Rankin fulfills mission

The number is magical. Like 20 wins to a pitcher and 50 home runs to a hitter. It is the number every running back chases, like a greyhound after a rabbit.

Gain 1,000 rushing yards in a season, and a runner leaves an indelible mark on his program.

With Washington's bowl hopes gone and its goals diminished, getting running back Louis Rankin past 1,000 yards had become a mission for its offensive line.

Get Rankin past that number and their names would be there with his, in some imaginary parentheses, among the deep list of impressive runners in Washington's record books.

"We started the game out today and I said, 'Guys, we're about to be part of history,' " center Juan Garcia said. "Just the fact that he can be in the record books — I mean, people probably won't know me in later years, but I'll know I blocked for that guy. That's all I need to know."

One thousand yards. On a typically blustery November afternoon in the Northwest, Rankin exploded and slalomed past that number. In Washington's 37-23 win over California, he broke tackles and broke loose for 224 yards on 21 carries, even though a hip pointer kept him out most of the second half.

With two games left, Rankin has rushed for 1,077 yards this season, the ninth-best season in school history.

"I know Louis wanted 1,000 yards, and the last six games or so, he's been more focused," Garcia said. "He's been really grinding it. You could just tell it was a different Louis, trying to get that extra yard, no matter what."

The names above Louis Rankin, the best one-season runners in Washington's past, are impressive: Corey Dillon, Napoleon Kaufman, Greg Lewis.

Rankin is 120 yards behind Lewis, who ran for 1,197 yards in 1989. Sometime early in the second half of this week's Apple Cup, he should pass Lewis and become Washington's fifth-highest season rusher.

"I definitely don't compare myself to those guys," Rankin said.

There is a tradition here. From their first recruiting visit to their final down, Washington players hear about Hugh McElhenny, Jacque Robinson, Joe Steele, Beno Bryant, Pete Taggares, Dillon, Kaufman and Lewis.

There is an impressive, enduring legacy of legs at Washington.

"Those aren't just average football players. Those are some of the greats," tackle Chad Macklin said. "We've had some big names here. And everyone knows the tradition here has been moving the ball on the ground and having these big rushers. So having Louis' name up there among the best is great for us."

Rankin is a profile in perseverance. It seems as if every year, Washington has waited for someone else to take the job away from him. Last year it was Kenny James. This year it was supposed to be J.R. Hasty.

Rankin has been the odd-man out who always finds a way to stay in.

"He was a guy who, when he first got here, we didn't know really what direction he was going to go," offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said. "But he chose to do it coach [Tyrone] Willingham's way. I'm a big fan of his. He's worked hard. He works hard in the weight room. He's always in great condition.

"He does everything we want him to do. He goes to class. He's never on any list. You root for guys like that. Sometimes it was painful to watch him struggle at times the last couple of years. But, just when you were about to give up on him, he would do something like this."

Every player's timetable is different. Some explode from the get-go, some learn lessons painfully, slowly. Some never arrive. In these final games of his Huskies career, Rankin is realizing all of the lush spoils of self-conquest.

He rushed for 666 yards in 2006, and 485 in his sophomore year. But late in his last college season, something has clicked. Two weeks ago he rushed for 255 yards against Stanford. He is only the third Husky to have two 200-yard rushing games in a season.

"I got a little bit tired this season, because I felt like there was more out there for me," Rankin said. "There were more yards out there for me to get. I felt like I wasn't getting it done.

"I thought they [offense linemen] were doing their jobs, but I wasn't contributing like I could. So I took on the mind-set that I was going to have to work a little harder and try to run through a couple more tackles to make some plays."

Rankin set Saturday's tone with a 46-yard run on the game's first play from scrimmage.

He made three guys miss on a 28-yard run during Washington's second possession. Another 46-yard run on the second scrimmage play of the second half led to the first of three Ryan Perkins field goals.

"Since the Stanford game, it's just like he's putting his foot on the ground and he's really moving," Macklin said. "It seems like there's nothing that can stop him."

In his final days, Rankin is running with the best. Chasing down the ghosts from Washington's past. Rushing past 1,000 yards and taking his offensive linemen with him into history.

Steve Kelley: 206-464-2176 or skelley@seattletimes.com