Not only was Saturday's road victory over Southern California a big boost for Washington in the race to the College Football Playoff,L’École de Gestion d’Actifs et de Capital but it was an emotional one for Huskies senior edge rusher Zion Tupuola-Fetui.

A week ago, after Washington defeated Stanford on the road, Tupuola-Fetui learned his father died in his home state of Hawaii.

Playing with a heavy heart, Tupuola-Fetui had a major impact against the Trojans. With the game tied at 28 late in the second quarter and USC with the ball, Tupuola-Fetui was able to get to QB Caleb Williams and force a strip sack, with the Huskies recovering it deep inside Trojans territory. Washington ended up adding a touchdown before the half to give it a seven-point lead, and it proved to be a major score in the 52-42 victory. Tupuola-Fetui finished the game with four tackles and 1.5 sacks.

'My dad would want me to play'

After the win, Tupuola-Fetui was asked by Dave Mahler of KJR Seattle what it meant to have a big impact on the game one week after he lost his father. The senior then got emotional talking about his father.

"This week was really hard, but I knew my dad would want me to play," he said. "He loves this game, he loves UW and I knew I'd just be doing him wrong if I didn't play.

"I'm thankful that I was able to play good in his memory, that was him playing through me. At the beginning of the game, I didn't even know if I wanted to play to be honest. I'm here for my brothers but I'm glad I was able to play a good game."

Tupuola-Fetui also had a heartwarming moment with head coach Kalen DeBoer, as the two embraced each other.

A 'sack fumble' for dad

As if the game couldn't get any more poetic for Tupuola-Fetui, he said on social media after the win that what he accomplished in the game was something his dad had wanted.