It wasn’t certain that Washington fifth-year senior linebacker Carson Bruener would play against Northwestern after injuring his left arm in the fourth quarter of UW’s Apple Cup loss to Washington State. However, Bruener not only participated but also made a significant impact in Washington’s 24-5 victory at Husky Stadium.
One of the game’s key moments came when Bruener intercepted a pass late in the second quarter, halting what had been Northwestern’s strongest drive of the half, which seemed poised to score. This pivotal play allowed the Huskies to maintain a 17-2 lead going into halftime, and given the defense’s dominance, it created a lead that felt insurmountable.
“Seeing Carson make that interception motivated the entire defense to keep forcing three-and-outs,” said UW edge rusher Isaiah Ward, who recorded his first career sack during the game.
Bruener, whose father Mark was a standout tight end at UW and later played in the NFL, contributed six tackles, tying for the team lead with Sebastian Valdez. “As a team, we discussed how hard we could push ourselves this week,” said UW coach Jedd Fisch. “Carson assured me, ‘Coach, we’ll be fine.’ He and Zo [Alphonzo Tuputala] are exceptional leaders, and that interception was a great play.”
Bruener also played a crucial role in the Apple Cup, acting as a spy on WSU quarterback John Mateer, who poses a constant running threat. The Huskies were able to contain Mateer effectively while Bruener was in the game, but once he left with about eight minutes remaining, Mateer found more success on the ground. Husky fans were undoubtedly relieved to see Bruener back against Northwestern.
Ward expressed his admiration: “He’s our leader. Watching him recover from injury and perform so well inspires me to strive to be like him.”
A fifth-year senior from Redmond High School and a team captain, Bruener has had an outstanding season, entering the game with 15 tackles, the second-most on the team, including two for loss. With some key defensive players sidelined, Bruener’s presence was vital, even though Northwestern had struggled offensively, averaging just 21 points and 355 yards in their three nonconference games.
It became clear early on that the Wildcats would not come close to those averages. Looking ahead, the challenges will become more difficult, and Bruener will be crucial in helping the Huskies navigate them. “I’m excited to see him continue leading us through the next eight games and beyond, and to help mentor the younger players to develop into leaders like him,” Fisch said.
