STANFORD, Calif. - After stealing a victory last week at Oregon State, there were no last-second heroics Saturday as No. 18 Stanford saw its five-game winning streak snapped by No. 25 Washington State, 24-21, at snowy Martin Stadium.
The Cardinal (6-3, 5-2 Pac-12) had several chances to take control against the Cougars (8-2, 5-2) despite a shaky offensive showing. Senior inside linebacker Bobby Okereke's 52-yard interception return for a touchdown gave Stanford a 21-17 lead late in the third quarter and shifted momentum.
But despite a gritty effort from the Cardinal defense, the offense went three-and-out on three straight fourth-quarter possessions and failed to gain a first down -- Stanford managed three in the third quarter and only nine in the contest, converted three of 12 times on third down, and finished with a season-low 198 total yards.
"They played a heckuva game," said David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football. "We knew it was going to be close. We had the lead and we didn't maintain it."
Shaw shouldered blame for the offensive struggles.
"We should have mixed it up a little bit," he said.
In his second career start, sophomore quarterback K.J. Costello completed nine of 20 attempts for 105 yards with one interception.
"There's no doubt, it stings," Costello said. "We feel it in the locker room. There were multiple times when it was time to put the game away, or to make plays and really take charge, and we didn't do it."
He did run for a 14-yard touchdown on a strange, but heads-up play. After taking the snap in shotgun formation, he pump-faked and fumbled. The ball bounced straight up, he collected it, then found clear sailing into the end zone.
Junior running back Bryce Love returned to action for the first time since early in the third quarter against Oregon on Oct. 14. The national rushing leader coming into the game, he found few openings, but did race for a 52-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, breaking two tackles, the second with a stiff-arm attack. Love finished with a season-low 69 yards on 15 carries.
Love now has a run of 50 or more yards in every game this season.
He now ranks second in the country in rushing with 1,456 yards. Rashaad Penny of San Diego State supplanted him after amassing 234 during a 52-7 win at San Jose State on Saturday night.
However, Love continues to lead the nation in yards per game at 182.0 -- more than 22 ahead of his closest pursuer, and tops all running backs in yards per carry at 9.64.
Once again, Stanford sparkled on special teams. Dorian Maddox returned the opening kickoff 46 yards and Cameron Scarlett carted four for 127 yards, nearly breaking the last one.
Jake Bailey had another outstanding game, especially in the cold and challenging conditions. He averaged 47.0 on eight punts and pinned Washington State inside the 20 four times. All four of Bailey's kickoffs went for touchbacks.
For the fifth time this season, senior defensive tackle Harrison Phillips topped the team in stops, as both he and junior safety Justin Reid shared the honor with seven. Phillips also had two tackles for loss and a sack.
Although the defense registered three sacks against Cougar quarterback Luke Falk, he seldom threw under duress and completed 38 of 48 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns. In all, Washington State racked up 430 yards, converted seven of 16 times on third down, and ran 30 more plays (77-47).
"There's a reason he's the Pac-12's career passing yard leader," said Okereke.
Saturday was Stanford's fifth and final road game of the season. The team has flown nearly 20,000 miles and will play its final three contests at home, starting Friday at 7:30 p.m. PT against No. 9 Washington (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12).
The Huskies defeated Oregon on Saturday night in Seattle, 38-3. They are led by quarterback Jake Browning and dynamic wide receiver and punter returner Dante Pettis. The latter scored on a 64-yard punt return and a 47-yard reception against Oregon. Pettis has carted four punts for scores this season and is now the NCAA all-time leader with nine.
Browning tossed two touchdown passes and is now tied for the school record with 75.
As was the case a year ago, the Cardinal will face Washington six days after its previous game. The home-standing Huskies won, 44-6, dealing Stanford its worst setback since a 42-0 loss to USC in 2006.
Washington leads the country in total defense, is No. 2 in scoring defense (11.1) and No. 6 against the run (91.1). Royce Freeman of Oregon became the first player to rush for more than 100 yards against the Huskies this season, gaining 122 on 24 carries.
Washington has scored 30 or more points in every game but one, losing at Arizona State, 13-7.
A Pac-12 North Division title remains alive for Stanford. The Cardinal must beat Washington and Cal, then hope the Huskies defeat the Cougars on Nov. 25 in Seattle.
Extra Points ... In an oddity, Love and Okereke both scored touchdowns wearing No. 20 … Stanford had won an FBS-best 45 consecutive games when leading after three quarters … Fifth-year senior Ryan Burns took two snaps at quarterback and ran twice for 12 yards … Fullback Daniel Marx turned in the best catch of the game, making a shoestring grab of a low throw by Costello that resulted in a key 24-yard gain on third down … Starting left tackle Walker Little left the field in the second quarter and was replaced by Devery Hamilton ... wide receiver Trenton Irwin has caught at least one pass in 23 consecutive games … Former standout strong safety Bo McNally '09 served as honorary captain. He was a two-time team captain and is now a partner with T3Advisors.
Quotable ... "We have to flush it. We have three more important games to play." - Bobby Okereke
