Huskies dash through snow, Cougars’ hopes

Myles Gaskin broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, and No. 16 Washington won its second Pac-12 North title in three years, beating host No. 7 Washington State 28-15 on Friday night.

With snow blanketing the turf at Martin Stadium, Gaskin found enough traction to carry the Huskies into the Pac-12 title game and ruin yet again the title hopes of Washington State. It was Washington’s sixth straight win over the Cougars and the third straight year the Huskies denied them the North crown. Gaskin rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns, a year after running for 192 yards and four scores.

The Huskies (9-3, 7-2 Pac-12) will face Utah in the conference title game next Friday in Santa Clara. The winner will earn a spot in the Rose Bowl.

Washington State (10-2, 7-2) carried the Pac-12’s last hope of finding a way into the College Football Playoff, but the Air Raid was mostly grounded by a combo of blowing snow and Washington’s sticky secondary. Gardner Minshew II was 26 of 35 for 152 yards, but his longest pass to a wide receiver went for 11 yards.

James Williams rushed for two touchdowns and the Cougars trailed 20-15 going to the fourth quarter, the first time since 2008 the game was within five points going to the final quarter.

Gaskin made sure that didn’t last long, and became the first Pac-12 running back to top 1,000 yards rushing in all four seasons.

Oregon 55, at Oregon State 15: CJ Verdell ran for 187 yards and four touchdowns and also caught a scoring pass to overcome the Ducks’ loss of quarterback Justin Herbert to a first-half injury.

Herbert threw for 102 yards and a touchdown before he appeared to injure his shoulder or upper arm on a sack and left on a cart.

“It didn’t seem like it was too big of a shot, but enough where we had to keep him out,” coach Mario Cristobal said.

The Beavers gave up 510 yards, including 392 rushing. The Ducks (8-4, 5-4) now await bowl selection.