WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Notes, Quotes

The Sports Xchange

November 27, 2018 at 9:31 pm.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

–WR Aaron Fuller has been Washington’s leading pass-catcher throughout the season, though his production has dipped in recent weeks. He went without a catch at Washington State, but did factor into the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown pass to TE Hunter Bryant. The Huskies found a formula that worked against Utah earlier in the season, as Fuller totaled 108 yards in the September matchup.

–WR Andre Baccellia comes into the Pac-12 Championship Game after his most statistically productive outing of 2018, catching five passes for 89 yards. QB Jake Browning told the Pac-12 Networks after the game that Baccellia was a difference-maker with his speed off screen passes against blitzes. Baccellia made a big play against Utah in September, as well, gaining 37 yards on a rush.

–LB Brandon Wellington missed Washington’s first four games, and his production was sparing in the month that followed upon his return Sept. 29 vs. BYU. Wellington comes into the Pac-12 Championship having come up big in the Huskies’ two most important games, making five tackles Sept. 3 against Stanford, and eight last week vs. Washington State. Wellington gives the Washington defense an additional, agile run-pursuer to support Ben Burr-Kirven against Utah’s zone-read offense.

–S Taylor Rapp may be the most versatile playmaker on Washington’s talented defense, able to drop back effectively in pass coverage, support against the run, and get into the backfield on blitzes. Against Utah, Rapp could be the Huskies’ most effective option in containing explosive WR Britain Covey.

SERIES HISTORY: Washington is 11-1 all-time against Utah, including wins in each of the past three seasons. Utah’s only win in the series came in 2015 at Husky Stadium. The 21-7 margin of victory for Washington in September’s meeting was the most lopsided since a 34-15 Washington win in 2012.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “I still don’t know how to handle this expectation thing, because expectations can be the kiss of death when they come from the outside. They wear you on for a long time. It always make you feel like you’re going to be perfect, and no one’s going to be perfect: No players, no coaches, no teams. It adds pressure to those guys … especially that first game (vs. Auburn). That’s hard to stomach, but I think we’ve gotten better.” — UW coach Chris Petersen, on addressing preseason projections to make the College Football Playoff