Gaskin breaks two UW freshman rushing records in first Apple Cup

During the fourth quarter Friday, Myles Gaskin’s name flashed across the big screen at Husky Stadium — but he didn’t see it.

“We were in the backfield and actually running the Wildcat, and Lavon (Coleman) talked to me like, ‘You see that?’ ” Gaskin said. “I looked at the O-line at that moment and gave them a smile and they all smiled back.”

With 1,121 yards this season, Gaskin, a true freshman, is Washington’s new all-time leading freshman rusher.

Gaskin passed Chris Polk, who previously held the record with 1,113 yards in 2009 as a redshirt freshman.

Gaskin finished with 32 carries for 138 yards and a team-leading two touchdowns in the 108th Apple Cup, as UW handled the Cougars, 45-10.

“Myles continues to amaze me,” UW coach Chris Petersen said. “When I look at him out there running, I think, that’s a mature running back and he’s only a true freshman. That’s just how he runs — he’s patient, he’s crafty, he’s hard to tackle.”

Gaskin only rushed for 29 yards in the first half, but still broke two records before entering the locker room.

He scampered five yards out of bounds on UW’s opening second-quarter drive to become the only true freshman to surpass the 1,000-yard mark.

On the following drive, he took a pitch and cut two yards untouched into the end zone to cap a 10-play, 84-yard drive that gave the Huskies a 17-3 advantage at the half.

“If the O-line keeps the guys covered, he’s going to find a crease, he’s very shifty,” Petersen said.”

That touchdown tied Rich Alexis’ record for most rushing touchdowns scored by a freshman in a single season at nine.

Gaskin’s second touchdown — a 5-yard dagger that put UW up 31-10 to open the fourth quarter — broke it.

“Those were guys I saw on TV when I was little — just playing backyard football,” Gaskin said. “Chris Polk and those guys? It’s nothing but a blessing.”

Gaskin’s reliability and the impact of the freshman class in Saturday’s win — which grants the Huskies bowl eligibility — is a change of pace for a UW team that has struggled with youth and inconsistency this season.

In his first Apple Cup, quarterback Jake Browning was 14 of 20 passing for 203 yards.

Federal Way product Chico McClatcher, also a true freshman, scored UW’s opening touchdown on a 26-yard reverse with 1:40 to play in the first quarter.

“I think we’re making progress,” Petersen said. “It’s nice to be able to get another one. … That’s what I thought about all along, is I’d like these guys to be able to play another game. I think that’s what’s really important.”

A sentiment Gaskin shares.

“You just try and get better every day, no matter how old you are,” he said.

But can Petersen think of a freshman running back he’s ever trusted more?

“Nope,” he said. “And I really almost think he can take the ‘freshman’ off it.”

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 9:53 PM with the headline "Gaskin breaks two UW freshman rushing records in first Apple Cup."