SEATTLE — Stanford’s Ty Montgomery returned the opening kickoff 62 yards, highlighting what the University of Washington coaches already knew — that he is an explosive player in the open field.
The rest of the game, the Huskies did their best to keep the ball away from Montgomery. And that assignment was given primarily to UW punter Korey Durkee, who did his job very well.
Though the Huskies punted eight times (seven by Durkee, one by QB Cyler Miles) in Saturday’s 20-13 loss, the Cardinal returned only one and that for just 2 yards. With a combination of punts — soaring boomers, low bounders and kicks angled for the sideline — Washington kept Montgomery from having an impact, at least in special teams.
“We tried to eliminate him from the game,” Durkee explained, “and we did a pretty good job.”
Even Montgomery was impressed.
“(Durkee) was the best punter I’ve seen,” he said. “He was putting the ball all over the field. I think most of his punts were over 50 yards. It was incredible, and frustrating as a punt returner.”
Durkee’s seven punts totaled 362 yards, a 51.7 average, with a long of 65 yards.
“I thought our special teams did a really good job,” said UW head coach Chris Petersen.
Called back
UW kickoff returner John Ross had his second 100-yard return of the season negated by a penalty on Saturday.
After Stanford opened the game with a drive that produced a field goal, Ross took the ensuing kickoff and shot through a big hole in the center of the field. With his speed, no one was going to catch him.
But an official threw a flag at the UW 25, calling Washington’s DiAndre Campbell for an illegal block in the back.
“It’s frustrating,” Petersen said. “I feel bad for (Ross). That’s two of them now, and we’ve got to clean that up for sure.”
Ross had a 100-yard return against Illinois on Sept. 13 also erased by a penalty.
Peters sits out start
Two weeks after sitting out the Illinois game due to a suspension, UW cornerback Marcus Peters missed the start of Saturday’s game for some other disciplinary reason.
Petersen was vague when asked, saying only that Peters “needs to take care of a little business around the ranch a little better. Tighten up some details and then he’ll start.”
In place of Peters, the Huskies started Naijel Hale at cornerback. Hale is a true freshman, as was Washington’s other starting cornerback, Sidney Jones.
Also in the secondary, sophomore safety Kevin King was a late scratch due to illness.
Seahawks in the house
With the Seattle Seahawks having a bye today, three players showed up for Saturday’s game. Stanford alums Doug Baldwin and Richard Sherman were honorary captains for the Cardinal, which included going on the field for the coin toss before the game. They watched the rest of the game from the Stanford sideline.
Washington, meanwhile, was represented by Jermaine Kearse, who was the game’s honorary UW legend. He was honored on the field between the third and fourth quarters.
By the numbers
Peters had an interception Saturday, his third in the last two games and the 11th of his career. He is tied for No. 7 on the all-time UW list with Sean Parker, Derrick Johnson, Reggie Reser and Calvin Jones, one behind No. 6 Walter Bailey.
Hau’oli Kikaha had one sack for 6 yards in Saturday’s game. He has 24 career sacks and is tied for sixth in team history with Andy Mason.
The Huskies remain perfect in the red zone this season (inside the 20-yard line), but only because they had no red-zone chances against Stanford. Washington is 19-for-19 scoring in the red zone through five games.
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