Snohomish County connections on both sides of Apple Cup
Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 22, 2018
It doesn’t get much bigger than this year’s Apple Cup football game between the Washington State University Cougars and University of Washington Huskies.
And players with Snohomish County ties will play significant roles in the outcome.
The seventh-ranked Cougars and the No. 16 Huskies play the 111th edition of the Apple Cup at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Martin Stadium in Pullman with everything on the line. The winner claims the Pac-12 North title and a date with Utah in the Pac-12 championship game on Nov. 30 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Both teams’ rosters are littered with players from Snohomish County, including several who play key roles that will put them front and center Friday. Here’s the rundown on the local players on each team:
WASHINGTON STATE
Taylor Comfort
Hometown: Sultan
High school: Sultan
Position: Nose tackle
Year: Senior
Apple Cup status: The former walk-on, who received a scholarship for his senior season, earned a starting job. This season he has 18 tackles, four tackles for a loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He’ll play an important role in trying to slow Washington’s run game.
Josh Watson
Hometown: Everett
High school: Cascade
Position: Guard
Year: Sophomore
Apple Cup status: Watson is the starting right guard on an offensive line that’s allowed just nine sacks all season. He’ll be charged with helping keep Cougars quarterback Gardner Minshew, the nation’s leading passer, upright.
Abraham Lucas
Hometown: Everett
High school: Archbishop Murphy
Position: Tackle
Year: Freshman
Apple Cup status: Lucas teams with Watson to form an all-Everett right side of WSU’s offensive line. Lucas has had a meteoric rise, becoming one of the Pac-12’s top blockers as a freshman, and Washington’s edge rushers have a challenge trying to get around the 6-foot-7, 320-pounder.
Jesus Echevarria
Hometown: Everett
High school: Archbishop Murphy
Position: Defensive tackle
Year: Freshman
Apple Cup status: The walk-on has appeared in five games for the Cougars this season, registering four tackles, but hasn’t played since Oct. 6.
Caleb Perry
Hometown: Seattle
High school: King’s
Year: Freshman
Position: Running back
Apple Cup status: Perry has yet to appear in a game for the Cougars.
Michael Van Beek
Hometown: Arlington
High school: Arlington
Position: Defensive line
Year: Freshman
Apple Cup status: The preferred walk-on is redshirting this season.
WASHINGTON
Myles Gaskin
Hometown: Lynnwood
High school: O’Dea
Position: Running back
Year: Senior
Apple Cup status: Gaskin is Washington’s all-time leading rusher, and he’s just 94 yards away from becoming just the 10th player in FBS history to rush for 1,000 yards in all four of his collegiate seasons. He’s had big games in past Apple Cups, and the Huskies will need him to have another big game Friday.
John Clark
Hometown: Marysville
High school: Marysville Getchell
Position: Defensive tackle
Year: Junior
Apple Cup status: The walk-on has turned himself into a member of Washington’s rotation on the defensive line. He’s appeared in seven games this season, recording five tackles.
Kyler Gordon
Hometown: Mukilteo
High school: Archbishop Murphy
Position: Cornerback
Year: Freshman
Apple Cup status: It’s unclear whether the highly regarded true freshman will play Friday. Players can appear in four games and maintain their redshirt status. Gordon has appeared in two games, and with the Huskies potentially having two games remaining after the Apple Cup, the coaching staff may choose to hold Gordon out of this one.
Malik Braxton
Hometown: Lynnwood
High school: Meadowdale
Position: Running back
Year: Junior
Apple Cup status: The transfer from Western Oregon, who arrived this season after not playing football in 2017, has appeared in just one game this season for the Huskies.
Austin Joyner
Hometown: Marysville
High school: Marysville Pilchuck
Position: Defensive back
Year: Junior
Apple Cup status: Joyner was forced to retire earlier this season because of repeated concussions. However, he remains a part of the team, and he was honored during Senior Day last Saturday.
Jacob Eason
Hometown: Lake Stevens
High school: Lake Stevens
Position: Quarterback
Year: Junior
Apple Cup status: Eason is ineligible after transferring from Georgia, so he won’t play Friday. However, with four-year starter Jake Browning graduating, Eason is the leading candidate to be quarterbacking the Huskies in next year’s Apple Cup.
Josh Rasmussen
Hometown: Lake Stevens
High school: Lake Stevens
Position: Wide receiver
Year: Junior
Apple Cup status: The walk-on has yet to appear in a game for the Huskies.
Ben Hines
Hometown: Snohomish
High school: Archbishop Murphy
Position: Linebacker
Year: Freshman
Apple Cup status: The preferred walk-on is redshirting this season.
