Michael Penix Jr. showed why he is regarded as a top draft pick on Monday night in the Sugar Bowl, throwing for 430 yards on 29-38 passing with two touchdowns in the Huskies 37-31 win to put them in the National Championship against the top rated Michigan Wolverines.
As the underdog, a role in which the Huskies relish, the Huskies came out firing on their first drive. The Huskies are masters at putting together long sustained drives to keep the defense on their toes and the opponent’s offense off the field. Their first drive saw a Huskies score in only 4 plays. Penix connected with JaLynn Polk for 77 yards down to the Washington 2 and Dillon Johnson punched it in for the early 7-0 Husky lead.
Penix exerted his precision with long passes throughout the first half in completions of 24 and another of 52 to the nations top receiver, Rome Odunze. “The guy was on a mission,” said coach Kalen DeBoer following the game. Penix completed 11 of 14 passes in the first half, but after a muffed punt at their own 10-yard line, the Huskies and Longhorns were tied at 21 at half. It was a dominant Husky first half by the Husky offense Punting only one time to the Longhorns three.
To begin the second half, Penix continued right where he left off putting together an eight play, 70-yard touchdown drive going six for six on the drive and finding Jalen McMillan in the endzone between safeties to put the Huskies up 28-21.
With the Huskies up 34-21, Texas put a drive together to make the game interesting. Longhorn sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers led a 10-play drive ending in a Ewers to Mitchell pass to pull the Horns within six. The Huskies and horns traded field goals and after a big stop, the Longhorns had fifty seconds to pull off the improbable down only six. Ewers connected with Jordan Widdington for a 41-yard pickup to the Husky 31-yard line. Ewers then found Jaydon Blue to bring the ball down to the Washington 12- yard line with 15 seconds remaining. Husky defense stepped up and forced a fourth down with just one second remaining. Ewers last effort to Mitchell in the endzone was batted away by Jackson as time expire, and the Huskies pulled out another nail biter. This gives the Huskies their first shot at a title since 1990. Washington takes on the undefeated Michigan Wolverines in the National Championship Monday night to put the cherry on top of an already magical season for the Dawgs.
