Recap and highlights: Anthony Gordon breaks Washington State touchdown record in Cougars win against Stanford

PULLMAN – Anthony Gordon set the program’s single-season touchdown record, Max Borghi ran for 111 yards and Washington State defeated Stanford 49-22 on Saturday at Martin Stadium.

Gordon found Borghi from 2 yards out in the fourth quarter for his 39th touchdown pass this season, surpassing the record of 38 that was held by Gardner Minshew (2018) and Luke Falk (2016 and ’15).

Borghi went over 100 yards rushing for the fourth time this season. He added a 4-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter and now has 12 touchdowns on the season.

The Cougars took a 22-14 halftime lead and expanded on it with a Blake Mazza field goal midway through the third quarter. The Cardinal answered, though, with a touchdown and two-point conversion to shrink Washington State’s lead to 25-22 with 4:18 left in the third.

But the Cougars scored the next 24 points to close out the game.

WSU senior Easop Winston Jr. caught a game-high 11 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, while Brandon Arconado had nine catches for 148 yards and a score.

Cardinal junior quarterback Davis Mills threw for 504 yards on 33 of 50 attempts, but he was also intercepted twice – by Skyler Thomas and Jahad Woods – and was sacked twice.

Washington State (5-5 overall, 2-5 Pac-12) will host Oregon State next weekend before closing out the year at Washington. Stanford (4-6, 3-5) hosts Cal to close out its Pac-12 slate next week.

– Dan Thompson, For The Spokesman-Review

Pac-12 Networks / YouTube

First quarter

11:02 – WSU 6, Stanford 0: Easop Winston Jr. caps a 72-yard opening drive with a 29-yard, catch-and-run touchdown and the Cougars jump ahead in Pullman.

On third-and-6, Winston broke away from his defender on a crossing route and dove into the end zone, hitting the pylon just before his knee hit out of bounds.

Quarterback Anthony Gordon threw for 69 yards on the drive, going 7-of-10 passing. Max Borghi had one carry for three yards.

The extra-point attempt was blocked.

3:02 – WSU 13, Stanford 0: Two drives, two touchdowns for Washington State as Anthony Gordon hits Tay Martin for a 16-yard TD pass.

The Cougars mixed their play calling up as they went 96 yards in 11 plays. Gordon threw the ball five times, completing three passes for 53 yards. Running back Max Borghi got five carries and picked up 31 yards.

Receiver Brandon Arconado made a heck of a catch on a throw down the sideline to pick up a first down deep in Stanford territory. As Gordon scrambled to his right, Arconado worked his way back to the QB and caught the ball with a foot in play as he fell out of bounds. He now has three receptions for 43 yards.

Second quarter

12:07 – WSU 19, Stanford 0: All Washington State right now as Anthony Gordon zips his third touchdown pass of the game, this one to Easop Winston Jr., who makes a nice grab in traffic.

Gordon is now 16-of-25 passing for 213 yards. Winston has 5 receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cougars finished another 95-plus-yard drive, this one 97 yards in 10 plays.

The extra point was missed after a high snap caused kicker Blake Mazza to lose his rhythm and attempt to kick the ball from a stand still. The chipped attempt came up short.

11:19 – WSU 19, Stanford 7: Facing a three-possession deficit, Stanford quickly responds as quarterback Davis Mills hits Simi Fehoko for a 28-yard touchdown pass.

The Cardinal went 75 yards in just two plays. Mills found Michael Wilson wide-open for a 47-yard gain of the first play.

Mills is now 6-of-11 passing for 127 yards.

1:41 – WSU 19, Stanford 14: Stanford claws back into the game with a 99-yard touchdown drive.

Quarterback Davis Mills fired a 23-yard TD pass to Michael Wilson to get the Cardinal back within one touchdown of the Cougs.

Because of a sack and two penalties, Mills was able to throw for 104 yards on the drive. He completed two big third downs on the drive. The first, on third-and-9 for their own 2, he hit Connor Washington for 43 yards. Then, on third-and-18 at the WSU 46, he connected with Colby Parkinson for 23 yards.

Mills has thrown for 231 yards.

The Cardinal started at the own 1 after WSU QB Anthony Gordon was intercepted by Jonathan McGill just in front of the goal line.

0:25 – WSU 22, Stanford 14: Blake Mazza makes a 35-yard field goal and the Cougars are able to extend their lead before halftime.

Washington State was able to go 49 yards in 1-minute, 16-seconds, but had to settle for 3 points after Anthony Gordon was sacked on second down and threw incomplete on third.

Halftime

Third quarter

6:35 – WSU 25, Stanford 14: Blake Mazza makes a 38-yard field goal, his second of the game, and the Cougars make it a two-score game.

Mazza was summoned after wide receiver Travell Harris slipped and came up four yards short of a first down on third-and-15.

Stanford kicker Ryan Sanborn missed a 39-yard attempt on Stanford’s first drive of the half.

4:18 – WSU 25, Stanford 22: Cardinal quarterback Davis Mills hooks up with Simi Fehoko on a 10-yard touchdown pass and Stanford cuts the WSU lead to 3.

The Cardinal stormed down the field on the drive, going 83 yards in just 4 plays. Again they rode the arm of Mills, who threw for all they yards on the drive.

Mills is now 18-of-27 passing for 386 yards and three touchdowns.

3:29 – WSU 32, Stanford 22: The Cougars need just two offensive plays to answer Stanford’s score as quarterback Anthony Gordon finds a wide-open Brandon Arconado in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass.

Travell Harris returned the kick 83 yards to the Stanford 10. After Max Borghi picked up five yards on the ground, Gordon and Arconado hooked up.

The touchdown pass was Gordon’s 38th of the season, tying him with Gardner Minshew (2018) and Luke Falk (2015, 16) for the single-season school record.

Gordon is now up to 385 yards passing and four touchdowns. Arconado has seven catches for 88 yards.

Fourth quarter

13:02 – WSU 35, Stanford 22: Cougars kicker Blake Mazza is good from 35 yards for his third field goal of the game.

Running back Max Borghi powered the Cougs into Stanford territory with a 37-yard run. The sophomore is now up to 97 yards on 12 carries.

7:09 – WSU 42, Stanford 22: Anthony Gordon throws his 39th touchdown pass of the season, a Washington State record, on a swing pass to Max Borghi.

Borghi caught the 2-yard TD pass behind the line scrimmage and beat the Stanford defense to the pylon for Gordon to break a tie with Luke Falk (2015, 16) and Gardner Minshew (2018) for the school record.

Gordon has now thrown for 453 yards and five touchdowns. He is 41-of-57 passing with one interception.

Borghi is up to 132 total yards – 98 rushing, 34 receiving.

Skylar Thomas intercepted Stanford quarterback Davis Mills’ pass at midfield to get the Cougs’ drive started.

3:14 – WSU 49, Stanford 22: The Cougars look to have put this one away as Max Borghi takes a hand-off off-tackle for a 4-yard rushing touchdown.

Borghi exceeded 100 yards on the ground during the 80-yard drive. He is at 111 yards on 15 carries.

Pregame