AN APPLE A DAY: UW RUNS AWAY WITH THE 117TH APPLE CUP

Matti Tenney - September 27, 2025 

The 117th Apple Cup carried the energy of a bad-blood rivalry game through three quarters, but by the end, there was little doubt which team was superior. Washington rolled into Pullman and pulled away late, defeating Washington State 59–24 on Saturday night at Gesa Field. 

From start to finish, Washington’s offense looked unstoppable. Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. orchestrated a near-perfect night, throwing for 298 yards and four touchdowns while adding 88 rushing yards. He spread the ball around to playmakers like Denzel Boston (2 TD catches, 107 yards) and Omari Evans, whose 59-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach. 

The Huskies balanced their attack with the steady running of Jonah Coleman, who found the end zone twice on the ground.

In total, Washington racked up 471 yards of offense, converted 8 of 9 third downs, and didn’t punt once. Jedd Fisch’s squad capitalized on nearly every opportunity, scoring on seven of its eight possessions. 

What separated Washington most was its ability to finish. Leading 31–24 late in the third quarter, the Huskies unleashed a dominant fourth quarter, scoring 28 unanswered points as the Cougar defense wore down. 

Washington State hung around for much of the night thanks to Redshirt Senior quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, who was handed the starting role over Jaxon Potter after an embarrassing 59-10 loss at North Texas, as Eckhaus was given the reigns in the 4th quarter and led the only touchdown drive of the game for the Cougs. Eckhaus delivered a solid outing in this one, completing 26 of 37 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns while adding a short rushing score. He did throw 2 interceptions. His one-yard plunge midway through the third quarter cut Washington’s lead to a touchdown, briefly reigniting hope in Pullman. 

He showed confidence in big moments, particularly on two deep completions to Devin Ellison (who made his WSU debut that night after dealing with a foot injury all summer) that moved the chains. Even his first interception came off a tipped pass while getting hit behind the line. For stretches, Eckhaus gave WSU an answer. 

But his effort wasn’t enough to offset a Cougar defense that struggled to tackle and finish plays. Washington State allowed 173 rushing yards, gave up explosive gains through the air, and repeatedly missed opportunities to get off the field. Tackling breakdowns have plagued the Cougars all season, and Saturday was no exception as defenders were often late to wrap up in space, and even when the defense could stop

Coleman or Williams, they almost immediately gave up plays to keep the UW offense revving. While there were bright spots (five tackles for loss and sacks from Isaac Terrell and Parker McKenna), Washington was able to adjust and turn short gains into big plays. 

For Washington, the win marked its first road victory since November 2023 and reinforced its national profile. Williams continues to look like one of the Big Ten’s most dynamic quarterbacks, and the Huskies’ balance on offense makes them a difficult matchup for any opponent. 

For Washington State, the Apple Cup revealed two contrasting realities. On offense, Eckhaus gave the Cougars a steady hand and showed he can run the system effectively, perhaps calming the quarterback debate moving forward. On defense, however, issues with tackling and consistency remain glaring. Until those are addressed, the Cougars will struggle against physical, balanced teams like Washington. 

After the game, WSU Head Coach Jimmy Rodgers gave quote during his press conference that left a weird taste in fans’ mouths. “Here’s the reality, we don’t have the resources to compete with $30 million, a roster that is loaded…” In my opinion, this is an unacceptable excuse. 

I understand that this is his first year as an FBS coach, previously winning a National Championship with FCS powerhouse South Dakota St., but this is and has been the reality in Pullman since NIL was introduced. Despite that, the Cougs have had top-tier talent on both sides of the ball. Cam Ward, John Mateer, Kyle Williams, Brennan Jackson, Kyle Thornton, and Buddah Al-Uqdah (now playing for the Huskies) are just a few I can rattle off the top of my head. While not all nationally recognized names, most are playing in the NFL or have transferred to larger programs where they are now getting the props they deserve. The deciding factor in this game was not solely a talent deficit. 

The Cougs were keeping themselves in the game, it was several coaching decisions, including a surprise onside kick in the 3rd after pulling within a score, that resulted in more points for the Dawgs. Rodgers later admitted he regretted the comments, saying “Nobody brought me in here to make excuses about things we don’t have… They brought me in here to help create a winning program…” I believe in Jimmy Rodgers, he has proven to be a winner, and that’s what we need right now. But these are college kids, and success will start with the coach. 

The Huskies now extend their all-time Apple Cup lead to 76 wins, and while the scoreboard ended lopsided, the first three quarters showed this rivalry still carries the intensity and storylines that keep Pac-12 rivalries and history alive today.

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