Shehee Races Into Limelight

Washington tailback Rashaan Shehee spent most of last season as an injured afterthought to Corey Dillon, who used Shehee’s absence to set school rushing records with 1,555 yards and 22 touchdowns.

With Dillon having moved on to the NFL, Shehee used Saturday’s season opener at BYU to re-establish himself as the most explosive running back in the Pacific-10 Conference.

It didn’t take long.

Shehee’s second carry went for 65 yards. His 12th and final carry netted 75. He gained 171 yards in all, erasing any doubts as to whether the 210-pound senior was recovered from the nagging ankle injury that cleared the way for Dillon a year ago.

“The greatest thing, besides the victory, is just being back on the field and being able to go to battle with my teammates,” Shehee said. “There’s nothing else I could ask for.”

Shehee emerged as a game-breaking threat two years ago. He rushed for 212 yards in the Huskies’ 33-30 Apple Cup victory that season and was looking forward to another big season in ‘96.

Then came the infamous balcony incident, in which Shehee injured his ankle after hearing gunshots at a party. He returned briefly toward the end of last season, but didn’t look the same.

“I probably shouldn’t have practiced in the Holiday Bowl and I probably shouldn’t have played in the game, but it was just tearing me up inside just to go out there to each practice and watch my teammates,” Shehee said. “It was hard for me. I’m just happy to be out there now.”

Prolific Pathon

With seven catches for 163 yards, Washington split end Jerome Pathon surpassed former teammate Dave Janoski for the 11th-best receiving day in school history.

Andre Riley holds the record of 223 yards, set in a 1989 loss to Arizona State. Janoski had 162 receiving yards in the 1995 Apple Cup.

For all his skill as a receiver, Pathon proved equally dangerous Saturday as a punt returner. His 40-yard return late in the second quarter led to the Huskies’ third touchdown.

As Pathon waited to field the punt, BYU linebacker Derik Stevenson was approaching at full speed. But instead of signaling for a fair catch, Pathon made the catch and cut left almost in the same motion, avoiding Stevenson by the narrowest of margins.

“As a punt returner, you basically gotta have no fear - you gotta be relentless out there,” Pathon said. “If you have an opportunity and have that gut instinct, you’ve got to take it.”

Chorak defers to Campbell

Jason Chorak, who led the Pac-10 with 13-1/2 quarterback sacks last year, was shut out against BYU.

“For the first couple quarters, they had double teams on me and it was just hard for me to turn around the corner,” he said. “But I felt like I played pretty well on the run.”

With Chorak often occupying an extra blocker, teammate Chris Campbell broke free for a pair of sacks.

Mixed debut for Jones

Randy Jones made all six extra points in his debut as Washington’s new placekicker, but the sophomore from Spokane had his only field-goal attempt blocked after a low snap.

Olson holds up in return

All-America offensive lineman Benji Olson made a successful return from off-season back surgery by participating in several of Washington’s first-half series.

Quotebook

“Coach said our personality is going to be defined today and take shape. And I think it did. We came in at halftime and said, you know, what we’ve done is we’ve pounded the ball against these guys and we’re throwing over the top. We’re going to keep pounding it and taking shots.” - Washington quarterback Brock Huard.

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