Grady Gross 42-yard FG as time expires gives No. 4 Washington 24-21 win over WSU in Apple Cup

SEATTLE - Rome Odunze's 23-yard end-around on fourth down sparked No. 4 Washington's final drive and Grady Gross converted a 42-yard field goal as time expired as the Huskies completed an undefeated regular season with a 24-21 victory over the Washington State Cougars in the Apple Cup on Saturday afternoon.

Michael Penix Jr. tossed a pair of touchdowns to Odunze, and Dillon Johnson added a touchdown on the ground as the Huskies (12-0, 9-0 Pac-12) became the first Pac-12 team to finish the regular season unbeaten in conference play since Oregon in 2010.

The Huskies will face the No. 6 Oregon Ducks next Friday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Washington won the first meeting between the two teams, 36-33, at Husky Stadium in October.

"We had the opportunity to make history tonight and we did just that. So you know, great accomplishment, honestly. It really is," Odunze said.

As they have all season, Penix and Odunze carried Washington's offense in a valiant fight with the cross-state rival Cougars (5-7, 2-7).

After Cameron Ward connected with Lincoln Victor on an 8-yard touchdown to tie the game at 21-21 with 5:58 left to play, the Huskies final offensive drive appeared to have died out. Johnson's run on third-and-1 was stuffed by the Cougars defense, forcing the Huskies into a likely punt situation from their own 29-yard line with 1:11 left to play.

But after trying to draw an offsides call out of punt formation, UW head coach Kalen DeBoer ran his offense back onto the field to go for it. 

"I just wanted to go out if at all possible and not be crazy but just really wanted to make sure we had the ball to try to win the game. You know, obviously it took that play to do that," DeBoer said.

An end-around call for Odunze broke free for 23 yards to move the Huskies across midfield. The play had an option for a dive handoff to Johnson with Odunze's end-around also available for Penix to decide between. When WSU defensive back Jaden Hicks crashed down the line of scrimmage in support of the dive, Penix pulled the ball from Johnson, spun and pitched to Odunze as he raced around the corner to keep Washington's drive alive.

It was an extremely gutsy call as a turnover on downs would have given the Cougars a great chance to find a game-winning score of their own on a short field.

"Man, what a play call," Odunze said. "You know, gotta give kudos to the offensive staff and coach Deboer for believing in us on that. You know, we just went out there and executed. It was perfect."

A roughing the passer call against Ron Stone Jr. on the next throw from Penix pushed the Huskies into field goal range and Gross' heroics capped the Husky victory.

"I just know that our offense and defense had done so many good things all season, you know, for it to be set up for just a 42-yard kick for me, like, I'll take that every day," Gross said. "I'm happy to do a little bit of something for all the big things that the rest of the team has gone through all season."

DeBoer then informed Gross in the locker room after the game that he'd been placed on scholarship.

"It's a decision that we pretty much knew was going to happen at some point. Why not capture the moment?," DeBoer said. "Capture the moment for the team and for Grady. It's something I think that he will remember for the rest of your life, not just the kick itself, but you know, what happened after."

Odunze with 143 yards combined rushing and receiving on the day along with his two touchdowns. He caught seven passes for 120 yards and had the 23-yard run on the final drive. He stepped up to carry the offense on a day when Ja'Lynn Polk struggled with drops, Giles Jackson wasn't playing, and Jalen McMillan still seemed a bit less than 100 percent.

"We don't care how it works out, we just want to go get the win, you know, however, we have to do it," Odunze said. "Whether it's grimy, whether it's violent, or it's dirty, you know, we're willing to make that sacrifice to go do those things."

Washington's first scoring drive opened with an 8-yard reception from McMillan. It was his first catch since the Michigan State game in September as he'd been dealing with a knee injury that forced him to miss four games through the middle portion of the season.

A 22-yard completion from Penix to Odunze was the big play of the nine-play drive that finished with a 1-yard Dillon Johnson touchdown run that gave the Huskies a 7-0 lead.

