Williams, Washington overpower Washington State 59-24 in Apple Cup

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PULLMAN, Wash. — Demond Williams Jr. threw four touchdown passes and added a rushing score as Washington stormed past Washington State 59-24 on Saturday night, reclaiming the Apple Cup in dominant fashion. Williams showcased his dual-threat talent, throwing for 298 yards and rushing for 88 more while leading the Huskies to touchdowns on seven of eight scoring drives. Washington finished with 471 total yards and extended its season-opening streak of scoring on 21 straight possessions. “Demond is sensational,” Huskies coach Jedd Fisch said. “I think a lot of the country saw what Demond can do today… he’s super special, and I can’t wait to see him keep getting better.”

Running back Jonah Coleman chipped in with 59 yards and two touchdowns, while wide receiver Denzel Boston hauled in 107 yards and two scores. Omari Evans added a 59-yard touchdown catch to cap the Huskies’ statement win. The Cougars, still unsettled at quarterback, turned to senior Zevi Eckhaus after redshirt sophomore Jaxon Potter’s struggles a week ago. But Eckhaus was intercepted twice — both by safety Alex McLaughlin — and also lost a fumble in the second half. McLaughlin returned one interception for a touchdown, swinging momentum firmly to Washington.

“I was guarding my man, I looked up and I saw the ball and I saw nothing but green, so I just ran straight and scored,” said McLaughlin, who transferred from Northern Arizona.

Washington State’s lone highlight came when Eckhaus connected with redshirt freshman tight end Bo Baker for his first career touchdown catch. But the Cougars mustered just 33 yards on the ground, continuing a season-long struggle in the run game.

The Huskies put the game away in the fourth quarter after Boston’s second touchdown, when Eckhaus’ back-to-back turnovers turned into quick Washington scores.

“I think that’s what separated the game and then gave our defense back the confidence that they needed,” Fisch said.

The victory snapped a five-game road losing streak for Washington under Fisch and marked the Huskies’ 76th all-time win in the Apple Cup.

“It means a lot,” Williams said. “The past two weeks, we’ve been harping on bringing it back, bringing it back. That was our goal, and I feel like we did just that.”

Takeaways:

• Washington: A complete offensive showing and opportunistic defense lifted the Huskies to their first road win since November 2023.

• Washington State: Another defensive collapse raised concerns after the Cougars surrendered 59 points in back-to-back weeks.