Oct. 2, 2004
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By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
<>STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - J.R. Lemon ran for a career-best 162 yards and three touchdowns, and Stanford snapped a six-game losing streak against Washington with a 27-13 victory Saturday.
Nick Sanchez returned a blocked punt for a score on the final play of the third quarter for the Cardinal (3-1, 1-1 Pac-10), who came back strong after last week's disheartening loss to top-ranked USC.
Led by Trent Edwards' 254 yards passing and Lemon's relentless rushing, Stanford racked up 449 total yards in the first three quarters against winless Washington's undermanned defense. Only Edwards' three interceptions and Lemon's end-zone fumble kept the final score respectable.
Lemon scored twice in the first quarter on a 3-yard run and a 58-yard dash as time expired. He added a 1-yard TD plunge in the third.
Stanford got just its third victory over Washington (0-4, 0-2) in the schools' last 23 meetings, and the first since 1994. After winning just six games in coach Buddy Teevens' first two seasons, Stanford is off to a promising start leading to next Saturday's visit to Notre Dame.
The Cardinal moved the ball with ease, racking up 292 yards in the first half - but Edwards, who went 23-of-33, threw three interceptions in the first 2{ quarters, all ruining scoring chances.
Though freshman quarterback Carl Bonnell showed promise in his first start and Casey Paus led a late rally, Washington struggled in its first trip to Stanford Stadium since Oct. 28, 2000, one of the most tumultuous days in the program's history.
Washington went 80 yards in 36 seconds in a driving rain that day, scoring the decisive TD in a thrilling 31-28 victory - but earlier in the game, safety Curtis Williams was paralyzed by a spinal cord injury. He died 19 months later.
Though Bonnell was just 9-of-25 for 118 yards, he showed speed and elusiveness against Stanford's pressure. Washington even ran the option occasionally.
The Huskies scored on Kenny James' 1-yard run late in the second quarter, capping a 64-yard drive.
Kenneth Tolon's 44-yard run to the 1 set up Lemon's third TD. After Bonnell was sacked at midfield on Washington's next drive, Brandon Harrison blocked the Huskies' punt.
Sanchez chased the ball nearly 40 yards before finally catching up at the 11. It was Stanford's first blocked punt recovery for a score in nearly four years.
Stanley Wilson returned an interception to the Washington 4 early in the fourth quarter, but Lemon fumbled in the end zone.
Paus, who started the first three games for the Huskies, threw a 28-yard TD pass to Sonny Shackelford with 4:45 to play. Washington couldn't reach midfield on its next drive, however.