CenturyLink Field in Seattle is one of the most fearsome places to play in the NFL (even if its normal occupants are not always as fierce). Stanford came in expecting an easy victory over the Washington Huskies, and left having learned the lesson many NFL teams have been taught times before.
Story #1: Huskies Stun #8 Stanford, 17-13.
Coming into the matchup Thursday night, the consensus among the college ranks was that Keith Price was going to need a perfect game for the Huskies to have a chance against the vaunted Cardinal. As it turns out, Price only needed to be perfect on one drive. Bishop Sankey did the rest. Sankey finished with 144 yards on 20 carries, including a 61-yard burst past two defenders for a score that kept the Huskies in the game, 13-10. Price, and his favorite target Kasen Williams, did the rest, connecting on a 35-yard strike to give the Huskies a lead in the fourth quarter they would not relinquish. Williams finished with 10 catches for 129 yards. Stanford had one last chance, but Josh Nunes was picked off by Desmond Trufant to seal the game.
Story #2: #18 Beavers Stay Unbeaten; Hold Off Arizona, 38-35.
Oregon State has had a magical season thus far, and it did not get any easier in the Arizona desert as the Beavers won a wild back and forth battle with the Wildcats. Oregon State scored the first 17 points, but Arizona roared right back, scoring 21 straight, punctuated by a 24-yard touchdown run by Ka’Deem Casey. Storm Woods answered from 1-yard out for the Beavers to retake the lead. Woods finished with 161 yards on 29 carries. Arizona responded in kind, with a touchdown pass by Matt Scott to Dan Buckner. Sean Mannion turned up the heat for the Beavers from there, connecting with Markus Wheaton from 20 yards out. After Arizona rallied a fourth time, Mannion sealed the game with just 1:09 left on the clock, throwing to Connor Hamlett from 9 yards out. Mannion ended 29 of 45 for 433 yards. Arizona’s last chance was snuffed out by Rashaad Reynolds, who intercepted Scott to give the Beavers a 3-0 start.
Story #3: #2 Oregon Survives Scare from Washington State, 51-26
Of all of the teams in the Pac-12, Washington State seemed the least likely to give the Ducks trouble. The new era under Mike Leach proved that wrong, as the Cougars kept the game close until halftime. The Ducks proved too much for the Cougars in the second half, as Oregon won 51-26. Kenjon Barner rolled up the scores early, scoring from 22 yards and on a pass from Marcus Mariota from 30 to give the Ducks a 20-3 lead. Connor Halliday led the Cougars back into the game, leading a drive that ended with a Carl Winston 2-yard run to cut the lead to 20-9, and hitting Brett Bartolone before halftime for a 23-19 Oregon advantage. As close as the game was, one sequence in the third quarter put the game out of reach for the Cougars. The Ducks started the second half with an 18 play, 76-yard drive capped off by a 4-yard run by De’Anthony Thomas. The very next drive for the Cougars, Halliday was picked off by Avery Patterson, who returned it 34-yards for a touchdown. After the Cougars were forced to punt, Kenjon Barner scored a 10-yard run for a 44-19 lead. Barner picked up his third rushing score of the game in the fourth quarter with an 80-yard romp. Barner ended the game with 195 yards rushing on 20 carries. Marquess Wilson showed top form for the Cougars, with 12 catches and 182 yards, including a late touchdown.
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