For Washington, Two Feels Good

They pumped their golden helmets toward the student section. Each thrust matched the pulse of rare Washington Huskies postgame roars.

It was an impromptu celebration of a second Washington win in three games: Saturday’s 21-20 escape from Fresno State, the result of a blocked extra-point attempt by third-string defensive end Caesar Rayford with 4:30 left at Seattle.

Yes, those victories are over San Jose State and mistake-plagued Fresno State, members of the Western Athletic Conference -- the Pac-10’s supposed regional stepbrothers.

“Put it like this: Last year, we were 2-9. We’re already 2-1,” beaming safety C.J. Wallace said after his game-high 17 tackles -- many against bruising Bulldog Dwayne Wright.

Wright ran through an unofficial count of 18 Huskies tackles en route to 136 yards in 27 carries for Fresno State (1-2). The nation’s third-leading rusher has 448 yards this season, the highest total through three games in Fresno State history.

After Wright’s second rushing touchdown, Kenny Amendola snapped low on the PAT, leading to Rayford’s block.

No. 21 California 42, Portland State 16 -- Marshawn Lynch ran for 112 yards and a touchdown in only six carries, and the Golden Bears (2-1) rolled over the Division I-AA Vikings (2-1) at Berkeley.

Nate Longshore passed for 225 yards and two scores in the first half for Cal, which built a 32-point lead midway through the second quarter. DeSean Jackson caught five passes for 103 yards and a score.

Cal’s defense knocked two of Portland State’s quarterbacks out of the game with injuries on crushing hits in the first quarter. Daymeion Hughes returned an interception 30 yards for a score before the schools played a scoreless second half.

No. 22 Arizona State 21, Colorado 3 -- Rudy Carpenter was often off-target but still threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns as the Sun Devils (3-0) bumbled to a win over the Buffaloes (0-3) at Boulder, Colo.

Two of Carpenter’s passes were intercepted, but the Sun Devils remained unbeaten because Colorado’s offense was inept again.

Washington State 17, Baylor 15 -- Quarterback Alex Brink caught a third-quarter touchdown pass and Loren Langley kicked a 17-yard field goal with nine seconds left to lift the Cougars (2-1) over the Bears (1-2) at Seattle.

The Cougars trailed,15-14, with 5:04 left when Brink, booed repeatedly, directed a 14-play, 81-yard drive, capped by Langley’s first field goal of the season.

Arizona 28, Stephen F. Austin 10 -- Chris Jennings, a walk-on junior college transfer, rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns and the Wildcats (2-1) pulled away from the I-AA Lumberjacks (0-3) at Tucson.

Jennings, starting because Chris Henry was suspended, became the first Arizona back to top 200 yards since Mike Bell had 222 against Washington in 2003.

Navy 37, Stanford 9 -- Reggie Campbell ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns to help the Midshipmen (3-0) spoil the unveiling of the new Stanford Stadium by routing the Cardinal (0-3).

Brian Hampton also ran for two scores for Navy, which has started 3-0 for only the second time since 1979.