The Cougars faced a third-and-9 on the ensuing drive as WSU's offense seemed stagnant. But that changed in a hurry with a 17-yard strike to Josh Kelly for a first down. Kyle Williams made a brilliant one-arm grab for a 37-yard gain on the next play, and Ward delivered a 21-yard touchdown strike to Kelly that served as the answer for Washington State to tie the game at 7-7.

The Huskies stopped a fourth-and-1 quarterback sneak from Ward for a turnover on downs, but were unable to come away with points despite the short field. Grady Gross missed a 43-yard field goal wide right that kept the game tied. But the next time Washington State made an error, the Huskies were ready to capitalize.

Ward was intercepted by Thaddeus Dixon on a throw way behind Williams as the WSU quarterback faced heavy pressure from Zion Tupuola-Fetui. 

"We put a lot of pressure on Cam Ward," DeBoer said. "I mean, he's tough to grasp, he's tough to bring down, but I thought we did a nice job that way."

It took UW just three plays to find the end zone. WSU cornerback Cam Lampkin slipped and fell at the line of scrimmage, which allowed Odunze completely uncovered for a 40-yard touchdown pass from Penix that put the Huskies back on top, 14-7.

Ward then authored a terrific two-minute drill for Washington State to bring the game back level before halftime. A 28-yard completion from Ward to Victor moved the Cougars inside the UW red zone. After a sack and a false start backed WSU up, Ward then delivered a perfect throw into the arms of Williams over UW cornerback Elijah Jackson for a 25-yard touchdown that made it a 14-14 game at the break.

Penix was then intercepted for just the eighth time all season on Washington's opening possession of the third quarter. Jaden Hicks wrestled the football out of the arms of UW receiver Ja'Lynn Polk for the Cougars' first forced turnover of the day.

Both offenses continued to sputter as neither unit looked sharp for most of the third quarter. Dean Janikowski missed a 50-yard field goal try for Washington State with just under four minutes left in the quarter to keep the game tied.

The attention on Odunze led to a big 19-yard throw from Penix to tight end Jack Westover to move deep into WSU territory. Odunze took two defenders on a deep route that opened up the turf underneath for Westover's grab. Penix then went back to his Ol' Reliable on the very next play, delivering a 21-yard back-shoulder fade to Odunze for the go-ahead touchdown.

Penix finished the day completing 18-of-33 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Penix has had his two least productive games in passing yardage the last two weeks as he threw for just 162 yards and two touchdowns in a driving rain against Oregon State.

"Defense making big-time stops when we need it the most. And then just the offense finding a way to get those points on the board when we need it the most as well," Penix said. "I feel like we played good complimentary football toward the end of the game. But, you know, for the offensive side of the ball, you know, we got to play better. And we will. I trust and believe in everybody on our side of the ball and we just look forward to the next opportunity. But at the same time, we understand that we got to play better."

Ward was then intercepted for the second time as a pass over the middle deflected off Lincoln Victor and Elijah Jackson as Makell Esteen made a diving grab.

Janikowski hit a 35-yard field goal to seemingly cut the UW lead to four at 21-17 with under seven minutes remaining. However, Dominique Hampton was called for a personal foul for leaping on the field goal try to give the Cougars a new set of downs. Two plays later, Ward and Victor connected for an 8-yard touchdown to bring the game level again at 21-21 with 5:58 left to play.

Ward finished the day completing 32-of-48 passes for 317 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Washington with three-and-out on the ensuing drive with Penix nearly sacked on third down as WSU got the ball back with 4:52 remaining. A holding penalty helped stall the Cougars drive and a third-and-11 pass from Ward to Victor fell incomplete to force a punt.

The Cougars never got the ball back and the Huskies drove for the winning score.

"Our guys put it all out there," WSU head coach Jake Dickert said. "We came in here ready to attack, ready to win a game, had a vision, had a plan. For the most part, lived out that plan, shot ourselves maybe in the foot one too many times. Give credit to them. They've done it all season and that's why they're the No. 4 team in the country. They won that one moment that we didn't."