Washington ends three-game skid at Purdue as Elijah Brown wins his first start

Washington gave Elijah Brown his first start with the program on Friday night, and he gave the Huskies their first Big Ten win of the season. Washington won 38-26 at Ross-Ade Stadium, ending a three-game losing streak and sending Purdue back below .500.

Brown completed 21 of 27 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions, so it was not a clean night, but SB Nation's UW Dawg Pound said the offense ran more smoothly than it has in years. The site's view is that Brown suits Jedd Fisch's scheme better than Demond Williams or Will Rogers because he has the size and comfort to work from the pocket. Brown had played well in relief against Iowa the week before. Williams dressed for this game but did not start.

The running game mattered as much as the passing. Trey Cooley had his best game as a Husky, running for 113 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries against a Purdue front that has had trouble stopping the run. Brian Bonner added 64 yards and a score on 13 attempts. Chris Lawson led the receivers with six catches for 103 yards, and Dezmen Roebuck caught five passes for 97 yards, including a touchdown he won on a contested jump ball.

Washington still had to work through its own mistakes. It turned the ball over five times: Brown's three interceptions plus fumbles by Cooley and Robinson. The defense limited the damage by intercepting Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne twice. Cooley also left with an injury in the fourth quarter, and his status is the main health question coming out of the game.

The bigger question is who starts at quarterback next. In UW Dawg Pound's words, Fisch now has to decide whether he will "give the keys back to Demond Williams" or stick with Brown.

What it means for Nebraska

Washington is 4-3 overall and 1-3 in Big Ten play. Its three conference losses came to Minnesota by three points, at No. 18 USC by four and against No. 20 Iowa by 17. The 38 points against Purdue were the most the Huskies had scored since beating Eastern Washington 48-16 in September. Their offense had been stuck in the low 20s in league games before Friday, which is why the quarterback decision carries so much weight.

The Huskies get two weeks to work it out. They play next at Nebraska on Halloween night, Saturday, Oct. 31. It is their third Big Ten road game this year. They lost the first at USC and won the second in West Lafayette. If Brown keeps the job, Fisch will want more of Friday's balance with fewer giveaways. Five turnovers in a road game against a stronger opponent would be much harder to survive.

Purdue falls to 3-4 and 2-2 in the Big Ten. One week earlier, the Boilermakers had held Minnesota to 13 points in a 41-13 win. This time they could not contain Washington's backs. The Boilermakers have given up 38 or more points four times this season. They also travel on Oct. 31, to Penn State.