An APPLE CUP TO REMEMBER

Sports with Mazvita

The Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars faced for the last time as Pac- 12 foes Saturday afternoon at Husky Stadium and saved the best for last. A 42-yard game- winning field goal by Husky kicker Grady Groos saw the Huskies sneak past a stub- born Cougars team hell-bent on ruining the Huskies sea- son. With the win the no.4 ranked Huskies will battle the Oregon Ducks Friday in a winner-take-all all Pac-12 Championship game. The winner of the game between the Ducks and the Huskies will likely receive a berth in the College Football four-team playoff round. While the Huskies and Cougars will continue the rivalry it will not be as Pac-12 foes. The Huskies are switching conferences and moving to the BIG Ten next year. No wonder the Cougars were up for the game and pulled off all the stops to deny their instate rivals a chance at immortality. The Huskies finished the season undefeated at 12-0. The last team to finish the Pac-12 regular season undefeated was Oregon in 2010. The Cougar's defense did a masterful job of slowing down the high-powered Huskies offense for most of the game. The Cougars offense played complimentary football and as a result, the game was tied 14 all at halftime. Much to the chagrin and surprise of the Husky Nation. Husky quarterback Michael Penix connected with wide receiver Rome Odunze as time ran out in the third quarter. Things looked like they were following the script when the Husky defense stifled the Cougar of- fense for most of the fourth quarter. Give credit to the Cougars for flipping the script. Cougar quarterback Cam- eron Ward conned with wide receiver Victor Lincoln to tie the game at 21 all and send thoughts of doom and de- spair to Husky Nation. Facing a 4th

and one from its 29-yard line with 1:11 left in the game, the Husky of- fense went for it. With the crowd si- lenced and holding its breath, Odunze ran a verse for 21 yards for the first down. The silence turned into an ear- drum-busting road that could be heard to Federal Way. A few plays later Gross sent Husky Nation to Nirvana with his game-winning field.