Nov. 13, 1999
By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Stanford is one victory away from its first trip to the Rose Bowl in 28 years after Todd Husak threw four touchdown passes in the Cardinal's 50-30 victory over Arizona State on Saturday.
With Washington's overtime loss at UCLA, Stanford (6-1, 6-3) took sole possession of first place in the Pac-10. The Cardinal can earn their first Rose Bowl berth since the 1971 season with a victory over arch-rival California next Saturday.
Husak was 20-of-35 for 311 yards and passed the 6,000-yard mark for his career and moved up to No. 5 on Stanford's career passing list. His touchdown passes went to four receivers and all of his passing yardage came in the first three quarters.
Stanford's Dave Davis caught a 58-yard touchdown pass, returned a kickoff 60 yards to set up a field goal and blocked an Arizona State field goal try, all in the first half.
The Sun Devils' Ryan Kealy was 24-of-46 for 324 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
The Cardinal's defense, dead last statistically among all NCAA Division I schools, scored one touchdown on tackle Willie Howard's 22-yard fumble return and set up another with nose tackle Andrew Currie's interception.
Arizona State (4-3, 5-5) fell behind 23-3 in the second quarter, then rallied behind Davaren Hightower's 78-yard punt return with 1:27 left in the half to cut the lead to 26-17.
Stanford scored two touchdowns in a 54-second span in the third quarter to take a 40-17 lead. The Cardinal went 69 yards in nine plays on their first possession of the second half. Husak's 19-yard pass to Troy Walters set up Casey Moore's 1-yard scoring run.
On Arizona State's next possession, Kealy threw to Kendrick Bates, who fumbled. Howard scooped the ball up and ran it in for the touchdown to make it 40-17 with 8:35 remaining in the third quarter.
In the first quarter alone, Husak was 11-of-18 for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cardinal took the opening kickoff and went 80 yards in 15 plays. Husak threw 6 yards to DeRonnie Pitts for the touchdown. After Stephen Baker's 31-yard field goal made it 7-3, Husak hit a wide-open Davis on a 58-yard scoring play that made it 14-3 with 5:56 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Kealy was hit by Stanford's Sharcus Steen as he passed. Currie picked it off and rambled 16 yards to the ASU 6. On the next play, Husak threw a touchdown pass to Moore and it was 21-3 with 14:39 to play in the half.
Center Brian Jennings' snap sailed over the head of punter Nick Murphy, who knocked the ball out of the end zone for a safety that put the Cardinal up 23-3 13:28 before halftime.