Kalen DeBoer discusses Huskies 37-34 stunning upset of sixth-ranked Oregon

The Washington Huskies and Oregon Ducks battled in one of the more classic games of the 2022 college football season on Saturday night. The Pac-12 thriller between the two rivals came down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter, when the Husky defense got a critical stop on fourth down. Then, Washington kicker Peyton Henry, drilled what would be the game-winning field goal, a 43-yarder with 51 seconds to play to lift the Huskies to a stunning 37-34 victory over the sixth-ranked Ducks. Following the game, FOX sideline reporter Allison Williams caught up with Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer. He discussed one of the bigger wins in Husky program history on the field in Autzen Stadium.

Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer discusses one of the biggest wins in Husky program history

“We’ve been in a lot of ups and downs throughout the year. We’re just a team that always comes back and keeps fighting. And that’s what it was gonna take tonight. We knew that from the get-go. And it showed itself in four quarters,” DeBoer said.

DeBoer then discussed how his quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. bounced back from the costly interception he threw in the fourth quarter. “It’s not like him to throw that interception down there. You know, we trust him. And Coach [Ryan] Grubb, him, they got it back under control. You know, that throw down the sideline, that’s just what he does. Super proud of him,” the Washington head coach said.

Oregon’s Heisman Trophy candidate Bo Nix was outdueled by Washington’s prolific quarterback, Michael Penix, Jr. Penix threw for the most passing yards that any quarterback in school history has ever thrown against Oregon on Saturday night–tossing for 408 yards, while throwing in two touchdowns and one interception. The interception that he threw around the goal line could have proven to be costly, but the Washington defense stepped up when they needed to in order to prevail.

The most critical throw Penix completed on Saturday night came with 3:17 remaining in the fourth quarter, when he delivered an absolute laser from his own 30-yard line on the right hash. He connected with his receiver Taj Davis down the left sideline. Davis caught the ball at around the Oregon 37-yard line, where he tight roped his way down the sideline to stay in bounds. Then, it was off to the races to end zone, and the game was tied at 34-34 with 3:07 remaining in the game.

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Kalen DeBoer also commented on his team’s defensive performance down the stretch, when they made the game-changing stop on fourth down. The Husky defense stiffened when they needed it the very most –stopping Oregon running back Noah Whittington on 4th and 1 with 1:26 remaining. When Whittington slipped in the backfield, he was immediately met by a swarm of Washington defenders.

The crucial stop allowed the Huskies’ offense to drive the ball down in field goal range to drill the game-winning kick. “Yeah, you know, just kept playing. The big stop on fourth down. The turnover early. We just keep playing. That’s what our whole team is about, and our defense showed that tonight. And we keep getting better every week,” DeBoer said.

The win for the Huskies was undoubtedly one of the biggest in school history. It was Washington’s first win over the Ducks since the 2017 season. The victory also knocks Oregon out of contention for a 2022 College Football Playoff berth. It’ll be interesting to see which teams get in the mix, now that the Ducks are officially out of the hunt.

Saturday night’s performance will surely be one that DeBoer and Washington Husky fans won’t forget anytime soon, nor should they.