It had most everything an instant college football classic needed: Two nationally ranked, unbeaten teams on national TV, a controversial game-ending call, an unreal performance from at least one player and a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback. The Huskies were irked after their 31-28 loss to Stanford Saturday, for which they had every right. Numerous were the single plays that could have flipped the outcome.
Sportspress Northwest photographer Drew McKenzie was in Palo Alto for the spectacle.
Freed by a textbook block from Kasen Williams, Jaydon Mickens caught a screen pass and rumbled in from a yard out to cut Stanford’s lead to 31-28 with 2:38 left in the game.
Stanford’s Kevin Hogan has never lost a game as a starting quarterback (11-0), though that looked in doubt when he ran a naked bootleg on third-and-one with a chance late to ice the win. Hogan tried the right corner but was dragged down near the line of scrimmage, forcing the Cardinal to punt.
Wide receiver Kasen Williams showed why he was such a coveted recruit against the Cardinal. The six-foot-two, 215-pound junior nabbed five catches for 89 yards, providing Keith Price a reliable target as the Huskies almost overcame a 31-21 fourth-quarter deficit.
If the Huskies pulled the upset, moving to 5-0 instead of 4-1 (1-1 Pac-12), UW quarterback Keith Price would have entered the Heisman Trophy conversation. As it was, he finished 33 of 48 for 350 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Nobody looked more dejected on the sideline after the loss.
