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· collected 2026-09-07 · by Anne M. Peterson The Associated Press
No. 17 Washington's offense struggled, but they managed a 24-10 win over Washington State in the Apple Cup on Sunday. Demond Williams Jr. threw for 268 yards and a touchdown for Washington, while Caden Pinnick made his debut as quarterback for Washington State, throwing for 142 yards and scoring on an 11-yard run. The Huskies won despite being shut out by Washington State's defense for much of the game, with the Cougars missing two field goals that could have narrowed the gap. Williams also scored a touchdown on a 5-yard keeper in addition to his passing TD.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
SEATTLE (AP) — Demond Williams Jr. threw for 268 yards and a touchdown, and No. 17 Washington survived offensive struggles for a 24-10 victory over Washington State in a season-opening Apple Cup on Sunday.
asserted
Washington → throw → Sunday
Williams also scored on a 5-yard keeper in the 118th meeting of the two teams, who were once both part of the Pac-12.
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who → score → Pac-12
Washington won last year’s meeting 59-24 in Pullman.
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Washington → win → Pullman
Transfer Caden Pinnick made his debut as quarterback for the Cougars, throwing for 142 yards and scoring on an 11-yard keeper in the fourth quarter.
“(I) thought Washington State had a really good plan, played really hard, did a nice job,” Washington third-year coach Jedd Fisch said.
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Fisch → make → job
“Very challenging Week 1 to really make sure that we kind of knew what we wanted to get done.
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we → make → what
We felt like we didn’t play the at the level we would like to play at, but we also are very happy with the victory.”
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we → feel → victory
Washington State was one of the remaining members of the Pac-12 left after realignment broke apart the conference ahead of the 2024 season.
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realignment → remain → season
The Cougars and Oregon State helped re-build the conference, which now includes Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Texas State and Utah State, along with non-football member Gonzaga.
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which → help → Gonzaga
The Huskies, meanwhile, bolted the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.
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Huskies → bolt → Ten
Washington went 9-4 last season with a 38-10 win over Boise State in the LA Bowl.
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Washington → go → Bowl
Washington State was embarking on it’s first season under coach Kirby Moore after going 7-6 last season.
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State → embark → Moore
He brought in Pinnick, who played at UC Davis last season and threw for 3,206 yards and 32 touchdowns as a freshman.
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who → bring → freshman
Washington State’s defense was largely effective in thwarting the Huskies throughout the game, but the Cougars missed a pair of field goals that could have narrowed the gap and were 0-11 in converting on third down.
uncertain
that → thwart → down
“I’ve got to get better with the preparation and getting the guys ready for third downs.
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guys → get → downs
You’re not going to win a lot of games going 0-11, and ultimately taking care of the ball, that falls on me,” Pinnick said.
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Pinnick → go → me
Tyler Robles’ 48-yard field goal gave the Huskies the early lead.
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goal → give → lead
In the second quarter, Jeron Jones intercepted Pinnick and ran it back 8 yards to the Washington State 21.
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Jones → intercept → State
After breaking free on a 16-yard run to keep the drive alive, Williams scored on a 5-yard keeper to make it 10-0
The Cougars stopped the Huskies on fourth-and-1 at the goal line to end the half.
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Cougars → break → half
The Cougars had a chance to get on the board midway through the third quarter but Jack Stevens’ 32-yard field goal attempt went wide right.
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attempt → have → quarter
Stevens also missed a 52-yard attempt on Washington State’s first series of the game.
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Stevens → miss → game
After the Cougars stopped another Washington attempt to convert on fourth down at the end of the third quarter, Washington State drove down the field and scored on Pinnick’s 11-yard run to narrow the gap to 10-7.
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State → stop → 10
Washington answered with Rashid Williams’ 1-yard touchdown reception.
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Washington → answer → reception
The Huskies’ Rylon Dillard-Allen was ejected for targeting on Pinnick midway through the fourth quarter before Stevens’ 42-yard field goal made it 17-10.
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it → eject → quarter
Jayden Limar capped scoring for the Huskies with an 11-yard touchdown run with 2:18 left.
“It felt really good, definitely, especially you know the way we won.
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we → cap → 2:18
Very gritty, you know, being able to hold the lead right there at the end when they were battling back and showing signs of life,” Demond Williams said.
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Williams → know → life
The Cougars were hurt in the first half when receiver Tony Freeman was injured and did not return.
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Freeman → hurt → half
Where’s the band?
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band → ’ → ?
Traditionally in the days of the old Pac-12, the Apple Cup was played over Thanksgiving weekend as the final game of the season for both teams.
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Cup → play → teams
When Washington moved to the Big Ten for the 2024 season, it moved visiting bands from the lower bowl to the seats in an upper corner of the stadium.
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it → move → stadium
Washington State decided it was a hardship for the band to navigate getting down to the field and back for performances.
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band → decide → performances
Up next
Washington State visits Kansas State, while Washington hosts Utah State on Sept. 12.
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Washington → visit → Sept.
