Long Time Coming

On a Saturday full of mismatches and blowouts, a 56--0 rout provided one of the season's most dramatic moments. In the fourth quarter of Washington's win over Idaho State, Huskies junior running back Deontae Cooper scored his first career TD on a four-yard run, emphatically capping a comeback from an unbelievable series of injuries. Before each of the past three seasons Cooper—a prize recruit out of Citrus High in Perris, Calif.—suffered an ACL tear. He finally had a healthy summer and made his debut two weeks ago, and when he scored Husky Stadium erupted. Cooper called it "a reminder of why I didn't make the wrong decision by coming to Washington—a lot of great support through coaches, teammates, trainers, the fans.... It was just a great feeling."

PHOTO

JESSE BEALS/ICON SMI (COOPER)