The top apple cup plays

1

Mr. Perfect misses (1982)

True on all 30 field goal attempts for the season, UW kicker Chuck Nelson’s 31st sails wide right – barely – with 4:35 left, setting the stage for the most dramatic, significant outcome in Apple Cup history, a 24-20 WSU win. It was the first game in Pullman in 28 years, it ended an eight-year UW win streak to change the tenor of the series – and kept the fifth-ranked Huskies out of the Rose Bowl. But Nelson, pictured above, wouldn’t have been needed if Mark Blocker doesn’t step up to pull down Jacque Robinson short of a first down.

2

Hubris to humiliation (1975)

Leading 27-14 with 2:47 to play, WSU coach Jim Sweeney accedes to the urgings of his players who want to rub it in – and sees John Hopkins’ pass intercepted by Al Burleson and returned 93 yards for a touchdown. Barely a minute later, the Huskies score the tying TD on a tipped pass to Spider Gaines and kick the extra point for a 28-27 win, prompting Sweeney’s resignation.

3

Snow fun (1992) >>

With snowplows working before and during the game, the Cougars uncork bedlam at Martin Stadium with a 44-yard pass from Drew Bledsoe to Philip Bobo – who snatches the ball from teammate C.J. Davis and slides face-first into a snowbank behind the end zone. The spectacular play – and the snow – demoralize the defending national champs, who then lose in the Rose Bowl.

4

‘The $100,000 miss’ (1942)

It haunted WSU end Nick Susoeff for years, perhaps unfairly. With a trip to the Rose Bowl on the line, the Cougars played to a scoreless tie with UW – but have a glorious chance when Jay Stoves launches a 30-yard pass in the fourth quarter that slithers through Susoeff’s arms. The dollar figure was the participant’s Rose Bowl share in those days.

5

Lip service (1997)

WSU receiver Chris Jackson starts Apple Cup week with his mouth – “I don’t have much respect for them as people or players” – and finishes it with his hands and feet. Hooking up with Ryan Leaf on a 57-yard touchdown catch – and running over UW’s Tony Parrish in the process – Jackson gives the Cougars the lead for good and sends them to their first Rose Bowl in 67 years.

6

Lyle Maskell’s 43-yard field goal after Elmer Schwartz’s fumble recovery sends Cougs to Rose Bowl (1930)

7

Paul Skansi’s TD catch, outdueling WSU’s Nate Bradley, Rose Bowl on line for both teams (1981)

8

Don McKeta’s two-point conversion catch in 8-7 UW win (1960)

9

WSU’s Shawn Landrum blocks punt in snowstorm game (1988)

10

UW’s Ernie Steele returns kickoff (87 yards) and punt (83) for TDs (1940)

11

Gary Larsen’s dance and seven WSU sacks infuriate Sonny Sixkiller (1972)

12

UW’s Frank Waskowitz-to-By Haines 45-yard TD, winner to Rose Bowl, both Top 20 teams (1936)

13

Warren Moon-to-Spider Gaines 78-yard TD (1975)

14

“The Gift:” UW lets Cougs score so QB Don Heinrich can break passing record (1950)

15

Matt Kegel’s backward pass, UW’s Kai Ellis recovers on disputed call to end three-overtime thriller (2002)

16

UW’s George Wilson 90-yard interception TD (1925)

17

UW’s Gordie Hungar 42-yard TD run with 1:00 left (1945, first game)

18

Norm Dicks’ interception at WSU 7 sets up winning FG with :20 left, first Apple Cup (1962)

19

Rico Tipton’s fighting ejection flips momentum with WSU up 36-26, stymies third straight win (1984)

20

UW triple lateral for winning TD by Wayne Hall (1922)

21

UW’s Wondame Davis fumble recovery sets up crucial TD, both teams ranked (2001)

22

UW’s Rashaan Shehee 85-yard TD run (1995)

23

WSU punter Glenn Harper saves TD with takedown of Danny Greene (1983)

24

UW’s Cody Ellis circus catch for 64-yard TD (2006)

25

Brock Huard-to-Jerome Pathon UW pass to win first OT game (1996)

26

Chad Carpenter coming down out of bounds on fourth down to end first OT game (1996)

27

WSU’s Hank Grenda-to-Freddie Moore 64-yard TD (1968)

28

UW’s Charlie Mitchell 23-yard TD with 1:35 left (1961)

29

Bob Burkhart-to-Ed Barker 37-yard go-ahead TD, payback for “The Gift” (1951)

30

UW’s Don Martin, 4 FGs in ‘66 game, misses 31-yarder with :30 left (1967)

31

WSU’s Shaumbe Wright-Fair 51-yard TD (1992)

32

UW’s Cody Pickett-to-Corey Williams 21-yard TD with 1:10 left (2003)

33

WSU’s Alex Brink-to-Trandon Harvey 39-yard TD with 1:20 left (2005)

34

UW’s Max Wells 90-yard TD with 3 minutes to play (1902)

35

UW’s Ray Jackson blocks Mel Melin FG on last play (1960)

36

UW’s Gene Willis-to-Ralph Bayard 62-yard TD (1969)

37

UW’s Chris Chandler throws out of end zone going for 2 and win (1985)

38

UWs Eric Briscoe 35-yard interception TD :14 into game (1989)

39

UW’s By Haines 70-yard TD first play of game (1935)

40

Billy Joe Hobert-to-Orlando McKay 69-yard TD en route to national title (1991)

