College Football
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Washington 66, California 27
When: 10:30 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, California
Temperature: 61°
Head Official: Mike Batlan
Attendance: 47756

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Fifth-ranked Washington gave the College Football Playoff selection committee some impressive numbers to chew on as the unbeaten Huskies blew out California 66-27 on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

While handing the Bears (4-5, 2-4 Pac-12) their first home loss of the season, the Huskies (9-0, 6-0) churned out 704 yards of total offense and scored more than 60 points for the second time this season. Five of their touchdowns were on plays of more than 30 yards, including two of more than 60.

The Huskies' performance and No. 4 Texas A&M's loss to Mississippi State might push Washington into the top four when the next College Football Playoff rankings are released Tuesday. The Huskies seemed unconcerned that another one-loss team, such as Ohio State, might jump past them and keep Washington out of the top four again.

"There's a lot of football left," Washington quarterback Jake Browning said with a shrug. "Let's just get ready for USC."

Washington has games against the Trojans, Arizona State and Washington State remaining before a possible berth in the Pac-12 championship game against the South Division champion.

Browning improved his Heisman Trophy resume by completing 19 of 28 passes for 378 yards and a season-high-tying six touchdowns with no interceptions. His 34 touchdown passes for the season are a school record. He left the game after one series in the fourth quarter.

Two Washington receivers had big games.

Dante Pettis had eight catches for 104 yards and three scores and also threw a 39-yard touchdown pass.

"That was fun," Pettis said of his first pass.

John Ross had six receptions for 208 yards and three touchdowns, giving him 14 receiving TDs for the season. His second touchdown came on a 67-yard reception in which he maneuvered past a half dozen Cal defenders after catching the pass at the 17.

"I just closed my eyes," Ross said.

Being without several secondary members because of injuries and needing to load the box to try to stop the run left the Bears vulnerable on the back end.

"They created some pretty good matchups," Cal coach Sonny Dykes said, "and we had trouble keeping up with their guys."

Washington running back Myles Gaskin, expected to have a big game against a Cal team that is last in the nation in rushing defense, was limited to 74 yards on 16 carries. But teammate Lavon Coleman had 108 yards and a 49-yard touchdown run on seven carries.

Doing it all against a Cal defense that entered the game ranked 124th of 128 FBS teams in total defense and scoring defense takes a little luster out of the Huskies' impressive individual and team statistics, however.

Cal quarterback Davis Webb, who began the day tied for third in the nation in passing yards per game, was limited to 262 yards on 23-of-47 passing with one touchdown and three interceptions. Two of the picks were by Washington cornerback Sidney Jones.

The Bears converted only one of 14 third-down opportunities into first downs.

"You have to be able to convert on third downs," Cal coach Sonny Dykes said. "That's what football games come down to."

The Huskies led just 21-20 in the second quarter before they scored 38 consecutive points to blow the game open.

"I wish we would have started a littler fast, but a road win is big," Browning said.

Right after Bears pulled within 21-20 on an 81-yard drive that ended with Webb's 14-yard scoring pass to Hansen, the Huskies regained their eight-point lead on Browning's 6-yard touchdown pass to Ross.

The Huskies pushed their lead to 35-20 on Browning's 1-yard scoring pass to Pettis with 1:15 left in the first half

"It took us a minute to settle in," Washington coach Chris Petersen said, "but I was happy with the way we answered right after they got it to 21-20."

Washington increased the lead to 42-20 by scoring on its first possession of the third quarter. Browning's touchdown pass to Pettis accounted for the final 17 yards. Gaskin's 2-yard scoring run made it 49-20 later in the third quarter, and Browning's sixth touchdown pass -- this one a 32-yard toss to Pettis -- increased the margin to 56-20 with 7:41 remaining in the third quarter.

"I don't know what happens in the third quarter, but we just don't come out and play as well as we should," said Cal receiver Chad Hansen, who had five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. "It is a completely different team, honestly."

NOTES: Washington QB Jake Browning was ranked first in the nation in passer rating entering this weekend's action. ...Washington LB Joe Mathis missed his third straight game and Huskies G Jake Eldrenkamp missed his second consecutive contest, both with undisclosed injuries. ... Cal WR Chad Hansen, who missed the past two games with an ankle injury, was in the starting lineup Saturday. He entered the game third in the nation in receptions per game. Cal RB Vic Enwere (foot), CB Josh Drusdale (shoulder) and CB Darius Allensworth (hamstring) did not play. ... Cal entered the game 4-0 at home, including wins over Texas and Utah. ... Former Seattle Seahawks and Cal RB Marshawn Lynch drove a cart around the field before the game, re-enacting a celebration ride he had after a victory while playing for Cal.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
Washington   California
Lavon Coleman Player Khalfani Muhammad
7 Attempts 8
108 Yards 34
15.4 Avg Yards 4.2
1 Touchdowns 0
0 Long 0
Receiving
Washington   California
John Ross Player Demetris Robertson
6 Receptions 3
208 Yards 82
34.7 Avg Yards 27.3
3 Touchdowns 0
0 Long 0
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Washington 704 287 417 9 1 3 1.0 0
California 362 100 262 3 2 0 2.0 1