Originally published September 20, 2014 at 8:32 PM | Page modified September 21, 2014 at 12:00 AM
Marcus Peters returns with 2 picks for Huskies
Humbled, hurt and perhaps a little humiliated, Marcus Peters began the week on the second unit after serving a one-game suspension.
Seattle Times staff reporter
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Humbled, hurt and perhaps a little humiliated, Marcus Peters began the week on the second unit after serving a one-game suspension.
It didn’t take long for Washington’s star cornerback to regain his starting job in the young secondary. And he needed less than two quarters during the Huskies’ 45-14 win over Georgia State to claim two interceptions for the second time in his career.
Peters, who wasn’t available to the media Saturday, had half of the four turnovers Washington forced. He also has 10 interceptions in his career, which ranks 11th all-time at Washington.
“Obviously he’s a great player,” said senior nose tackle Danny Shelton, who finished with 13 tackles and a sack. “He came in early this week and immediately showed out on the second team and they had to put him in the game. We had total faith in him. He’s going to come in and put the past in the past and play ball. He did exactly what we expected.”
Washington’s first defensive series ended with Peters snaring a pass from Georgia State quarterback Nate Arbuckle. Defensive end Hau’oli Kikaha applied pressure, and the ball sailed behind junior receiver Avery Sweeting.
Peters, who looked as if he were playing zone, read the play and corralled the errant throw. It was the first interception this season for a UW defensive back.
With 9:31 left in the second quarter, Peters snagged his second interception. He stretched out on the sideline for the grab and dragged his right foot before falling out of bounds at the UW 28.
It was the kind of play the Huskies expected from Peters, who sat out most of the second half against Eastern Washington after a sideline outburst. He also became the fourth player to be suspended by first-year UW coach Chris Petersen and missed last week’s game against Illinois.
“It’s just really checking his ego, his pride,” said senior linebacker John Timu, who had 10 tackles and returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown. “I think he responded well.”
Georgia State had five possessions in the first half. The Panthers scored touchdowns on two drives, they punted once and two ended with Peters’ interceptions.
“He could have had three,” Timu said.
Peters intercepted a pass in the end zone early in the second quarter but was penalized for pass interference on the play. Georgia State scored two plays later and took a 7-0 lead.
Arbuckle finished with 194 yards on 21-of-33 passing, but he avoided Peters in the second half. That allowed the Huskies to shut down Georgia State and hold the Panthers to 42 yards after the break.
“He has all the confidence in the world and not in a negative way,” Timu said. “I think it was just really trust. He got a big penalty and it kind of hurt us and it could have cost us the game. As soon as he got back, he gained it (trust) from us.”
Shelton said Peters didn’t have to make amends with players for past transgressions.
“We know each other,” Shelton said. “We’ve been through a lot of adversity with each other. … Marcus is a guy that’s always going to compete. Hard.”