Rankin runs wild

Published 12:27 am Saturday, September 1, 2007

SYRACUSE, N.Y. It was just one of many big plays for Washington, but Louis Rankin’s 17-yard first-quarter run on what looked like a broken-down play might have been the biggest play of the game.

Late in the first quarter, Washington was on its third possession and had just one first down. Rankin took an option pitch from quarterback Jake Locker, and looked to be heading for a big loss. Instead, the senior tailback reversed field and gained 17 yards.

“I felt like I wanted to get the offense moving,” he said of the carry. “When coach [Tim] Lappano called the option, I knew there was a chance for me to get the ball and make something happen.”

Two catches and two carries later, Rankin had Washington’s first touchdown of the season, a 13-yard run that gave the Huskies a lead they would never relinquish in a 42-12 win.

“That is one of those times that you needed to have one of your big players make a play to keep a drive going and he did that,” said Washington coach Tyrone Willingham.

Rankin went on to add touchdown runs of 47 and 20 yards as he finished with 147 rushing yards despite sitting out the fourth quarter. He also added two catches both on the first scoring drive for 10 yards.

Throughout the preseason, the talk has been that Rankin is a new running back with a better attitude, better body, and a better game. Friday night, he showed it.

“I think a lot of times, once we would get up, I would get comfortable and relax more,” Rankin said of his play last season. “But now I take on a mentality that we’re trying to put teams away.”

About the only bad news for Rankin was that his career-high rushing game might be overshadowed by the debut of quarterback Jake Locker.

“No, the more the merrier,” Rankin said when asked if he was worried about losing the spotlight. “He’s making some big plays and I’m happy with that.”

Rankin also said Locker’s presence as another running threat helps him.

“Jake brings a lot of attention to him, and that opens up the running game,” Rankin said.

Left tackle battle: Ben Ossai started the game at left tackle over Cody Habben. Ossai, last year’s starter, had been behind Habben on the depth chart for much of fall camp, and Willingham had not decided which would start when the depth charts were released on Monday. Though he did not start, Habben saw a good amount of playing time.

Finally: In his third year at Washington, tailback J.R. Hasty finally got his first college carry. Hasty, who redshirted his freshman year, sat out last season after failing to qualify academically. His first college carry was a 5-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

Big block: Marcel Reece’s receiving numbers were a modest four catches for 50 yards, but the senior receiver had a big impact on the game. He made several key blocks to spring big runs, including one where he rode a Syracuse cornerback all the way out of bounds to help ignite Louis Rankin’s 47-yard touchdown run.

“It’s fun,” Reece said of his blocking duties. “It’s fun getting after it and getting physical.”

So that’s why they call them the Orange: Syracuse lived up to its nickname, wearing orange pants, jerseys and helmets. The last time Syracuse wore that uniform combo was in a 2004 victory against Pittsburgh.