Opponent Preview: Huskies Set to Take On Eastern Washington
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On Saturday afternoon, the Washington Huskies will round out their non-conference schedule with an FCS opponent in Eastern Washington. The in-state programs have met three times in their existence, all since 2011, with the Huskies leading the all-time series 3-0. While the Huskies are heavy favorites again, the past two weeks clearly show not to take an inferior opponent lightly.
Despite a 1-2 record through their first three games, the Eagles have an offense capable of moving the ball downfield, led by junior dual-threat quarterback Nate Bell. Through the air, the veteran signal caller has completed 63 percent of his passes for 781 yards and 6 touchdowns, and added 40 carries for 159 yards, making him Eastern's leading rusher.
Bell isn't the only weapon on the offense, however, as the Eagles have three receivers who have all surpassed the century mark in receiving yards this season. The trio of wideouts is led by fifth-year senior Wesley Garrett, who has 17 catches for 223 yards and 2 touchdowns on the season. The deep-ball threat will be joined by third-year players Drew Carlson and Jaxon Branch, both of whom missed last week's game against South Dakota.
On the other side of the ball, Eastern Washington's defense has shown vulnerability, allowing an average of 33 points per game. This should come as good news for Jedd Fisch's offense, which has struggled to put points on the board for a variety of reasons. After a poor performance on the ground against Utah State, the Huskies' rushing attack will square off against a front seven that has allowed nearly 180 yards rushing per game, creating a promising opportunity for freshman running backs Brian Bonner Jr. and Ansu Sanoe.
While the Huskies seemingly will have the advantage in the trenches, the Eagles have shown the ability to create havoc both in the backfield and in the secondary. Entering their fourth game of the season, defensive coordinator Zach Bruce's unit has recorded 21 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 3 interceptions. Washington's offense has yet to turn the ball over through its first pair of games.
While having a losing record, every game the Eagles have played this year has been a one-possession contest, with their two losses coming by a combined 15 points. As for the Huskies, this week presents an opportunity to continue to wreak havoc on the defensive side of the ball against a formidable FCS offense, while looking to finally establish rhythm and identity between quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and the offense.
Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. PT and will be streamed on the Big Ten Network.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Opponent Preview: Huskies Set to Take On Eastern Washington
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