MARYSVILLE — Senior Austin Denton broke the Marysville-Pilchuck single-season rushing record in a big way.

Handling the ball just 20 times in the Tomahawks’ 49-28 win over Oak Harbor, the fullback ran for 323 yards and three touchdowns.

“He kind of went off,” said M-P coach Brandon Carson. “We’re sure happy that he’s running for us. He had some big holes and had to do it himself a couple of times — just sort of the way it normally is for him.”

Denton finished the regular season with 1,919 rushing yards, breaking Kyle Woods’ 1994 record of 1,688 and setting the mark for the most efficient runner, averaging 11.63 yards per carry this season, which crushed the Woods’ 1995 record mark of 8.7.

While Denton did most of his work in the middle of the game, halfback A.J. Kvangnes got the Tomahawks started with a pair of TD runs to make the score 14-3. After a Zack Hanson touchdown, and an Oak Harbor score, Denton pulled Marysville away with touchdown runs of 62, 2 and 49 yards, making the score 42-10.

“It was kind of an all-around defensive game for us,” Carson said. “It got away from us a little in the end with some reserves in, but the guys really shut them down.”

Denton notched his eighth consecutive game of 200 or more yards, and broke the single-season touchdown record with 24 scores, besting Woods’ 1994 mark of 22.

Now that the regular season is over, the Tomahawks (9-0, 6-0 Wesco) prepare for a 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7 contest against Graham-Kapowsin (6-3, 5-3 SPSL) at Snohomish High School.

“They are a tough football team,” Carson said. “They are solid on both sides of the ball and have some great athletes, so it should be a tough match.”

Carson said that the motivation of last year’s 36-18 loss to eventual state runner-up Issaquah in the preliminary round speaks for itself.

“I think the kids are ready to right the wrongs of last year and if we block well and tackle well, I like our chances,” he said.

Click here for more photos.