Huskies Struggle, Then Go the Rout

Rashaan Shehee rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns, his fourth consecutive 100-yard game, as seventh-ranked Washington overpowered Oregon State, 45-17, on Saturday.

The Huskies (6-1 overall, 4-0 in the Pacific 10) struggled to a 10-10 halftime tie against the Beavers, who were 24-point underdogs. But Washington’s big offensive line took command in the second half, clearing the way for touchdowns on the Huskies’ first four possessions to turn the game into the rout that was predicted.

Washington scored 35 unanswered points in the second half before the Beaver reserves scored late in the game.

Oregon State (3-4, 0-4) lost to Washington for the 10th consecutive time and has lost 20 of the past 21 games against the Huskies. The Huskies won their 10th Pac-10 game in a row. The Beavers have lost eight consecutive conference games and 16 of 17.

Jerome Pathon had a career-best nine receptions for 109 yards, including an 18-yard reception from Brock Huard for Washington’s second touchdown of the third quarter.

Huard, who threw his second interception of the season in the first half, completed 17 of 25 passes for 219 yards.

Washington trailed much of the first half, pulling even on Nick Lentz’s 34-yard field goal 1:16 before intermission.

In the third quarter, the Huskies had scoring drives of 69 yards in seven plays, 63 yards in six plays and 70 yards in eight plays. Shehee had a two-yard touchdown run to cap the go-ahead drive. Third-string tailback Jason Harris scored Washington’s final third-quarter touchdown on a seven-yard run.

Huard stayed in the game to connect with freshman Ja’Warren Hooker on a 44-yard touchdown pass that made it 38-10 with 12:23 to play. Hooker has touched the ball four times in his two-game college career and has scored touchdowns twice. Last week, he returned the opening kickoff against Arizona 89 yards for a touchdown.

NEXT FOR USC

WHO: Washington

WHERE: Husky Stadium

WHEN: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 7

RADIO: KLSX-FM (97.1)