Jayden Limar went off for 66 yards on nine carries against Penn State, the most he’s ripped off as a Husky, but it wasn’t enough to stop UW from falling 28-25 at home. The Oregon transfer and Lake Stevens High School product proved he’s back with a vengeance after that significant elbow injury in the season opener, but the Huskies just couldn’t capitalize on his fire, losing a tough one to the Nittany Lions.
Limar’s Early Spark and the Missed Opportunity
Limar gave third-year coach Jedd Fisch and the offense a serious jolt right from the start. Just one week after returning to the field, Limar took his very first carry for 15 yards to get near midfield. He then hammered out two more carries for eight and seven yards, pushing the offense deep into the red zone. That early drive set up fourth-year kicker Tyler Robles for a 29-yard field goal, putting UW up 3-0. Coach Fisch called it a “really nice 14-play drive to start the game,” but admitted he “would’ve liked to end with a touchdown.” He wasn’t wrong, especially with that tight 28-25 final score. Later, Limar showed up again, accounting for 41 of 62 total yards on another field goal drive. This dude was making things happen every time he touched the ball, even ripping off a season-long 27-yard carry midway through the second quarter that led to another field goal.
Where Did the Momentum Go?
Here’s where it gets frustrating. After that early momentum, Limar basically disappeared. The Huskies waited until their fifth possession to get him the ball again, and what happened in between? Three different players, first-year wide receiver Trez Davis, first-year running back Brian Bonner, and sixth-year Trey Cooley, each took carries on the next three offensive possessions. The results were brutal: the trio combined for just three yards on four carries. Davis even lost six yards on one run. During this stretch, Penn State took a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter. All three of those drives where Limar wasn’t carrying the ball resulted in punts, creating a hole that Fisch’s offense just couldn’t climb out of, even after scoring 19 unanswered points in the second half. Fisch tried to explain it: “We weren’t trying to establish the pass; we were trying to convert a third down,” he said about Limar’s absence. “You convert, you get a lot more runs. We weren’t able to.” Limar’s afternoon ended with just two more touches after his big 27-yard run: a one-yard loss and a third-quarter catch for no gain. His best day as a Husky, yet the team still took the L.
You gotta wonder what could have been if Limar kept getting the rock. This guy, who already has four career games with 50-plus rushing yards, was clearly the hot hand. The Huskies dug deep in the second half, but you can’t waste that kind of explosive talent and expect to come out on top. It’s tough to watch such a stellar individual performance overshadowed by what felt like missed opportunities to feed the beast. We’ll be watching closely to see if they learn from this and keep Limar unleashed.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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