Gambling Huskies Don't Fear 4th Down, They Embrace It and Celebrate
Across the college football landscape, Kalen DeBoer and his University of Washington coaching staff over the weekend suddenly became known as riverboat gamblers — and they were still days away from getting on a jet for Las Vegas.
As writers were finishing up their stories and sneaking peeks at the Apple Cup on overhead TVs, the press box at Michigan erupted when the UW chose to go for it on fourth-and-1 from its own 29 with 1:14 left in a tie game and succeeded.
"I wanted to go out and if at all possible to not be crazy," DeBoer said.
Ah, but it was lunacy, not to mention gutsy and sheer genius, all wrapped into one play, with everything on the line against Washington State, leading to a 24-21 victory. These were the Hail Mary Huskies. The Hit Me Again Huskies. Put it all on one number Huskies.
UW quarterback Michael Penix Jr. took the snap, faked to running back Dillon Johnson and did a well choreographed pirouette, flipping the ball to wide receiver Rome Odunze, who raced around the left end, faked out a defender and gained 23 yards, 22 more than was needed.
The play worked because Penix read the defense perfectly and Odunze didn't go in motion, which prevented a defender from getting a running start at stopping him. Penix did his ballerina move and made a perfect pitch, and Odunze caught the ball without having to reach for it or break stride. Everything had to work just right to pull this off.
Rome Odunze finds nothing but open space as he gains 23 yards on a fourth-and-1 play in the Apple Cup.
Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports
Over his headset, UW offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb first had to talk a cautious DeBoer into using the play, and he was able to draw enough of a consensus to proceed.
"I would say like 75 percent," Grubb said with a smirk of the coach's confidence. "He was good. He gave the 'Are you sure?' I said yes."
The play has a name, but Grubb impishly wouldn't share it. Quality control coach Mitch Dahlen brought it to everyone's attention. The Huskies hadn't tried it this season. It wasn't necessarily designed for the open field, not even close.
"It was in our goal-line package," the coordinator said. "I felt it might as well have been the goal line."
The percentages, however, were in the high-efficient, always-confident Huskies' favor.
This marked the 14th time DeBoer's team had gone for it on fourth down this season, converting 11, yet it was only the second occasion in which the Huskies attempted it on their side of the field.
In contrast, opponents have converted just 13 of 33 fourth-down plays against them, or a 39 percent success rate compared to the Huskies' 79 percent.
While the UW averages just over one fourth-down attempt a game, it previously was the most courageous against Oregon, when it passed up punts or field goals three separate times and made it work twice.
The Huskies' biggest miss came in the fourth quarter against the Ducks on a fourth-and-goal play from the 1 when they handed the ball to freshman running back Tybo Rogers and he got jammed up and lost a yard with 6:36 left to play and the Huskies trailing 33-29.
Of the UW's 11 fourth-down successes, six of these plays led to touchdowns or field goals, including Grady Gross' last-second, 42-yard kick to settle the Apple Cup 24-21.
If the Huskies demonstrated anything on that heart-stopping fourth-down play, they're willing to do just about anything to keep their dream alive of playing for and winning a national championship.
"The biggest part is you've got a head coach who believes in the call and you've got a good call," Grubb said. "You tell him, 'Yep we're good,' and he sticks with it. You're getting the ball to one of your best guys at the best moment and your quarterback makes a great decision."
Not to mention you're sweating profusely, saying your prayers and rubbing a lucky rabbit's foot until the ball advances at least that one precious yard, let alone 23, and UW game-winning points ultimately are assured.
HUSKY 4TH-DOWN ATTEMPTS
Boise State (1-1)
4th-and-goal at Boise State 1, 4th quarter — Johnson 1-yard TD run
Tulsa (1-1)
4th-and-1 @ Tulsa 42, 1st quarter — Penix 5-yard run, first down, led to field goal
Michigan State (1-2)
4th-and-6 @ MSU 35, 4th quarter — Morris incomplete pass, ball turned over on downs
4th-and-6 @ MSU 35, 4th quarter — Rogers 6-yard run, first down, game ended four plays later
California (1-2)
4th-and-2 @ Cal 23, 3rd quarter — Penix rushes for no gain, ball turned over on downs
4th-and-3 @ Cal 31, 4th quarter — Morris 18-yard pass to Williams, first down, led to touchdown
Arizona (1-1)
4th-and-1 @ Arizona 35, 4th quarter — Johnson 2-yard run, first down, last play of the game
Oregon (2-3)
4th-and-1 at UW 44, 2nd quarter — Penix 2-yard pass to Westover, first down, drive ended by interception
4th-and-6 at Oregon 16, 4th quarter — Penix 8-yard pass to Jackson, first down, drive ended with failed fourth down
4th-and-goal at Oregon 1, 4th quarter — Rogers 1-yard loss, ball turned over on downs
USC (1-1)
4th-and-6 at USC 34, 2nd quarter — Penix 26-yard pass to Odunze, first down, led to touchdown
Utah (2-2)
4th-and-2 at Utah 44, 3rd quarter — Penix 10-yard pass to Westover, first down, led to touchdown
4th-and-1 at Utah 38, 4th quarter — Johnson 2-yard run, first down, led to missed field goal
Washington State (1-1)
4th-and-1 at UW 29, 4th quarter — Odunze 23-yard run, first down, led to game-winning field goal
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