Williams Delivers Goods in Time for Washington

Reggie Williams thought it was just an ordinary day. His performance, though, was extraordinary.

Williams caught three touchdown passes, including the game-winner on an 80-yard play from Cody Pickett with 2 minutes 3 seconds left, as No. 22 Washington defeated Arizona, 32-28, on Saturday at Seattle.

“Nothing spectacular,” Williams insisted.

Some might beg to differ.

Williams caught eight passes for 184 yards and the Huskies (4-2 overall, 1-1 conference) rallied for the third consecutive year to defeat Arizona and came back from a loss last week to California that ended their 17-game home winning streak.

“Just about anytime, magic can happen with this offense,” Washington linebacker Ben Mahdavi said. “They’ve got so many weapons. It’s always fun to watch Reggie. It’s fun to watch all of our guys.”

The Huskies, trailing 28-26, forced a punt and took over at their own 20-yard line with 2:20 left. On the second play, Williams slipped under the Arizona defense, caught an eight-yard pass from Pickett and outran Clay Hardt and Sean Keel down the left sideline.

“Just before that, I told everybody things were going to be all right,” Williams said. “It was an audible, and I just caught a little slant. Then I got past two guys and it was only me and No. 33. And there was no way he was going to catch me.”

Pickett completed 25 of 35 passes for 345 yards without an interception, leading Washington in a shootout against Arizona’s Jason Johnson, who was 29 of 41 for 443 yards and three TDs.

It was a highlight-reel display by standout receivers for both teams.

The Wildcats (3-3, 0-2) got 10 catches for 155 yards from Bobby Wade and nine catches for 142 yards by Andrae Thurman. But they couldn’t prevent Arizona from losing to Washington for the seventh time in eight games.

The Wildcats didn’t have leading rusher Clarence Farmer, out because of torn knee ligaments. Safety Jarvie Worcester broke his right arm in the third and center Keoki Fraser went out in the fourth with an undisclosed injury.

No. 12 Washington State 36, Stanford 11 -- Jason Gesser passed for 297 yards and threw two of his three touchdown passes to Jonathan Smith as the Cougars (6-1, 3-0) defeated the Cardinal (1-4, 0-2) at Palo Alto.

Jerome Riley had nine receptions for 173 yards and a score as Washington State rolled to its fourth consecutive victory. After completing 17 of 23 passes despite sore ribs, Gesser sat out most of the fourth quarter in the Cougars’ biggest victory over Stanford since 1961.

Jermaine Green rushed for a 42-yard touchdown less than four minutes into the game, bowling over Cardinal safety Colin Branch in an appropriate image for Washington State’s overwhelming performance.

The Cougars led 23-0 at halftime and Stanford never threatened.

Jason David had two interceptions for the Cougars, whose defense was markedly improved after giving up 93 points in their last three games.

Arizona State 13, Oregon State 9 -- The Sun Devils (5-2, 2-0) sacked Derek Anderson seven times for 75 yards, including the last two plays of the game, as they held off the Beavers (4-3, 0-3) at Tempe, Ariz.

Anderson also was intercepted three times as the Beavers lost their seventh in a row to the Sun Devils and 15th straight at Tempe.

Mike Barth, who missed four field goals a week ago, missed a 28-yarder and had a 53-yard attempt blocked, but he made a career-long 50-yarder and another from 46 yards for the Sun Devils.

The Beavers nearly pulled it out after Anderson connected with Steven Jackson on a 28-yard play on fourth and seven at the Oregon State 48. The Beavers moved to the 9, but Anderson’s pass was deflected, then he was sacked twice and the Sun Devils escaped.