BOULDER, Colo. — The 8-inch dreadlock, ripped from Shaq Thompson’s head on his final carry, fell at the 15-yard line.

Thompson never bothered to search for the lost piece of hair afterward. He wrapped up a postgame television interview at midfield, quickly greeted some Husky fans who stuck around to celebrate Washington’s 38-23 comeback victory over Colorado and then jogged alone back to the visitors’ locker room at Folsom Field.

He didn’t do it all on his own and didn’t do so unscathed, but with Thompson’s switch from star linebacker to full-time running back, the Huskies (6-3, 2-3) have finally found their rushing attack.

For the first time in his UW career, the 228-pound junior played exclusively at running back, finishing with 15 carries for 174 yards and one touchdown behind a patchwork offensive line. UW had been averaging a paltry 3.0 yards per carry in conference play; against Colorado, that average nearly doubled, to 5.9, with Thompson averaging a startling 11.6 yards per carry.

“He’s fun to watch,” UW coach Chris Petersen said.

Quarterback Cyler Miles, who sat out the loss to Arizona State a week earlier because of a concussion, had an efficient passing day in his return to Colorado, going 13 of 19 for 206 yards and two touchdowns. He helped the Huskies overcame three lost fumbles and a 10-point second-quarter deficit to end a two-game losing streak.

Linebacker Travis Feeney returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown and freshman receiver Dante Pettis scored the first two touchdowns of his career, one on a punt return of 87 yards to clinch UW’s sixth straight victory over Colorado (2-7, 0-6).

The Huskies return home to host No. 25 UCLA next Saturday in Jim Mora’s return to Husky Stadium.

“I think this team can do some (good) things,” Peter­sen said. “I do think we have something to us, but we have a long way to go.”

With an 11 a.m. kickoff — 10 a.m. in Seattle — the Huskies looked sleepy at the start before an announced crowd of 35,633. Sefo Liufau, Colorado’s sophomore quarterback from Tacoma, threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to D.D. Goodson early in the first quarter, giving the Buffaloes their first lead over UW in four games since they joined the Pac-12 in 2011.

Miles was involved in two lost fumbles in the first half — Thompson said the second was his fault — and UW’s deficit grew to 10-0 late in the first quarter and then 20-10 with 2:23 left in the half. Thompson kept things close for the Huskies, rushing for 151 yards on 10 first-half carries, including a 24-yard touchdown run.

“Shaq’s going to do his thing no matter where you put him,” Miles said. “I’m glad to have him on my side.”

On UW’s final drive of the half, Miles dumped a short pass to Thompson, who hurdled a defender en route to a 41-yard gain. Four plays later, Miles threaded a pass between two defenders to find Kendyl Taylor for a 9-yard touchdown with 53 seconds left in the half.

Down 20-17 at halftime, Thompson was asked what the mood of the team was at that time.

“We didn’t have no mood. We just knew we had to pick it up,” he said.

The Huskies surrendered a 49-yard field goal to start the third quarter, pushing Colorado’s lead to 23-17. The UW defense was stout after that. Here’s how the Buffaloes’ final seven drives ended: lost fumble, interception, fumble, punt, punt, punt, turnover on downs.

Miles, meanwhile, settled down, reaffirming his place as UW’s starting quarterback. The sophomore from Centennial, Colo., floated a pass to Pettis for a 28-yard touchdown along the left sideline, giving UW its first lead, 24-23, with 5:38 left in the third quarter. Feeney came through with his first interception on Colorado’s next drive, and Pettis added UW’s first punt return for a touchdown since 2003 for the final score.

“It was real special to me because I used to grow up coming to CU games,” Miles said. “Just to be able to be in the stadium and experience it as a player is kind of like a dream come true. … I’d be lying to you if I said there weren’t butterflies. I mean, this is my first time playing in front of a lot of my family.”

By the end, he looked, in a word, confident.

And with Miles back behind center, and especially with Thompson beside him, the Huskies can be much more confident that this November charge can continue to pick up steam.

Adam Jude: 206-464-2364 or ajude@seattletimes.com. On Twitter @a_jude

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