PULLMAN, Wash. —
Anthony Gordon threw for 520 yards and five touchdowns as Washington State beat Stanford 49-22 on Saturday, to move within one win of becoming bowl eligible.
Easop Winston Jr. caught a pair of touchdown passes for Washington State (5-5, 2-5 Pac-12), which has a four-game winning streak against the Cardinal. Max Borghi rushed for 111 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns.
Brandon Arconado caught nine passes for 148 yards for the Cougars.
Gordon set a team record by throwing for 39 touchdown passes this season.
Davis Mills, starting in place of injured K.J. Costello, threw for a team record 494 yards for Stanford (4-6, 3-5).
In the opening series, Winston caught a short pass from Gordon, the nation’s leading passer, and turned it into a 29-yard touchdown reception. The kick by Blake Mazza was blocked for a 6-0 lead. Mazza had made all 41 of his previous conversion attempts this season.
After a Stanford punt, Washington State drove 96 yards, with Gordon hitting Tay Martin for a 16-yard touchdown pass and a 13-0 lead.
After a Stanford punt, Washington State drove 97 yards for its third touchdown. Gordon fired a 15-yard scoring pass to Winston, who split three defenders in the end zone and made a diving catch. Mazza’s kick failed and the Cougars led 19-0.
Stanford replied with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Mills to Simi Fehoko.
Gordon was intercepted at the Stanford goal line on the next series by Jonathan McGill. Davis drove the Cardinal 99 yards, culminating in a 23-yard touchdown pass to Michael Wilson that cut WSU’s lead to 19-14.
Mazza kicked a 35-yard field goal to give WSU a 22-14 lead at halftime.
Mazza’s 38-yard field goal late in the third gave WSU a 25-14 lead.
Stanford replied with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Mills to Fehoko, and Cameron Scarlett ran over the 2-point conversion to bring the Cardinal within 25-22.
But the Cougars blew the game open, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal in the final 18 minutes.
Travell Harris returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards to the Stanford 10, and Gordon threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Arconado. Mazza added a 35-yard field goal on the next possession for a 35-22 lead.
WSU’s Skyler Thomas intercepted Mills at midfield, and Borghi caught a short touchdown pass from Gordon for a 42-22 lead midway through the fourth. Borghi added a late running touchdown.
THE TAKEAWAY
Stanford: The Cardinal need to beat California and Notre Dame at home to qualify for an 11th consecutive bowl game, extending the longest streak in school history.
Washington State: The Cougars need to beat Oregon State next weekend or win at archrival Washington the following weekend to qualify for a fifth consecutive bowl game.
UP NEXT
Stanford hosts California next Saturday.
Washington State hosts Oregon State next Saturday.
