Oct. 26, 2005

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

JOE SUNNEN, THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

The Western Washington University football team ends most of its practices with a conditioning period called run to win.

Running the ball to win games is exactly what the Vikings have been doing this season.

WWU rolled up 308 rushing yards on 52 carries against Humboldt State University on Saturday in its come-from-behind win. That total was the most rushing yards and attempts by a Vikings team since 1999.

"At halftime I told our offensive line that I was putting the game in their hands," WWU coach Rob Smith said. "We are running the ball much better. Certainly you give those guys up front the credit and include in that the receivers and the tight ends for what they're doing."

The Vikings started establishing themselves as a running team in early October the first time they played the Lumberjacks and haven't slowed down since. In the past four games WWU has run for 848 yards.

"We have two senior running backs, an experienced line, a senior tight end," Smith said. "If you're going to go down, you should go down using your best."

The Vikings are also 3-1 in those past four games and undefeated this season when at least one running back has 100 or more yards.

"The offensive line has been blocking great," running back Duncan Sherrard said. "We've had some great holes, and all we have to do is run hard and try to make our reads."

Sherrard has run for 100 or more yards in each of the past two games and running back Jake Carlyle ran for 175 yards in the first game against Humboldt State.

In their four seasons together at WWU, Carlyle and Sherrard have combined for 4,167 yards. Sherrard also ranks fourth on WWU's career rushing list with 2,708 yards.

"As far as I'm concerned Jake and I are both good backs, and we're both equal in skill and talent," Sherrard said. "One goes out and makes some plays, then we tell the other one it's their turn."

MOVING UP THE LIST

Sherrard is 129 yards away from becoming the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's career rushing leader.

The GNAC record is 2,836 yards held by Western Oregon University Jason Taroli.

OLSON UPDATE

Senior wide receiver Andy Olson will be day-to-day after re-aggravating the medial collateral ligament sprain on Saturday that sidelined him for almost a month earlier in the season. Olson first hurt the knee on Sept. 10 and missed two games before returning to the field on Oct. 8 against Central Washington.

"We all really hope he can comeback and play in these last two games," Smith said. "He deserves that."

Smith said he thought Olson's career at WWU was over after Saturday's game, but the knee has improved faster than anticipated."

"He was able to do some work on Monday and then he was supposed to rest it (Tuesday)," Smith said. "Right now it's a day-to-day thing."

Awards: WWU strong safety Steve Davis was named GNAC co-defensive player of the week after tallying 10 tackles and a forced fumble.