Pacific 10 Roundup : Washington State Wins but Loses Quarterback

Tim Stallworth caught two touchdown passes and six Washington State defenders intercepted passes in a 41-3 win over Oregon State Saturday at Pullman, Wash., but the Cougars lost starting quarterback Brad Gossen.

The left-handed junior completed seven of eight passes for 98 yards, but left the game with 6:12 remaining in the first half after tearing ligaments in his left thumb when he hit a defender’s shoulder pads following through on a pass.

He is expected to undergo surgery and miss four to six weeks.

The Cougars (3-0) won their Pacific-10 Conference opener for the first time since 1981. Oregon State slipped to 1-1 after two conference games.

Gossen connected with Stallworth for a 44-yard touchdown on the Cougars’ first possession.

Aaron Garcia took over and completed 10 of 13 passes for 197 yards with one interception, and hit Stallworth with a seven-yard touchdown strike that gave Washington State a 17-3 halftime lead.

Arizona St. 28, San Jose St. 21--Senior tailback David Winsley caught a 12-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter, then scored on a 36-yard run early in the fourth as the Sun Devils rallied to beat the Spartans in a nonconference game at Tempe, Ariz.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Kurt Lasher, subbing for injured starter Paul Justin, put the Sun Devils ahead 21-14 on his off-balance scoring strike to Winsley with 1:59 remaining in the third quarter.

Winsley’s touchdown run came with 14:11 to go in the game as Arizona State improved to 2-0. It was San Jose State’s season opener.

The Spartans closed to 28-21 on backup quarterback Ralph Martini’s three-yard touchdown run with 9:50 left and drove from their own 47 to the Arizona State 8 before turning the ball over on downs with 3:06 to play.