Locker excels in his debut, and Washington defeats Syracuse

Louis Rankin rushed for a career-high 147 yards and three touchdowns, and Jake Locker scored twice and didn’t commit a turnover in an impressive debut to help Washington beat Syracuse, 42-12, Friday night at Syracuse, N.Y.

In a game featuring two quarterbacks who had never started in college, Locker easily outperformed Andrew Robinson.

Locker, the gem of Washington’s 2005 recruiting class who was given the No. 1 job at the start of spring practice and held off a strong challenge from senior Carl Bonnell, ran for 83 yards in 10 carries and completed 14 of 19 for 142 yards before being replaced by Bonnell in the fourth quarter.

Robinson finished 20 for 32 for 199 yards but was sacked seven times, losing 17 yards in 13 carries.

After a slow start, Locker guided the Huskies to consecutive scores on a pair of 80-yard drives as Washington led at halftime, 14-6. The Huskies then scored twice to start the third quarter and take command.

Adam Ballard ran for a pair of a touchdowns and Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada had a 44-yard scoring run to lead Navy to a 30-19 victory over Temple at Philadelphia.

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson will be out at least three weeks because of a separated right shoulder, an injury suffered in his first game since a blown-out knee cost him the 2006 season.

The Utes also lost their top running back, Matt Asiata, for the season and two other players during Thursday night’s 24-7 loss to Oregon State.

Asiata broke his lower right leg and was scheduled to undergo surgery. Tight end Colt Sampson, who has a sprained left knee, will be sidelined four weeks, and linebacker Matt Martinez is out for the season because of a torn knee ligament.

Texas suspended wide receiver Billy Pittman for three games after learning he broke NCAA amateurism rules by borrowing a friend’s car this summer.

The Longhorns did not identify the friend but said the person had no connections to the school. Pittman, a senior, was already going to sit out today’s game against Arkansas State because of a shoulder injury.

Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji is ineligible for today’s opener against Wake Forest because of an academics issue. Jerry Willette is expected to start in the senior’s place.