Demond Williams Jr., Huskies make history, trounce Cougars in 2025 Apple Cup

By Andy YamashitaSeattle Times staff reporter

PULLMAN — Purple was practically the only color remaining in Martin Stadium by the time Gov. Bob Ferguson handed the Apple Cup trophy to Jedd Fisch. 

Most of the Washington State student section, which welcomed Washington to the Palouse hours earlier with boisterous chants that can’t be printed, headed toward the exits once UW safety Alex McLaughlin returned an interception 47 yards to make it a three-score game with 11:34 remaining. 

A handful of WSU fans saw UW running back Jonah Coleman score a 34-yard screen less than two minutes later. Even fewer remained to watch Washington wide receiver Omari Evans haul in a 59-yard touchdown with 2:40 remaining to make it a rivalry victory of historic proportions. 

So by the time Fisch finally got his hands on the Apple Cup trophy, the largest contingent of crimson belonged to the WSU security detail charged with protecting the Cougar logo emblazoned on the turf at Martin Stadium. 

“It means a lot to our program, to our team,” Fisch said. “I’m just proud of our players. Our staff. Our administration.” 

The Huskies defeated the Cougars 59-24 during the 117th Apple Cup in front of an announced crowd of 32,952 on Saturday at Martin Stadium in Pullman. It’s the most points scored by one team during a single game in Apple Cup history, surpassing the record Don James and the Huskies set in 1991 when they beat WSU, 56-21. Fisch said he did not know what the record was entering the game. 

“We just like to score when we have the ball,” said the UW coach, who also won the first road game of his tenure Saturday.

Sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. was 16-for-19 passing for 298 yards and four touchdowns, both season-high marks. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound signal caller also led the Huskies (3-0) with a career-high 88 yards rushing — though it was 111 yards rushing if his losses on sacks aren’t added — and another score. 

Williams already ranks among the top-10 rushing quarterbacks in UW program history despite making just his fifth career start Saturday. 

“It feels great, for sure,” Williams said. “Every win feels great, but especially against your rival. Offense had a really dominant game. We’re just trying to keep it rolling.” 

Junior wide receiver Denzel Boston registered his first 100-yard receiving game of the season, making six catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Jonah Coleman was held below 100 yards rushing for the first time this season, tallying 59 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 12 carries but enjoyed the first 100-yard receiving game of his career. The Stockton, Calif., native had six catches for 104 yards, including the 34-yard screen he took for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. 

For players like Williams, Boston and Coleman, who were on the team a season ago when UW lost the 116th Apple Cup 24-19, Saturday was a chance to finally indulge themselves in a rivalry win. Williams said he rewatched UW’s failed fourth-and-goal speed-option pitch play from 2024 several times during the past week for motivation. 

“Coming out here, the fans were chirping early, especially during warm ups and stuff,” Williams said. “Being able to come out of here with a W feels great.” 

McLaughlin might’ve had the most crucial performance of any individual player for the Huskies. The junior safety, playing in a secondary that was missing injured senior cornerback Tacario Davis, made six tackles and snared two interceptions in his first rivalry experience at the FBS level. 

“I loved the atmosphere,” McLaughlin said. “It felt great. Got a little chippy. Really competitive. I just loved being out there with my guys and competing at a high level.”

His first pick came with 6:14 remaining in the first quarter, when McLaughlin settled under a pass by Washington State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus that had been tipped by Washington sophomore linebacker Deven Bryant. Eckhaus, who made his first start of the season for the Cougars (2-2), was also crushed by fifth-year edge rusher Zach Durfee as he released the ball. 

It was McLaughlin’s first interception of the season, and it set up a 23-yard touchdown run by Williams to give the Huskies an early 14-0 lead they never relinquished.

McLaughlin’s second interception of the game, however, sealed the win. Facing fourth-and-five from WSU’s 41-yard line, Eckhaus was again engulfed by the UW pass rush before lofting a pass toward tight end Trey Leckner. 

Instead, McLaughlin, who transferred to Washington from FCS-program Northern Arizona before the season, made a leaping catch to secure the interception before returning it 47 yards for a score. It’s UW’s first pick six since Mishael Powell’s season-saving interception against Arizona State that he returned 89 yards for a score Oct. 21, 2023. 

“I was guarding my man,” McLaughlin said. “Then I looked up, saw the ball and saw nothing but green.” 

It was the second of three turnovers UW’s defense forced. Freshman cornerback Dylan Robinson also punched out the ball from Eckhaus’ hands as the WSU quarterback tried to scramble during the first play of the Cougars’ very next drive. Junior defensive lineman Bryce Butler recovered the ball, setting up Coleman’s screen touchdown. 

McLaughlin’s play and the highlight turnovers papered over a mixed night for the Husky defense. Eckhaus passed for 277 yards and two touchdowns, at one point completing 10 consecutive passes. Sophomore defensive back Leroy Bryant, playing for the injured Davis, was Eckhaus’ favorite target and he was replaced by Robinson after giving up a 48-yard completion to WSU receiver Joshua Meredith. 

Along with Davis, who traveled with the team but was ruled out after going through warm ups, Washington might also be without junior linebacker Taariq “Buddah” Al-Uqdah for a considerable amount of time. 

Al-Uqdah, who spent three seasons at WSU before transferring to UW, went down with an apparent lower body injury after 306-pound Cougar offensive lineman Jonny Lester fell on his leg. Al-Uqdah was seen afterward walking around after the game with crutches. Fisch did not seem particularly optimistic about his status moving forward, and said the linebacker will have an MRI on Sunday. 

“We don’t know exactly what it is,” Fisch said. “But it didn’t look good. We’re going to pray it’s not as bad as it could be.”

Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes .com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.