Washington St. Still Standing

Ryan Leaf, mentioned often as a Heisman Trophy contender, played like one and then looked like one on Saturday at Pullman, Wash.

Seconds after leading No. 14 Washington State to a 38-28 victory over Stanford, Leaf drew a huge response from the record crowd by dropping into the pose of the familiar statue given to the best player in college football.

“It was instantaneous,” Leaf said after the victory that kept the Cougars in contention for their first Rose Bowl since 1931.

Leaf was carried off the field by his teammates after throwing two touchdown passes and running for a touchdown as Washington State, 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the Pacific 10, finished 6-0 at home for the first time in history. The Cougars are tied for the Pac-10 lead heading into the final game of the season at Washington.

“That’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life,” Leaf said.

The crowd of 40,306, largest in Martin Stadium history, saw the Cougars break a five-game losing streak against Stanford (4-6, 2-5).

“Every game we make history,” Washington State defensive lineman Leon Bender said as the Cougars improved to the school’s best record since 1930.

Washington State Coach Mike Price called Leaf the best quarterback in college football and this team the best in school history.

Making the Rose Bowl has long been a dream, Price said. “Now it’s not just a dream, it’s a realistic goal.”

The Cougars rallied from a 28-27 fourth-quarter deficit to take the lead on Michael Black’s four-yard touchdown run.

“This is one of those days where we turned it up a notch,” said Black, who rushed for 173 yards in 27 carries.

Stanford, which hadn’t lost in Pullman since 1989, suffered a blow on its first possession when quarterback Chad Hutchinson left the game because of a bruised thumb. He was replaced by Todd Husak, who had four passes intercepted while going 12 of 26 for 154 yards.

“I’ve got to make smarter decisions and better plays,” Husak said. “I played really poor.”

Leaf was 23 of 37 for 258 yards, and tied Pat Barnes of California for the Pac-10’s season touchdown record with 31.

NO. 15 ARIZONA STATE 52, OREGON 31

Michael Martin rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns, including an 83-yard run in the third quarter, as the Wildcats kept their hopes for a return trip to the Rose Bowl alive at Tempe, Ariz.

The defending Pac-10 champion Sun Devils (8-2, 6-1) are tied for first place with UCLA and Washington State.

Loses by UCLA and Washington State on Saturday and an Arizona State victory over Arizona on Nov. 28 would put the Wildcats in the Rose Bowl.

Oregon (5-5, 2-5) had been 14-0 in November games since 1994 and was coming off an upset of Washington at Seattle. But the Ducks trailed, 24-3, by halftime and didn’t really threaten, scoring two touchdowns in the final 1:57 behind freshman quarterback A.J. Feeley.

Arizona State held tailback Saladin McCullough to 69 yards in 23 carries, ending his streak of consecutive 100-yard rushing games at four.

Martin had his yardage in 16 carries while J.R. Redmond finished with 127 yards in 11 attempts, including a 54-yard touchdown run.

Arizona State quarterback Ryan Kealy showed no signs of ineffectiveness because of a strained shoulder suffered in the previous game against California, going 17 for 30 for 218 yards and two touchdowns.