Stanford Falls To No. 12 Washington State 36-11

Kenneth Tolon lead the Cardinal with 89 rushing yards and a late touchdown.

	Washington State cornerback Marcus Trufant, right, battles with Stanford wide receiver Teyo Johnson (5) in the second quarter, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002 in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Oct 12, 2002

Box Score�|� Quotes�|� Notes

Stanford, Calif. - Jason Gesser passed for 297 yards and threw two of his three touchdown passes to Jonathan Smith as No. 12 Washington State beat Stanford 36-11 Saturday.

Jerome Riley had nine receptions for 173 yards and a score as the Cougars (6-1, 3-0 Pac-10) rolled to their fourth straight victory. After completing 17 of 23 passes despite his constantly sore ribs, Gesser sat out most of the fourth quarter in Washington State's biggest victory over Stanford since 1961.

Jermaine Green rushed for a 42-yard TD less than four minutes into the game, and the Cougars went on to lead 23-0 at halftime over the Cardinal (1-4, 0-2).

Jason David had two interceptions for the Cougars, whose defense was markedly improved after allowing 93 points in their last three games. Washington State shut down Stanford's aggressive passing offense, and the punt-coverage team got the school's first safety in nearly two years.

Behind an offensive line missing three starters, Gesser couldn't get the ball to star receivers Devard Darling and Mike Bush with any regularity. But the Cougars' lesser-known wideouts filled the void.

Smith, a junior college transfer who had seven catches in his first five games, scored his first two touchdowns for Washington State. Riley was impressive all afternoon.

Kenneth Tolon rushed for 89 yards and a late TD as Stanford lost its third straight. Tolon also scored Stanford's TD on a 1-yard run with 5:50 left in the contest.

Washington State's first three TD drives covered 142 yards but took less than 5� minutes combined. Riley caught a 3-yard TD pass late in the first quarter, and Smith caught a 2-yarder early in the second.

When Jeremy Bohannon tackled Stanford punter Eric Johnson in the end zone early in the second quarter, Washington State took a 23-0 lead that the Cougars held through halftime.

Stanford finally scored on a 28-yard field goal by Michael Sgroi midway through the third quarter. Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe set it up by stripping the ball from Riley at midfield and returning it deep into Washington State territory.

The momentum shifted briefly when Gesser's next pass was intercepted, but Stanford was called for roughing the passer, extending a drive that ended in one of Drew Dunning's two field goals.

By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer

Stanford University Football