Cliff: Washington game thread

SEATTLE –The trip up the I-5 was long. There was a crash that made it bumper-to-bumper through the middle and of course there was the city traffic.

We are stationed in the press box from hell. It’s dangling over the stands, held up by rusting bolts. It’s a cold wind tunnel with wind whipping through the tube. Co-worker Steve Gress is a little worried about heights.

WR James Rodgers made the trip, but is not part of the travel roster. He came up on his own with the redshirts and others.

The DL continued its tradition of playing a mutated game of football as a way to warm up. I figure it lasts until someone gets hurt.

Sometimes an odd dance breaks out as seen below from DE Taylor Henry.

The weather is turning cold, really cold. Night games here are always a bad idea. I’ve yet to cover a game here not in rain or cold.

And for those who keep track of these things, the Beavers are in all white again. I like the white jerseys and black pants from last week. Oh well. UPDATE: Some players changed pants to black. All is well.

Alamo Bowl people are passing stuff out to the media about their game. I’m down with another trip to Texas. The steaks are great.

Pac-12 commish Larry Scott will talk to the media at halftime. The Pac-12 plans to announce the plans for the future Thursday morning. I’ll update with something from Scott tonight if I can, or early in the morning.

It’s going to be crazy to make deadline. Gress and my five stories must be in well before 11 p.m. so the guys on the desk can get all the pages shipped to the press by that time.

First quarter
Beavers defense look porous again, but DE Gabe Miller recovers a fumble that UW QB Jake Locker fumbled when he ran into his own player. Beavers take ball on their own 12-yard line.

Word is that’s the fourth red zone turnover the Beavers have forced this season.

WR Markus Wheaton is not starting due to his knee bruise. Geno Munoz is playing in his place.

Huskies moving the ball on the defense with ease. They go up by a TD. It’s 7-0 with 4:22 left in the first quarter.

QB Ryan Katz gets a ball tipped and INT. Could be the turning point.

Second quarter
It opens with a 6-yard TD pass for UW. The Huskies are rolling with little resistance.

Offense just can’t get going. There’s no running room for Jacquizz Rodgers, against a team horrible against the run.

The can of whoop a@% has been opened. Huskies up 21-0 with 10:06 left in half. With OSU’s defense, there’s no comeback tonight.

The odds look bad, but Beavers scrapping away. Quizz carries a big load up the field and Katz scores on a 5-yard scramble. 21-7 UW.

CB Jordan Poyer makes it interesting with an INT. OSU in UW territory. Quizz takes over and is running inspired. Beavers score a TD. UW lead cut to 21-14 with 3:09 left in half.

Third quarter
OK, the can just got closed. The Beavers do come back to make it 21-21 with 11:26 in the quarter. That was a crucial drive that OSU scored on to open the half. Quizz making big-time plays.

The third-quarter lag has hit. Both defenses have stepped up, or both offenses slowed down.

Just to let you know, I’m feeling deadline death. I’ll be back in a while.