Tough break for Jake, Huskies

SEATTLE — Two big losses Saturday could end up in a lost season for the Washington Huskies. And who knows what else might be lost as a result?

The Huskies first lost their quarterback when Jake Locker suffered a broken right thumb while making a block on Stanford safety Sean Wiser on a running play in the first half.

Stanford's Doug Baldwin, right, runs on a 61-yard touchdown pass reception as Washington's Johri Fogerson gives chase in the second quarter Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, in an NCAA college football game in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

They then lost the game to the Stanford Cardinal 35-28 to fall to 0-4 in a make-or-break season for coach Tyrone Willingham.

The Huskies were already trailing 14-7 when Locker was hurt, and while replacement Ronnie Fouch injected some enthusiasm with some accurate passing, UW ultimately couldn’t overcome another porous performance from its defense.

Still, UW kept it interesting until the end, as Fouch scored on a 1-yard run with 1:25 left to cut the lead to 35-28. But the onside kick went out of bounds and the Cardinal ran out the clock.

It is only UW’s second 0-4 start since 1969. The other came in 2004 when the Huskies ultimately fired coach Keith Gilbertson, leading to the hiring of Willingham.

The Cardinal came in ranked near the bottom of the Pac-10 in most statistical categories but moved at will all night against UW, finishing with a season-high 466 yards, 222 on the ground and 244 in the air.

The Huskies had hoped a bye week would fix the defensive problems evident during an 0-3 start against three ranked teams. Instead, missed tackles again abounded as the Cardinal took command after an early 7-0 UW lead.

Locker was injured with about seven minutes remaining in the second quarter.

He was apparently hurt while throwing a block on Wiser near the sideline to spring receiver Jordan Polk on a 27-yard reverse.

Two plays later, Locker rolled out and overthrew an open D’Andre Goodwin, then came out of the game and was taken to the locker room.

Washington quarterback Jake Locker, his right thumb and wrist wrapped, jogs off the field after the game against Stanford on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, in an NCAA college football game in Seattle. Locker was injured in the second quarter and left the game. Stanford won 35-28. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

He returned in the third quarter in sweats and with his right (throwing) hand wrapped. There was no information on how long he will be out.

Fouch came in and finished the drive, executing an option to convert one third down, and then hitting Jermaine Kearse for a nine-yard gain to convert another. The drive ended in another 1-yard plunge by Johnson to tie the game with 3:11 left.

The deadlock was short-lived, however, as the Cardinal scored quickly. On a third-and-nine play from the 39, the Huskies blitzed and Pritchard hit Doug Baldwin on a crossing pattern over the middle. Baldwin broke to the sideline and raced untouched for a TD to put the Cardinal ahead 21-14 with 1:36 remaining in the first half.

Just about the time Locker emerged from the locker room, Stanford’s Anthony Kimble ran 83 yards for a touchdown with 9:35 left in the third quarter and all hope seemed to be gone.

But Fouch put some life back into the team and the stadium on UW’s next drive, hitting D’Andre Goodwin for a 33-yard completion and another for 25 yards. Then on third-and-four from the five, he connected with Jermaine Kearse on a slant pass for a TD to cut Stanford’s lead to 28-21 with 6:14 remaining.

The rally was short-lived, however, as the Huskies couldn’t move the next time they had the ball, and the Cardinal then drove 63 yards to take a 35-21 lead with 10:22 remaining in the game on an 18-yard pass from Tavita Pritchard to Ryan Whalen.

That was the third TD of the game for Pritchard, a graduate of Clover Park High in Tacoma who had one of the best games of his career.

The Huskies, apparently responding to the stakes of the game, drove easily down the field the first time they had the ball. But the drive ended in futility when David Freeman fumbled and Stanford was eventually awarded the ball. UW tight end Kavario Middleton appeared to have control of the ball, lying on his back, when it was knocked out of his hands. UW coaches asked for a review but the play is not one that can be reviewed.

Stanford’s Toby Gerhart, however, fumbled the ball right back two plays later when he was hit hard by Huskies linebacker Donald Butler after a short reception. UW took over at the 34 and needed just five plays to finally complete the drive. Freeman’s 19-yard run set by a 1-yard scoring plunge by Brandon Johnson.

But the Cardinal came right back to tie it up, moving 62 yards in seven plays capped by a 13-yard run by Anthony Kimble. Kimble was in the game because of the injury to Gerhart, who was hurt when he took a hard hit from Butler. Gerhart was the third-leading rusher in the Pac-10, coming in with 407 yards in four games, but left with just two carries for 14 yards.

The Huskies were forced to punt on their next possession and the Cardinal responded with an 80-yard drive to take a 14-7 lead. Pritchard hit tight end Jim Dray from 11 yards out for the score with 8:34 to go in the half.

The Huskies rallied to tie the score at 14, a 12-play drive that included the injury to Locker.

The Huskies also played much of the game without Butler, who was woozy after he took a hard hit from Stanford running back Jeremy Stewart in the second quarter.

In his halftime radio comments, Willingham stated his confidence while noting his disappointment in the team’s defense.

“First of all, I have a lot of confidence in Ronnie. This is only his second time getting some live work, and he’s doing a great job so far,’’ he said. “What we got to do is get them to give the ball up. We’re giving up too many plays and allowing them to score points and keep their team on the field.’’

— Bob Condotta/The Seattle Times