KEN GOE
Two weeks ago, when Washington threw a major scare into USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Huskies looked like a contender. Now? Washington limps into Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., to play No. 11 California today without quarterback Isaiah Stanback, gone for the season with a severely sprained right foot, and trying to shake off an overall lackluster performance last week in a 27-17 loss to Oregon State. California (6-1, 4-0 Pacific-10 Conference) isn't sure what to expect.
"Isaiah is a major part of their team," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "It can work two ways. You can use it as an excuse, or you can rally the troops. I think most people try to rally the troops." Junior Carl Bonnell will get his first start for Washington since 2004, and the Huskies (4-3, 2-2) insist the drop-off at quarterback might not be that significant. "The thing is, Carl and Isaiah have pretty much the same attributes," Huskies guard Stanley Daniels said. "They are both pretty much the same quarterback." Stanback has run a 10.48-second 100 meters for the Washington track team. Bonnell isn't that fast, but he's not a statue, either. In 2004, he rushed for 58 yards against San Jose State and averaged six yards per carry against Fresno State. So offensive coordinator Tim Lappano can hang on to the spread formations and zone read-option plays. "You have to defend their offense, not just one player," Tedford said. Bonnell was sidelined most of last season with a deep thigh bruise that wouldn't heal. Word around the football program was that the UW coaches weren't sure whether he was sufficiently committed to the sport. That talk ceased in the spring, when Bonnell beat out Oregon transfer Johnny DuRocher to be the No. 2 quarterback.
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