Editor's note: Throughout the week, HuskyNation will look back at the top 5 moments of the 2012 season. Here is No. 5:
SEATTLE -- When Washington started its 2012 campaign, one of the biggest question marks was pointed at the defense.
After giving up 777 yards and allowing 67 points during a loss to Baylor in the Alamo Bowl to end the previous season, the Huskies revamped their defensive coaching staff. Coach Steve Sarkisian entrusted Justin Wilcox with the job of pointing the program in the right direction on that side of the ball.
Washington started strong on defense in Week 1 with junior safety Will Shamburger capping a strong performance during a 21-12 win over San Diego State. In fact, after the game, quarterback Keith Price said the defense “won the game for us.”
After posting 14 points in the first quarter, the Huskies’ offense was unable to score over the final three frames. Offensive struggles allowed the Aztecs to hang around.
Then the defense delivered.
San Diego State quarterback Ryan Katz completed a pass to Colin Lockett. After an 8-yard gain, Princeton Fuimaono and Talia Crichton hit Lockett, who fumbled the ball.
Shamburger scooped it up and sprinted 44 yards for a touchdown. It was Washington’s only second-half score and essentially sealed a season-opening win.
But, as much as the turnover and touchdown helped to wrap up a victory, it was also the first step toward proving the Huskies were going to be better on defense in 2012.
“We're not going to be the defense of the past,” linebacker Travis Feeney said after the game. “We're going to step it up this year and make sure our defense is good. We're going to be on top of things, as we were today -- always yelling for the ball, always stripping, and always forcing turnovers. Turnovers win the game. That's what we did and it won us the game.”
