Dec 26, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Washington Huskies fullback Myles Gaskin (9) is congratulated after scoring a touchdown by tight end Drew Sample (88) and wide receiver Jaydon Mickens (4) in the first quarter against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
DALLAS — The future appears bright for the Washington Huskies.
Freshman running back Myles Gaskin scored four touchdowns to lead the Washington to a 44-31 victory over Southern Miss in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Saturday.
“It was a great win,” second-year coach Chris Petersen said. “It was good to see our offense get untracked later in the game, and Myles Gaskin had a great game.
“We hung in there against a good team. We have great respect for Southern Miss and their program, and they played hard.”
Gaskin rushed for 181 yards on 26 carries, including an electric 86-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The only true freshman in UW history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season also set a Heart of Dallas Bowl record for rushing yards and touchdowns.
“Our O-line did a great job all day and controlled the line of scrimmage for us,” said Gaskin, the game’s MVP.
The Huskies (7-6) finished the season on a three-game winning streak and won their first bowl game under Petersen.
Gaskin wasn’t the only freshman to come up big as Petersen continues to put his stamp on the program.
Quarterback Jake Browning, also less than a year removed from high school, completed 23 of 34 passes for 284 yards. Despite not throwing a touchdown pass, the 19-year-old signal caller from California led the Huskies on seven scoring drives.
“If we keep working like we have for the last several weeks of the season, we have a chance to be a good team down the road,” Petersen said.
Southern Miss (9-5) ended on a two-game losing streak but did snap a four-year bowl drought. The Eagles reached the Conference USA title game in coach Todd Monken’s third year.
“We obviously have another step that we can take, but I’m awfully proud of this team and how far we’ve come,” Monken said.
USM’s running game took a hit before the game when it was announced that running back Jalen Richard was out with an injury. Richard was one of two Eagles to rush for 1,000 yards this season.
Running back Ito Smith, the other 1,000-yard rusher, did score twice, but he was held to just 40 yards on 16 rushes.
Monken didn’t pin the lack of a running game on Richard’s absence.
“I don’t know how much Jalen would have made a difference,” Monken said. “That would be a discredit to Washington and their defense.”
Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens completed 25 of 38 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns, both to receiver Mike Thomas.
The Huskies scored the first touchdown on their second drive, with Gaskin taking it the final two yards. Browning completed four consecutive passes to start the march before eight straight runs.
Washington’s 7-0 lead didn’t last long. Mullens hooked up with Thomas (nine catches for 190 yards) on a quick slant that went for 56 yards on the ensuing possession.
The Huskies went ahead 21-10 after Gaskin scored on another short run and receiver Jaydon Mickens, lined up in the backfield, scampered in from 29 yards.
Mullens led a hurry-up drive late in the second quarter to close the gap to 21-17 going into halftime. Thomas hauled in a 36-yarder to the 1-yard line and Smith punched in it.
After the Eagles tied it 24-24 on Smith’s second touchdown late in the third quarter, Washington reeled off 17 consecutive points.
Gaskin got it started by taking a handoff on UW’s 14-yard line, cutting back across the field and outracing USM defenders down the opposite sideline. Gaskin’s 13-yard TD put the Huskies up three scores.
Mullens and Thomas connected on a 27-yard score with 5:22 remaining, but Gaskin and the Huskies were able to chew up the clock from there.
NOTES: The Huskies and Eagles met for the first time, with both programs making their inaugural trips to the Heart of Dallas Bowl and the Cotton Bowl. … Southern Miss WR Mike Thomas’ first-quarter score tied the school record for touchdown receptions in a season, with 13. It was also his 10th straight game with a TD catch. … Washington improved to 18-17-1 in bowl games. The Huskies have played in six bowls in the last six years. … Southern Miss is 10-13 in bowls. … The announced attendance was 20,229.
