No trick plays. No FG or punt fakes. No Hail Mary’s. Just pure willpower overtook the #3 team in the nation as the Huskies celebrate one of the greatest upsets in UW Football history.
Much of the credit must go to the defense (especially Mason Foster) and Folk for his field goal kicking, but one thing is clear: Jake Locker is clearly the best QB in the pac-10, if not the entire nation. He was incredibly calm througout the game, made no turnovers against one of the toughest defenses, and made plays when it counted most.
USC wasn’t Locker’s best game, but he was still incredibly efficient. He was 21 of 35 for 237 yards, still 60 percent for the season at 63 of 105.
Coach Sark on Locker:
I don’t think this was Jake’s best night, but when we needed him, he made plays. He found a way to stay in the game. He’s played marvelously for us these first three games. Hopefully for us we have more moments like that, but he doesn’t need that drive to say that he’s a good quarterback or not. He’s a tremendous leader. He’s a great quarterback. He just executed that final drive.
Pete Caroll on Locker (before the game):
I think Jake is one of the best players I’ve ever seen in this conference, in all the years we’ve been here, he’s the most extraordinary athlete at the position we’ve seen, and I saw that as a freshman. Jake is just a ridiculous athlete that plays quarterback in a high-skilled offense as well. It’s just totally different. Jake’s dynamics, because of his legs, it just makes him incredibly difficult.
Pete Caroll on Locker (after the game):
I think the difference in this game was Jake. We kept him under wraps for a while, but when he had to have it, he made it. That’s what a great player does.
Shout out to Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandell for picking the Huskies to win, despite being 21 point underdogs.
Here are some articles to read if you’d like to continue basking in this huge game that marks a new era in Husky football:
- The difference for UW? Locker’s superior QB play
- 16-13 victory over No. 3 ranked USC yesterday
- Bob Condotta’s recap of the UW USC game
- Steve Kelley on Jake Locker’s leadership in the last 4 minutes of the game
- Jerry Brewer says Wow
- Tacoma News Tribune: Happy Days are Back at the UW
- Everett Herald Huskies rule the day
- Sarkisian’s revival of the Husky program
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