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STANFORD – Stanford outgained No. 5 Washington and had a chance for a shocking go-ahead score in the closing minutes, but fell 42-33 Saturday to remain winless at Stanford Stadium.
The Cardinal defense produced two red-zone turnovers in the fourth quarter, including an interception by Zahran Manley in the end zone with five minutes left.
But wide-open receiver Jayson Raines dropped a fourth-down pass from wide receiver Tiger Bachmeier on a trick play with 3:20 left, and Washington (8-0, 5-0) scored an insurance TD with 1:36 to play.
Michael Penix Jr., who led the nation at 368 passing yards a game, completed 21 of 38 passes for 369 yards and four TDs. But he was matched by Stanford sophomore QB Ashton Daniels, who completed 31 of 50 passes for 367 yards and ran for another 85 yards on 18 carries, accounting for three total TDs.
Stanford (2-6, 1-5) had scored a combined 23 points in three previous games against ranked teams, but found its stride against a Huskies team that has now won 15 straight games and stayed squarely in the hunt for a CFP spot.
After accumulating 113 penalty yards last week, its most in a game since 2015, Stanford committed a personal foul on the opening kickoff, forcing it to start at the 9.
On defense, the Cardinal was flagged on two of its first three plays. One penalty negated an interception by Collin Wright. The other, a 15-yard facemask penalty, helped Washington find the endzone, something its offense was unable to do last week against Arizona.
But Stanford held the nation’s leading passer without a completion for the next two drives, giving the Cardinal a chance to come back.
Stanford finally got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter, helped by two personal fouls on Washington and a 20-yard completion to tight end Sam Roush on a flea flicker. Daniels scored on a 5-yard keeper to tie the game at 7-7 with 12:24 play.
After going 1-for-4 passing for 10 yards in the first quarter, Penix got in a rhythm in the second quarter. Rome Odunze outjumped Wright on a fade route for a 7-yard TD, and then Wright fell down in coverage, resulting in a 92-yard touchdown to Ja’Lynn Polk – the second-longest pass play in Washington history.
In previous games against ranked teams, Stanford never mounted a comeback, losing by scores of 56-10, 42-7 and 42-6. But the Cardinal fought back this time. Elic Ayomanor caught a 39-yard touchdown pass to get he Cardinal within 21-19, and then caught a 56-yard pass to set up a 2-yard run by Daniels that made it 28-26 late in the third quarter.
A busted assignment led to a 24-yard TD to a wide open Devin Culp 46 seconds into the fourth quarter, giving Washington a 35-26 lead, and the Huskies appeared to be driving for a game-clinching TD a few minutes later. But edge Tevarua Tafiti punched the ball out at the Washington 10 and safety Mitch Leigber recovered for the first fumble recovery by Stanford on the season.
Ayomanor had gone to the locker room with what appeared to be a right upper body injury after his juggling 56-yard catch, but freshman Jackson Harris made his first career catch, a 44-yarder, and wildcat QB Justin Lamson scored on a 2-yard run to cut the deficit to 35-33 with 6:46 remaining.
The Cardinal were unsuccessful on its onside kick, but Manley’s interception gave Stanford one last chance, only to see it agonizingly slip away.
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