Kalen DeBoer explains how Washington's close-game experience helped in Pac-12 Championship
The Washington Huskies managed to win a close Pac-12 Championship Game over Oregon, locking up a spot in the College Football Playoff. For second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, a huge part of why the Huskies won that game was their experience in close games.
As DeBoer explained, Washington having played close games gave the team an experience to draw upon when the game with Oregon was close and they trailed going into the fourth quarter.
“I think we always draw on our experiences,” Kalen DeBoer said. “There is a deep, deep, deep belief right now in our football team that when the moments get tough, we can really hone in and guys will just do their job. Not get overwhelmed, go execute.”
Washington found itself in close games consistently following the Huskies’ first win over Oregon. Going into the Pac-12 Championship Game, Washington played in six one-score games this season and several others that were closer than their final score ended up being. All of that, had the Huskies prepared.
“I think, again, can you go back to one game and learn from it? You can go back to all of a sudden two or three. Everything has happened in a different way. We’ve won it in different ways. Man, we got a brotherhood in that locker room that is super proud, wants to continue to showcase who they are collectively and how hard they play, how much they love each other. It shows. It shows,” DeBoer said.
“They’re just going to leave it all on the football field.”
With the win, Washington is moving to the College Football Playoff. In the semifinal round, the Huskies will take on the Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl.
Kalen DeBoer explains importance of establishing the run vs. Oregon
One of the key factors in the Pac-12 Championship Game was Washington’s ability to consistently run the ball with running back Dillon Johnson. That running game was a huge part of the win, according to Kalen DeBoer.
“That’s been a work in progress the second half of the season. D.J., along with the offensive line, it’s important for us if we want to win a championship, Pac-12 Championship, national championship, for us to have that balance, the ability to be balanced,” DeBoer said.
“If a team has taken Michael [Penix] and the receiving core away, to be able to move the chains, get those hard yards, we’re going to be critical. We’ve continued to work on it, plug away. That was a big deal a big part of the game. Especially the way we finished it off there at the very end, the last drive.”