September 21, 2024; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) catches a touchdown pass from the Northwest Wildcats in the first quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images Denzel Boston threw for 167 yards and caught two touchdowns to help Washington beat Northwestern 24-5 in its first Big Ten Conference game on Saturday in Seattle.
Jonah Coleman rushed 15 times for 67 yards and a touchdown for the Huskies (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten). Will Rogers III completed 20 of 28 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns, and Boston had seven catches for 121 yards. Boston also gained 46 yards on four punt returns.
Washington State, which reached the CFP Championship Game last season but lost to Michigan State, returned to form last weekend with a 24-19 loss to Washington State in the Apple Cup.
The Huskies defense, coordinated by Steve Belichick, the son of legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick, allowed just 112 yards in the second half and got to the goal line on back-to-back possessions. Holds Wildcats to 18 yards or less By Jack Olson.
Northwestern's only other score came in the second quarter when Rodgers was called for an intentional touchdown in his own end zone, resulting in a safety.
Northwestern (2-2, 0-1) was limited offensively without leading rusher Cam Porter, who missed the game with a lower-body injury.
Jack Lausch, making his second start, caught 8 of 27 passes for 53 yards and two interceptions. Roush also led the Wildcats with 21 yards on 13 carries.
Early in the fourth quarter, Northwestern's Joseph Himon II returned the kickoff 96 yards to the 2-yard line, but the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs.
The Huskies led 17-2 at halftime.
After Washington went three-and-out on its first possession, Rodgers hit Boston with a 46-yard score at midfield on the Huskies' next possession.
Grady Gross' 21-yard field goal gave the Huskies a 10-point lead early in the second quarter. With 10 minutes and 12 seconds left in the half, Rogers hit a 13-yard field goal in the back of the end zone to make it 17-0.
Coleman's 8-yard touchdown run with 14:02 left capped the scoring, completing an 11-play, 77-yard drive that took nearly six minutes.
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