ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Jordan Miller’s two interceptions and Myles Bryant’s pick-6 helped the seventh-ranked Washington Huskies overcame a slow start and hand Colorado its first loss, 37-10 on a cold, rainy Saturday night at Folsom Field.
Myles Gaskin rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns for the Huskies (4-0, 1-0), who didn’t manhandle Colorado (3-1, 1-1) from the start like they did in a 41-10 rout of Colorado in last year’s Pac-12 championship.
That’s of little solace to the Buffaloes, whose self-inflicted wounds included a trio interceptions, several fumbled snaps and a too-early slide on third down by quarterback Steven Montez that led to a punt — which was blocked.
“We’re giving them the game,” Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre complained as he headed to the locker room trailing 10-7 at halftime.
Washington would outscore the Buffs 27-3 after the break, sparked by Quinten Pounds coming down with a 43-yard touchdown pass from Jake Browning between two defenders.
James Stefanou barely cleared the crossbar from 49 yards out to pull Colorado to 17-10 and Trevor Viscaino missed his second field goal attempt of the night later in the third quarter.
Still in it at that point, Montez tried to hit Bryce Bobo on a slant but he never saw Bryant, whose 35-yard interception return for a touchdown gave Washington a two-touchdown cushion.
The Huskies turned it into the blowout so many expected with a 6-yard TD run from Salvon Ahmed and a 57-yard scoring scamper from Gaskin in the fourth quarter before the subs went in.
Miller had two first-half interceptions as the Huskies built a 10-7 lead. His first one led to the go-ahead field goal and his second one came in the end zone with a minute left in the second quarter.
The Huskies fell behind 7-0 when Colorado went 75 yards on its opening drive and capped it with Philip Lindsay’s 1-yard TD run .
Washington’s first series ended with Browning throwing an interception to safety Afolabi Laguda and Vizcaino was wide right from 32 yards on the Huskies’ second drive. Vizcaino also missed an extra point.
Things started to unravel for Colorado when Montez slid too early on a third-and-3 scramble, coming up a yard shy of the sticks and forcing a punt, which was blocked by Vita Vea and recovered by Levi Onwuzurike at the Colorado 12.
The game was tied four plays later when Gaskin scored from a yard out .
Miller’s first interception led to Vizcaino’s 25-yard field goal and he snared another pass in the end zone intended for Shay Fields with a minute left in the first half.
INJURY UPDATE: The Huskies lost wide receiver Chico McClatcher to a left leg injury in the third quarter. McClatcher had four catches for 44 yards and a 15-yard run before being carried off the field.
WET WEATHER: The rainstorms produced bad field conditions that meant that Ralphie the Buffalo couldn’t do her traditional pregame run around Folsom Field. So, Chip the Mascot did the honors instead, drawing cheers as he rumbled from one end zone to the other with Ralphie’s regular handlers in tow.
The drizzle and 45-degree temperatures with a wind chill of 40 didn’t bother the Huskies’ “Big Skills” players — linemen, linebackers, tight ends — who warmed up shirtless .
UP NEXT
Washington: Visits Oregon State on Saturday for another night kickoff.
Colorado: Visits UCLA for their second straight night game Saturday.
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