Washington 41, Michigan State 7
By BOB TRIPI
Associated Press
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michael Penix Jr. threw for 473 yards and four touchdowns, including three to Jack Westover, to lead No. 8 Washington to a 41-7 victory over Michigan State playing its first game without suspended coach Mel Tucker.
The Huskies (3-0) totaled 713 yards of offense which is the most ever given up by the Spartans, topping the previous high of 666 yards by Nebraska in 1995.
Penix, who completed 27 of 35 passes, led the Huskies to touchdowns on five of their seven first-half drives and a 35-0 halftime lead. He had scoring throws of 5, 13 and 7 yards to Westover, and a 30-yarder to Ja’Lynn Polk. Former Michigan State wide receiver Germie Bernard, who transferred to Washington after last season, also added a 1-yard touchdown run.
The Spartans (2-1) struggled offensively through most of the game and didn't score until backup quarterback Katin Houser had a 4-yard run with 5:48 left.
Michigan State defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett was appointed interim coach to replace Tucker, who was suspended pending the results of an outside investigation into a USA Today report that alleged he sexually harassed activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy during a phone call last year.
HE’S BACK
Former Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, the winningest coach in school history, returned.
Dantonio, who retired in February 2020 after a 13-year run, observed the game from the Spartans’ sideline. He received a standing ovation when he was introduced during a ceremony recognizing his 2014 Rose Bowl-winning team.
THE TAKEAWAY
Washington: While much attention has been given to the offense, the Huskies’ defense has been impressive through its first three games. Opponents have been held to a total of 36 points.
MSU: Michigan State’s pass defense had no answers for stopping the Huskies’ explosive offense. Penix dissected the defense with his precision passing to his sure-handed receivers who were wide-open most of the game.
Washington athletics press release
September 16, 2023
| Scoring Summary |
| First Quarter |
Wash | MSU |
| Wash |
TD |
9:51 |
Germie Bernard 1 yd run (Grady Gross kick) |
7 |
0 |
| Wash |
TD |
1:14 |
Jack Westover 5 yd pass from Michael Penix Jr. (Grady Gross kick) |
14 |
0 |
| Second Quarter |
Wash | MSU |
| Wash |
TD |
10:44 |
Ja'Lynn Polk 30 yd pass from Michael Penix Jr. (Grady Gross kick) |
21 |
0 |
| Wash |
TD |
6:49 |
Jack Westover 13 yd pass from Michael Penix Jr. (Grady Gross kick) |
28 |
0 |
| Wash |
TD |
0:06 |
Jack Westover 7 yd pass from Michael Penix Jr. (Grady Gross kick) |
35 |
0 |
| Third Quarter |
Wash | MSU |
| Wash |
FG |
10:43 |
Grady Gross 22 yd FG |
38 |
0 |
| Wash |
FG |
3:45 |
Grady Gross 29 yd FG |
41 |
0 |
| Fourth Quarter |
Wash | MSU |
| MSU |
TD |
5:48 |
Katin Houser 4 yd run (Jonathan Kim kick) |
41 |
7 |
| Team Stats |
| |
Washington |
Michigan State |
| First downs |
29 |
15 |
| Rushing |
8 |
4 |
| Passing |
18 |
8 |
| Penalty |
3 |
3 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency |
3-10, 30% |
6-16, 38% |
| 4th down efficiency |
1-2, 50% |
0-1, 0% |
| Rushes-Yards |
33-177 |
27-53 |
| Passing Yards |
536 |
208 |
| Return Yards |
38 |
50 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int |
29-39-1 |
14-35-1 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost |
0-0 |
2--16 |
| Punts |
2 |
8 |
| Punts-Average |
31.5 |
41.9 |
| Fumbles Lost |
2-0 |
0-0 |
| Penalties - Yards |
11-110 |
11-83 |
| Time of Possession |
35:32 |
24:28 |
| Washington Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| M. Penix Jr. |
27 |
35 |
473 |
4 |
0 |
| D. Morris |
2 |
4 |
63 |
0 |
1 |
| Michigan State Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| N. Kim |
12 |
31 |
136 |
0 |
1 |
| K. Houser |
2 |
4 |
72 |
0 |
0 |
| Washington Rushing |
| Player |
Carries |
Yds |
Avg |
TDs |
| T. Rogers |
15 |
74 |
4.9 |
0 |
| D. Johnson |
8 |
71 |
8.9 |
0 |
| R. Newton |
4 |
29 |
7.3 |
0 |
| W. Nixon |
1 |
4 |
4.0 |
0 |
| G. Bernard |
2 |
2 |
1.0 |
1 |
| J. McMillan |
1 |
2 |
2.0 |
0 |
| Michigan State Rushing |
| Player |
Carries |
Yds |
Avg |
TDs |
| N. Carter |
17 |
48 |
2.8 |
0 |
| J. Simmons |
4 |
11 |
2.8 |
0 |
| K. Houser |
1 |
4 |
4.0 |
1 |
| A. Brown |
1 |
-1 |
-1.0 |
0 |
| N. Kim |
4 |
-9 |
-2.3 |
0 |
| Washington Receiving |
| Player |
Rec |
Yds |
Avg |
TDs |
| R. Odunze |
8 |
180 |
22.5 |
0 |
| J. Polk |
5 |
118 |
23.6 |
1 |
| J. McMillan |
4 |
96 |
24.0 |
0 |
| J. Cuevas |
1 |
57 |
57.0 |
0 |
| J. Westover |
4 |
37 |
9.3 |
3 |
| G. Bernard |
3 |
23 |
7.7 |
0 |
| W. Nixon |
2 |
12 |
6.0 |
0 |
| D. Culp |
1 |
7 |
7.0 |
0 |
| M. Wheeler |
1 |
6 |
6.0 |
0 |
| Michigan State Receiving |
| Player |
Rec |
Yds |
Avg |
TDs |
| C. Fitzpatrick |
1 |
61 |
61.0 |
0 |
| M. Foster Jr. |
2 |
50 |
25.0 |
0 |
| M. Carr |
3 |
30 |
10.0 |
0 |
| T. Mosley |
3 |
21 |
7.0 |
0 |
| J. Glover |
2 |
17 |
8.5 |
0 |
| T. Henry |
1 |
16 |
16.0 |
0 |
| T. Hopper |
1 |
11 |
11.0 |
0 |
| N. Carter |
1 |
2 |
2.0 |
0 |
| Washington Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| M. Powell |
1 |
7 |
| Michigan State Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| J. Mangham |
1 |
0 |
| Washington Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| J. McCallister |
2 |
63 |
31.5 |
| Michigan State Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| M. O'Shaughnessy |
4 |
181 |
45.3 |
| R. Eckley |
4 |
154 |
38.5 |
| Washington Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| J. McMillan |
2 |
1 |
0.5 |
| Michigan State Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| T. Henry |
1 |
1 |
1.0 |
| Washington Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| G. Bernard |
1 |
30 |
30.0 |
| Michigan State Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| T. Henry |
3 |
49 |
16.3 |
| Washington Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
| Michigan State Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
