Shaq Thompson runs UW to win over Colorado

BOULDER, Colorado – In order to corral Ralphie V, the 450-pound buffalo that takes a full lap around Folsom Field just before each Colorado Buffaloes football game, a team of handlers is required.

At the end of Ralphie’s brief, crowd-pleasing sprint, she is guided by those handlers into a trailer waiting beyond the corner of the north end zone. Ralphie barrels in, the door to the trailer closes, and the buffalo is confined within for the safety of everyone involved.

Shaq Thompson, however, was left to roam free.

The Washington Huskies won here on Saturday, 38-23, and it’s worth wondering what that score might have looked like if Thompson hadn’t lined up at tailback. The junior linebacker – and that designation should be used loosely now – again played offense exclusively, carrying the ball 15 times for 174 yards and a touchdown, in addition to a dump-off pass that he turned into a 41-yard reception to help set up a crucial touchdown just before halftime.

That’s a total of 215 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches. For a guy who started each of UW’s first six games at linebacker and has scored four defensive touchdowns this season.

It looked early as if UW’s defense might have needed him more. Colorado raced to a 10-0 lead behind a 30-yard touchdown pass from Sefo Liufau to D.D. Goodson, and a 43-yard run by Michael Adkins that set up a short field goal.

But with Thompson in the backfield, it seemed only a matter of time before the Huskies put the screws to the Pac-12’s worst rushing defense.

As a result, UW’s downfield passing game was the best it’s been all season. Miles completed 13-of-19 for 206 yards and two touchdowns, including a 28-yard scoring toss to freshman Dante Pettis.

And after missing several tackles while allowing the Buffaloes to gain 291 yards in the first half, the Huskies’ defense tightened up and allowed only a field goal after that.