The Washington Huskies wrapped up their non-conference schedule Saturday night with an emphatic 48-16 win over Eastern Washington. While the Huskies finally showed the ability to overpower inferior opponents, there are certainly some areas of improvement that Jedd Fisch and his coaching staff will need to fine-tune ahead Big Ten play.
Here are three takeaways following the win.
1. Receivers Highlight Strong Offensive Showing
WHAT A CATCH.
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 20, 2026
🙌 Touchdown @Rashidakello6
🎥 @jackmurrey
📺 @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/GFMmzk99N1
After a lackluster performance in their first two games, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and company wasted no time getting to work against the Eagles. The Huskies put together an eight-play, 74-yard drive on their first possession of the game, marking the first time they've
found the end zone in the opening period since Week Eight of 2025 in a win over Illinois. While Williams seems to have found his rhythm through the air, he had the help of a few standout plays from his receiving corps.
Fellow Arizona native Dezmen Roebuck had a career day, racking up 9 catches for 121 yards, marking a career high in both receptions and receiving yards. After being cleared from the injury report earlier this week, Rashid Williams was the clear number two option, posting 6 receptions for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a one-handed grab to put the Huskies up 28-10. Freshmen Jordan Clay and Trez Davis also made their presence felt with their first career touchdown catches. With the running game slowly coming along, the young receiving room will have to continue to find a way to make big-time plays in order for the Husky offense to be effective in Big Ten play.
2. The Defense is Extremely Effective... the Penalties Are Not
While the scoreboard indicates it was another stout showing for the defense, the stat sheet would imply something different. Despite giving up just one touchdown and three field goals, Eastern was able to move the ball effectively on multiple drives that didn't result in points. The most notable of those drives came midway through the third quarter, when Washington aided the Eagles with 48 penalty yards. After getting what would've been a third-down stop, Jacob Lane and Xe'ree Alexander both found themselves getting ejected from the contest. Lane was called for a flagrant personal foul for throwing a punch, while Alexander was tossed for a questionable targeting call.
Later that same drive, cornerback Jeron Jones was called for defensive pass interference (one of two against the freshman on the day), and the defense was called for a delay of game penalty. Despite giving the Eagles nearly 50 yards on the drive, Ryan Walters' unit was still able to force a turnover on downs near the goal line. While the Huskies may have been able to live with losing two key starters and half a field worth of penalties against an FCS opponent, sequences like that are what win and lose you games in the Big Ten.
Outside of the penalties, the Huskies also gave up 142 yards rushing, with quarterback Nate Bell leading the charge with 50 yards. This marks the third consecutive week that an opposing quarterback has led his team in rushing against the Huskies.
3. Brian Bonner Jr. Showed Off the Wheels
That had to feel good both for Brian Bonner and the embattled UW offensive line.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) September 20, 2026
For the first time this season, a running back led the Huskies in rushing. Thanks to true freshman Brian Bonner Jr., the ball carriers saw a much more productive day on the ground, totaling 148 yards on the ground. The first-year showed off his speed in his second game in the rotation, including a 55-yard run that set the Washington offense up inside the EWU 5-yard line. However, Demond Williams was hit on the elbow on a throw that landed in the hands of an Eastern defender on the 1-yard line.
Despite getting just six carries, Bonner averaged 13.5 yards a rush and finished the night with 81 yards. While those numbers may not necessarily jump off the stat sheet, it demonstrates a significant improvement from last week's performance against Utah State, where the running back room went for just 51 yards as a whole. As the young tandem of Bonner and Ansu Sanoe continue to get more reps with the first team offense, they are slowly starting to show signs of comfort and confidence in the backfield.
Now, the Huskies will shift their focus to their conference opener against Minnesota next Saturday, September 26, inside Husky Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: 3 Takeaways Following Washington's 48-16 Win Over Eastern Washington
