11/17/2018 football Edit

Dawg Halftime Report vs Oregon State: Fast Start Sparks 35-16 UW Lead

Washington Huskies running back Myles Gaskin (9) breaks off a 64-yard run setting up the Huskies first touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Photo Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports (© Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports)

Lars Hanson • TheDawgReport

Publisher

SEATTLE – The first players to run out of the tunnel Saturday on Senior Day provided the catalyst for an explosive start against Oregon State.

Washington scored a touchdown on its first four possessions of the game for the first time this season. It marks only the second time that the offense scored three consecutive touchdowns to start a game after racing out to a 21-0 against Stanford.

Unlike the last time the Huskies played at home, the Beavers used a mixture of luck and timely execution to get on the scoreboard in the first half, trailing 35-16. OSU converted its third field goal, a 44-yarder, just before halftime.

The ground game worked to perfection from the start for UW. Senior Myles Gaskin ran for 107 yards on 12 carries while sophomore Salvon Ahmed tallied the only two rushing touchdowns of the half, a pair of 4-yard scores.

UW combined for 200 rushing yards in the first half between four players; Gaskin, Sean McGrew (41 yards), Jake Browning (30 yards) and Ahmed (22 yards).

Browning was near perfect through the air throwing only two incompletions (14 of 16) for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Eight different players recorded at least one reception in the first half including sophomore tight end Hunter Bryant, who returned two weeks ago against Stanford for the first time this season.

Another familiar face returned to the field, senior left tackle Trey Adams, who replaced starter Jared Hilbers midway through the second quarter. The preseason All-American has not played in 2018 after initially recovering from an ACL injury he suffered last season against Arizona State.

Adams also had surgery earlier this season for a separate injury, and since then UW head coach Chris Petersen has been mum on his status as the 2018 season progresses.

The Huskies controlled the clock by keeping the ball for 18:10 and averaged 9.6 yards per play against the Beavers in the first half. Should the stats continue to trend the same in the final 30 minutes Gaskin could be in line to move up the all-time Pac-12 rushing record books.

Entering the third quarter Gaskin needs 150 yards to move past former Oregon State RB Ken Simonton and Oregon RB LaMichael James, to become the No. 3 all-time rusher in conference history.

Browning is also entering top five territory. He needs two more touchdowns to tie former USC QB Carson Palmer for No. 5 all-time in Pac-12 history for career pass TD’s (96).