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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/ZackinSoCal on 2025-12-14 17:35:12+00:00.
The Washington Huskies faced off against the Broncos of Boise State Saturday evening in the LA Gronk Bowl as a closeout for their season, heading into the contest with an 8-4 record. While not outstanding on the surface, the truth is that three of Washington’s four losses were to ranked conference opponents in Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon. Had it not been for the brutal loss to Wisconsin, there would likely be a substantially different outtake on the season for the Huskies. Regardless, the opportunity to prove that they were better than their 8-4 record arose in the form of the LA Bowl. They’d be facing off against the champions of the Mountain West, the 9-3 Boise State Broncos.
The game would open with a nice kickoff return by the Broncos, and a first down following the return pushed them into scoring position. That is where the drive would end though, forcing a Colton Boomer 52-yard field goal to open the scoring in the game. Washington would match Boise State’s opening fireworks with their own, combining efficient running and a dominant connection in Demond Williams Jr. and Denzel Boston to make their way down to the goal line. A goal line sack by Marco Notarainni would end the Husky drive and lead to a 33 yarder by Grady Gross to tie the game at a field goal each.
The score would remain at 3 all for quite some time, with a battle of punts mixed in with Xe’ree Alexander picking of Boise’s Maddux Madsen. The turnover wouldn’t lead to anything, and after it four consecutive punts would ensue. The punt fest would last until about ten minutes remaining in the first half. What can only be described as a complete defensive breakdown allowed for Demond Williams to find a wide open Denzel Boston for a 78-yard touchdown bomb, waking up the crowd and both sidelines as the first touchdown of the game was put on the board.
Now facing a 10-3 deficit, it was time for the Boise State offense to respond. At first it seemed as though they would, converting multiple first downs and getting themselves up across midfield. They’d come to a 4th and 1 and ultimately go for it, an early deciding point in the game. The play would come up just short and the Broncos would ultimately turn it over on downs. The Demond Williams and Denzel Boston connection was highlighted again as the Huskies would quickly make their way down to the goal line, where Williams would find Dezmen Roebuck on a 6-yard touchdown grab. Now down two scores, Maddux Madsen would make an ill-advised pass on the ensuing drive and throw his second interception of the game. Three plays later Washington would score yet again, with Demond Williams hitting Raiden Vines-Bright on a 3-yard touchdown pass. This would push the lead to 24-3, a lead the Huskies would take into halftime.
The second half was not any more competitive. An efficient touchdown drive to open the second half would push the Husky lead to 28, and Williams would throw his fourth touchdown pass, this one to Quentin Moore. The teams would trade punts, and Boise would opt for the backup Max Cutforth at QB. The backup magic seemed to work for the Broncos, as they would reach the redzone for the first time in the game with around a minute left in the 3rd quarter. They would turn it over on downs, resulting in a very short-lived redzone appearance.
Now in the 4th quarter in a 31-3 lopsided affair, and Boise State would force a 3 and out, having a shorter field to work with. Still going with Cutforth at the helm, the Broncos make their way down to the redzone again, this time getting all the way inside the ten. Cutforth would be picked for the third Bronco interception thrown in the game. In a rare positive event for Boise, Washington would fumble and allow for a potential score for the Broncos – still seeking their first score since the first drive in the game.
Max Cutforth would immediately throw another interception. Washington forced their fourth pick of the night, returning it all the way to the Boise State ten-yard line. Jonah Coleman would take it in for a Husky rushing touchdown, pushing the score up to 38-3. The ensuing drive would be a third consecutive Max Cutforth interception – Boise’s fifth on the night. In the last two minutes of the game Cutforth would find Matt Lauter for a garbage time touchdown, ending the Bucked Up LA Bowl with a score of 38-10 and a Washington victory. The future looks bright in Seattle, and the game tonight highlighted the young Demond Williams Jr.’s true potential. A strong punctuation to the season (and a forgetting of the Wisconsin game) should lead to a hopeful offseason for the Husky faithful.
Next year, Washington returns a young team and faces a non-conference schedule of Washington State in the Apple Cup, Utah State, and Eastern Washington. Their Big Ten schedule consists of home games against Indiana, Penn State, Iowa, and Minnesota, as well as road games at Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue, USC, and Oregon. The schedule lines up for a potential record improvement in 2026.