped us analyze the evening's events.

We had a great time seeing everyone and the game's ending was just sensational if you were wearing Purple and Gold.

Thanks again to Jason and Christie for hosting us in Puyallup on Friday and to Mark and Susie for doing the same on Saturday and Sunday. Great friends usually equal great memories, this weekend was proof.

On a serious note, it was great listening to Jason during the game as the action unfolded. He truly has a great football mind with a very clear vision of the game in general and offense in particular. Because of his multitude of talents, he has many different ways to go when or if he finally decides to settle into some form of a more traditional career path. Coaching college football would be a fine choice for him someday in my opinion.