Idaho RB has won at Husky Stadium

Washington's opponent Saturday at Husky Stadium, the Idaho Vandals, hasn't beaten UW since 1905.

But one playing member of the Vandals does, in fact, have previous experience emerging victorious from Husky Stadium — running back DeMaundray Woolridge, who in 2005 was a member of the Washington State Cougars team that rallied to win the Apple Cup.

"I know the fans will welcome us with open arms," Woolridge said with a laugh of Saturday's 12:30 p.m. game at Husky Stadium. "But it will be a fun game. I'm looking forward to it."

In fact, he's just happy to be playing anywhere after a detour away from the game that he blames largely on himself.

After serving as Jerome Harrison's backup in 2005, he earned the starting job early in the 2006 season. He battled some nagging injuries and rushed for just 330 yards for the season.

He was due to play an even greater role the following season but then was deemed academically ineligible.

Woolridge left and missed the 2007 season. Meanwhile, Robb Akey, who had been defensive coordinator at WSU during Woolridge's years there, had taken over at Idaho. Woolridge approached Akey about coming to Idaho.

Akey has nothing but praise for how Woolridge has handled himself.

"He played all last year on the scout team and worked his butt off on the scout team and in the class room," Akey said.

Woolridge is finding it harder to break into Idaho's lineup. The former starter at WSU is No. 3 on the Idaho depth chart. The starter is Deonte Jackson, whose uncle is Steven Jackson of the NFL Rams.

Going to Seattle

Idaho recruits heavily in Washington, one reason it likes playing UW in Seattle, and has 26 players from the state on its roster. Included are eight starters, including receiver Eric Greenwood of Edmonds, whose father, Scott, was a tight end on the 1978 Rose Bowl team.

Also on the Idaho roster is Aaron Grymes of West Seattle, who committed to play at UW last fall when Tyrone Willingham was still coach. New coach Steve Sarkisian, however, asked Grymes to grayshirt, or delay his enrollment by a year, something Grymes didn't want to do, so he ended up at Idaho and is a backup cornerback.

It's 1-game streak

Losing streak? What losing streak?

Don't bother asking Sarkisian about Washington's 15-game skid, which is tied with Oregon State for the most consecutive defeats in Pac-10 history.

"I've got a one-game losing streak," said the first-year coach. "I don't talk about it."

Note

• DE Darrion Jones has been downgraded from questionable to out for Saturday. Jones suffered a bruised knee on the first defensive series last week against LSU. He could return next week. Sophomore Kalani Aldrich will start Saturday.