Penix leads Washington to 52-6 win over Portland State

SEATTLE (AP) — Michael Penix Jr. threw for 337 yards and two touchdowns, Wayne Taulapapa rushed for 94 yards and a score and the Washington Huskies easily took down FCS school Portland State 52-6 on Saturday.

Penix shined in Washington’s second straight feel-good win against an overmatched opponent to open the season under new coach Kalen DeBoer. The level of difficulty increases dramatically for the Huskies (2-0) next Saturday when No. 14 Michigan State visits.

Penix broke open the game with an 84-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan with 9:51 left in the second quarter for a 21-0 lead over the Vikings (0-2). He also threw to Ja’Lynn Polk for a 12-yard score in the half. Cameron Davis scored two rushing touchdowns and Will Nixon and Denzel Boston added rushing TDs of their own as the Huskies ran for 241 yards and five touchdowns.

Penix had 248 yards by halftime as Washington built a 31-3 lead, a late first-half overthrown interception his only blemish on the score sheet.

McMillan finished with four catches for 127 yards. His TD catch was the seventh longest reception in school history and capped UW’s fourth 99-yard drive. Later in the second quarter he caught a 37-yard pass from Penix to set up Taulapapa’s 6-yard score for a 28-3 lead with 2:13 left in the half.

The Huskies had 500 of their 617 yards by the end of the third quarter and held Portland State to 131 yards, and just 50 yards passing with four sacks.

THE TAKEAWAY

Portland State: The Vikings were never really in the game, but punched above their weight class for the second straight week after nearly upsetting San Jose State in the opener, a 21-17 loss decided with a about a minute to play. They were disciplined and tough against their second straight FBS opponent, a good sign with the Big Sky Conference opener in two weeks.

Washington: The Huskies showed they’ll be more than just Air Penix with a couple of hard-nosed rushing efforts by Virginia transfer Taulapapa and Davis, who combined for more than 125 yards and two touchdowns by halftime. They’ll need more of that to keep the Spartans out of Penix’s face.

HUNDRED CLUB

Giles Jackson had six catches for 105 yards, marking the first time the Huskies have had two 100-yard receivers in the same game since John Ross and Dante Pettis accomplished the feat in 2016 against Cal.

UP NEXT

Portland State: The Vikings take a week off before a trip to FCS third-ranked Montana to open the Big Sky Conference.

Washington: The Huskies host No. 14 Michigan State next Saturday in the third of four home games to start the season. It will be the Spartans’ first trip to Seattle since 1970.

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