photo from mercurynews.com: Stanford’s Frank Buncom tries to strip the ball from Myles Gaskin on a 6-yard touchdown run by the Washington back.

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, November 3, 2018

Despite a late charge, Washington safety Taylor Rapp’s interception on the game’s final play secured a 27-23 Pac-12 football win over visiting Stanford Saturday.

An announced crowd of 69,069 watched Rapp make a leaping pick of Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello and take a knee in the end zone, allowing the Huskies (7-3 overall, 5-2 Pac-12) to remain in the thick of the conference race.

After Washington took a 21-0 lead in the second quarter, the Cardinal (5-4 overall, 3-3 Pac-12) rallied in the second half. Costello’s 33-yard scoring pass to Trenton Irwin with 3:24 remaining pulled Stanford to within 27-23, though Cardinal kicker Jet Toner missed the PAT attempt.

Washington caught a break on the Huskies’ next play, when Myles Gaskin fumbled at the end of a 10-yard run, and tight end Drew Sample recovered it at the Huskie 35. The Cardinal defense held, and Washington had to punt to Stanford, which started its last drive at its own 15 with 2:05 to play and no timeouts.

After Costello completed four straight passes, moving Stanford to the Huskie 35, he spiked the ball there with 10 seconds remaining. With two shots at the end zone, Costello’s first pass was incomplete; the second one was perfectly timed by Rapp, the Huskies’ third interception of the night.

Gaskin, the Huskies’ all-time leading rusher, gained 148 yards on 28 carries after returning from a shoulder injury.

Costello finished 29 of 43 for 347 passing yards, two touchdowns, and the three picks. Bryce Love carried 18 times for 71 yards, and Kaden Smith snared eight passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.

The Cardinal return home next Saturday to host Oregon State. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.