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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
SEATTLE (AP) -- The Washington Huskies looked ready for
Miami.
"We're excited. It's a big game anytime the number five team in
the country comes into your house," said 6-foot-5, 335-pound Chad
Ward, the standout of the Huskies' powerful offensive line.
|  | | Marques Tuiasosopo had another fabulous performance for the Huskies, with 223 yards passing and another 80 on the ground. |
Marques Tuiasosopo passed for a touchdown and ran for another as
Washington (No. 15 ESPN/USA Today, No. 14 AP) opened the season with a 44-20 victory over Idaho on
Saturday.
Washington recovered four fumbles, intercepted a pass and
blocked a punt to start coach Rick Neuheisel's second year in
Seattle impressively. It was the most points scored by the Huskies
in a season opener since they shut out Texas-El Paso 55-0 in 1982.
The Huskies will face Miami, a 61-14 winner over McNeese State
on Thursday night, next Saturday at Husky Stadium.
"Playing Miami gives you a boost of energy heading into next
week," Tuiasosopo said. "We're going to celebrate tonight, start
getting ready tomorrow and try to elevate our game."
Tuiasosopo accounted for 313 yards, completing 16-of-30 passes
for 223 yards and one touchdown with one interception. He gained 80
yards and scored a touchdown on 15 carries to pass quarterback
Chris Chandler, now of the Atlanta Falcons, for sixth place on
Washington's career total offense list with 4,638 yards.
"I played good for an opener, but there's a lot of room for
improvement," Tuiasosopo said.
Said Ward, who is being projected as a first-round NFL draft
choice next April: "He's amazing. You can always count on Marques
for a big play."
Idaho momentarily stunned Washington by taking a 7-0 lead on the
first play when Willie Alderson scored on an 82-yard run, the
fourth longest TD run ever against Washington. Alderson went at
right guard, bounced outside and went untouched up the right
sideline.
"There was a big hole, I read it right and it was history from
then on," Alderson said.
Said Neuheisel: "I guess that was the ultimate in a wakeup
call."
After Ryan Downes punted 54 yards to the 2, Washington drove 98
yards in five plays to tie it with 3:25 gone in the second quarter
on a 32-yard pass from Tuiasosopo to Todd Elstrom.
Forty-seven seconds later, the Huskies went ahead 14-7 on a
21-yard keeper by Tuiasosopo. Tuiasosopo's TD run came on the
second play after Washington's Nick Olszewski recovered Nate
Griffin's fumble after John Anderson's kickoff.
Inside linebacker Ben Mahdavi scored Washington's third
touchdown of their 20-point second period when he recovered Idaho
quarterback John Welsh's fumble and ran into the end zone from 35
yards out with 7:46 left in the first half to give the Huskies a
20-7 lead.
"We were just tearing at the ball. Once you get a turnover,
your adrenaline starts to flow," said Mahdavi, who set up another
touchdown when he blocked a punt in the fourth quarter.
With Idaho trailing 20-13 at halftime, Washington broke open the
game in the first 4:38 of the second half. The Huskies took the
opening kickoff and drove 84 yards in 10 plays to score a touchdown
on Pat Conniff's 8-yard run.
They added a TD 19 seconds later after Nick Olszewski recovered
Cleavon Bradshaw's fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Derrick Johnson
scored on a 21-yard reverse to put the Huskies ahead 34-13 with
10:22 left in the third quarter.
Paul Arnold, Washington's highly touted sophomore tailback,
leaped into the end zone from 1 yard with 1:58 gone in the final
period after Mahdavi blocked by blocking a punt by Downes. The
blocked punt rolled 43 yards down field before going out of bounds.
"It's miserable to have a punt blocked," said Mahdavi, who
happens to be Washington's long snapper for punts.
Later in the fourth quarter, Washington sacked Welsh and caused
a fumble, which Hakim Akbar recovered on the 50. John Anderson, who
missed two attempts and an extra point in the first half, then
kicked a 31-yard field goal.
Welsh was 23-for-29 for 256 yards and two touchdowns with one
interception. Alderson finished with 140 yards on 18 rushes.
Welsh was knocked out of the game briefly in the fourth quarter
when he was hit by outside linebacker Jeremiah Pharms after he
released an attempted pass. Welsh suffered a cut lip that required
stitches after the game.
First-year coach Tom Cable of Idaho wasn't discouraged by the
defeat.
"I think we belonged in this stadium," he said. "I think
we're going to be a good team."
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ALSO SEE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Scoreboard
Idaho Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
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