41

UW’s Denny Fitzpatrick serpentine 60-yard keeper on his high school field (1974)

42

WSU’s Mark Rypien-to-John Marshall 77-yard TD (1984)

43

Paul Sulkosky stops 240-pound Lambie Theodoratos at UW 2-yard line in 0-0 tie (1932)

44

WSU’s Dave Mathieson-to-Hugh Campbell 65-yard TD (1962)

45

WSU’s Butch Meeker 10-yard game winner with 8:00 left (1926)

46

Dane Looker-to-Joe Jarzynka 55-yard TD, after backward pass from Marques Tuiasosopo (1999)

47

UW’s Will Cahill 65-yard interception TD (1910)

48

Mark Pleis interception with :56 left ends UW Rose Bowl hopes (1982)

49

Hugh McElhenny 83-yard TD with :14 left in UW romp (1950)

50

UW’s Gordy Guinn runs wrong way with interception before being tackled (1971)

51

On 4th-and-1 from their own 23, down 18-13, Cougs’ Byron Bailey gets 2 yards on turn-around drive (1951)

52

UW’s Todd Hullin-to-Dave Williams 54-yard TD after two play-action fakes (1965)

53

WSU’s Scott Davis forces fumble and Will Derting recovers in end zone (2004)

54

UW’s Paul Arnold 80-yard TD (1999)

55

Down 20-19, Bill Holmes blocks punt and Tom Gunnari recovers at UW 4-yard line (1953)

56

UW’s Tom Flick-to-Anthony Allen 47-yard TD (1980)

57

UW’s Tommie Smith 86-yard interception (1991)

58

Davey Wilson-to-Don Ellersick 7-yard go-ahead TD, giving WSU four wins in six years (1958)

59

WSU’s Jason Gesser-to-Sammy Moore 67-yard TD (2002)

60

UW’s Sonny Shackelford 65-yard TD on Kenny James halfback pass (2005)

61

Bob Ross 44-yard interception sets up Jack Perrault TD in 7-0 WSU win (1945, second game)

62

UW’s Louis Rankin 77-yard TD (2006)

63

WSU center Chuck Stone 60-yard interception TD (1953)

64

UW’s Chris Rowland-to-Ken Conley 75-yard TD (1975)

65

Sonny Sixkiller-to-Joe Bell 58-yard pass – on a broken play (1970)

66

George Clark muffs punt near goal line, referees award WSU tying safety (1908)

67

UW’s Demouy Williams 63-yard punt return TD (1987)

68

WSU’s Chuck Peck-to-Carl Barschig 74-yard TD (1974)

69

UW’s Homer Dean 30-yard TD with 6:00 left (1904)

70

WSU’s Chad Davis-to-Bryant Thomas 49-yard hitch-and-go in clinching drive (1994)

71

WSU’s Andrew Jones 62-yard TD (1983)

72

WSU’s Rich Olsen-to-Freddie Moore 78-yard TD (1969)

73

Ron Cheatham stopped on 4th-and-2 on UW 10 with :25 seconds left (1974)

74

Rico Tipton interception helps deny another UW Rose Bowl (1983)

75

UW’s Marquis Cooper 38-yard interception TD to clinch (2003)

76

On fake FG, Ed Goddard’s incomplete pass and 0-0 tie keeps WSU from sharing PCC title (1934)

77

UW’s Rudy Mucha 50 interception TD (1940)

78

Tackle Rob Rainville fumble recovery in end zone, one of two for WSU (1997)

79

WSU’s Frank Sarno-to-Jim Hagerty 46-yard TD 1:00 before halftime (1954)

80

Mike McCluskey 58-yard TD on UW’s third play (1956)

81

UW’s Chuck Carroll-to-Eilert Meader 25-yarder for only TD (1928)

82

UW’s Credell Green 50-yard TD run (1955)

83

Mike Cadigan-to-Larry Thatcher 10-yard TD pass, snaps 8-year UW streak (1967)

84

Game tied at 21, George Reed stopped by UW’s Rick Redman on 4th-and-goal at the 1 (1962)

85

UW’s Ron Rowland 59-yard TD (1976)

86

Leroy Rath falls on Eddie Stevens fumble in end zone for first WSU TD (1957)

87

Don Heinrich-to-George Black 70-yard pass (1952)

88

WSU’s Charlie McBride 44-yard TD after fumble, loses helmet en route (1933)

89

Dave Minnich stopped on 4th-and-1 at WSU 43 just 30 seconds before half, allowing UW hike lead to 27-0 (2000)

90

Mark Rypien-to-Michel James 44-yard TD (1985)

91

Chris Chandler-to-Lonzell Hill 50-yard TD for chance to tie (1985)

92

UW’s Wee Coyle 45-yard TD (1911)

93

Chuck Peck-to-Greg Johnson 42-yard TD (1973)

94

UW’s Marlon Wood 87-yard kickoff return (2006)

95

Ryan Leaf-to-Chris Jackson 51-yard TD pass (1997)

96

Dan Spreisterbach recovers WSU’s Jerry Henderson fumble inside UW 1 (1966)

97

UW’s Roland Kirkby 61-yard TD (1950)

98

Jim Sweeney’s double-handoff flea-flicker – Ty Paine to Bernard Jackson for 28 yards – but the Cougs lose anyway (1971)

99

WSU’s Charlie Goodsell TD run – first in Apple Cup history (1900)

100

WSU coach William Allen predicts 30-0 win – first trash talk in Apple Cup history (1900)