The Washington Huskies secured a 24-10 victory over the Washington State Cougars during the 118th Apple Cup in Seattle on Sunday, September 6, 2026. Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. orchestrated a decisive fourth-quarter comeback to overcome a competitive, if unpolished, matchup.
Demond Williams Jr.’s 115-Yard Fourth Quarter Surge
The Washington Huskies relied on a late-game explosion from Demond Williams Jr. to secure their win in Seattle. According to the report , Williams was nearly flawless in the final period, completing six consecutive passes for 115 yards and a touchdown . This late-game efficiency allowed the Huskies to pull away from the Washington State Cougars after a game that had remained relatively tight throguh the first three quarters.
Williams finished the day with 238 total passing yards and added 61 rushing yards on seven carries, including a crucial 5-yard touchdown scramble. His ability to find receivers like Chris Lawson and Rashid Williams in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference-maker. The Huskies' momentum was further cemented when Jayden Limar scored on an 11-yard touchdown run following a 35-yard pass from Williams to Lawson.
Caden Pinnick’s Dual-Threat Performance and the WSU Turnover Problem
Washington State Cougars quarterback Caden Pinnick provided a spark for his team, but his efficiency was undermined by costly errors.. The report notes that Pinnick accounted for 142 passing yards and 61 rushing yards, including an 11-yard touchdown run that briefly brought the Cougars within three points of the Huskies. Pinnick also managed to convert a vital 4th-and-3 to keep a scoring drive alive during the third quarter.
However, the Cougars' momentum was frequently halted by turnovers. Pinnick was intercepted twice, once by Jeron Jones, which set the Huskies up deep in Washington State territory. These mistakes, combined with a fumble by Kirby Vorhees, prevented the Cougars from capitalizing on their offensive drives and ultimately cost them the game.
A Sloppy 118th Apple Cup and Jedd Fisch's Frustration
The 118th edition of this historic rivalry was characterized by uncharacteristic mistakes from both sides, described as a rather sloppy game for both programs. As the source details, Washington head coach Jedd Fisch expressed his displeasure by throwing his headset down as the teams headed to the locker room at halftime. This frustration stemmed from a massive 93-yard drive where the Huskies marched from their own 6-yard line to the WSU 1-yard line, only to be stufed at the goal line by Keith Brown.
Discipline was a recurring issue throughout the contest. The Huskies' drive was aided by a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty against Matyus McLain, while the Cougars were hampered by a targeting penalty against Rylon Dillard-Allen. These frequent infractions prevented both teams from maintaining a consistent rhythm.
Will Washington State Fix the Jack Stevens Kicking Woes?
The Cougars' ability to stay in the game was severely limited by struggles in the kicking game. Jack Stevens missed two critical field goal attempts, including an initial 52-yard try and a subsequent 32-yard attempt that missed wide right.. A delay of game penalty also wiped out a successful 27-yard field goal attempt, further demoralizing the Washington State sideline.
Several questions remain for the Washington State program following this loss. Can the Cougars stabilize their passing game to prevent interceptions like the one caught by Jeron Jones? Additionally, it remains to be seen if the team can improve their red-zone efficiency and special teams reliability, as both factors were decisive in the 24-10 outcome.
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