SEATTLE >> Until Saturday’s first play, Washington quarterback Keith Price had a reputation for completing only short passes.
In a three-point win over 18-point underdog Eastern Washington a week earlier, Price averaged just 4.1 yards per attempt and there were no completions longer than 10 yards.
Then on the first two plays of the 40-32 victory over Hawaii, the Huskies sophomore completed passes of 30 and 47 yards, quickly moving Washington to Hawaii’s 2yard line. On the next play, tailback Chris Polk scored for a 7-0 lead, just 70 seconds into the game.
After Washington’s first two possessions, Price was 7-for-7 for 173 yards, 71 yards more than he threw for the entire game against Eastern. And Washington led 14-0.
“You know, we weren’t expecting as much of that (throwing deep) because he had thrown it short,” Hawaii coach Greg McMackin said.
Price, in just his third start, had a breakout game, completing 18 of 25 passes for 315 yards and four touchdowns. Against Hawaii, he averaged 17.5 yards per completion.
“I knew our coach wasn’t scared, so we couldn’t be scared,” Price said. “I thought I played better. But I can play better.”
A week after being held to only 250 yards for an entire game, Washington’s offense was explosive from the start against Hawaii, averaging 13.4 yards over the first 14 plays.
By the end of the first quarter, Washington led 21-0 and already had 255 yards in total offense, 5 more than it had against EWU for four quarters.
The 21 points were the sixthmost Washington had ever scored in a first quarter.
But a no-quit Hawaii cut the gap to 21-14 late in the second quarter when strong safety Richard Torres stepped in front of Price’s pass at the 1-yard line and raced 99 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest interception returned by a Huskies opponent.
“I didn’t see the safety,” Price said about Torres’ interception. “I have to do a better job of looking the safety off and make a better decision.”
When Price got to the sideline, Washington coach Steve Sarkisian talked with his young quarterback.
“He tried to blame himself,” Price said. “But it was my fault. I said let’s bounce back. We’ve got the ball. We’ve got timeouts. Let’s see if we can get some points on the board.”
Washington did just that and answered Torres’ interception return with a six-play, 59-yard touchdown drive, scoring on Devin Aguilar’s 31-yard pass from Price to take a 28-14 lead with 44 seconds left in the first half.
“I thought it showed a lot of resilience on our offense to turn right back around and score,” Sarkisian said.
Price completed passes to nine different receivers. Aguilar, a senior receiver, caught a team-best five passes for 131 yards, including a 59-yarder on the second play of the game.
“I like spreading the ball around,” Price said. “I just want to throw the ball to the guy who is open. Opponents won’t know who my favorite receiver is. So they can’t focus on one guy.”
Price’s four touchdown passes tied him for third-most in a game by a Huskies quarterback. Jake Locker (vs. Oregon State, 2010) and Chris Rowland (vs. Cal, 1973) hold the school record with five.
