Streaking Cardinal extend impressive numbers

Recommended Video:

Seattle --

Stanford extended the nation's second longest active winning streak to 12 games with its 55-17 victory over Washington State on Saturday. Ohio State leads the Football Bowl Championship division with 16 straight wins.

Interception returns for touchdowns by Jordan Richards and Trent Murphy extended another streak. It was the 27th straight game in which the Cardinal had at least one takeaway, the longest such streak in the country.

Mauro's maneuver: Defensive end Josh Mauro had his third sack of the season in the first quarter and caused quarterback Connor Halliday to fumble on the play, although the Cougars recovered.

Vote of no confidence: Washington State gambled on a 4th-and-4 from its 45-yard line in the second quarter, and made it. Coach Mike Leach probably went for it because punter Mike Bowlin had shanked his previous boot, giving Stanford the ball near midfield. The Cardinal needed just four plays to score, on Devon Cajuste's second TD catch. Bowlin shanked another one later.

Washington State gambled again on a 4th-and-3 from its 39 in the third quarter. This time Halliday threw incomplete.

Drive to nowhere: Stanford went 74 yards in the second quarter only to come up empty when Kevin Hogan's pass was picked off in the end zone. Tyler Gaffney picked up three first downs on the drive, one on a fine second-effort run around right tackle when it appeared he had been stopped on 4th-and-1.

Hometown heroics: Sophomore wide receiver Michael Rector, a native of nearby Gig Harbor, Wash., grabbed a 48-yard pass in the first quarter to set up a field goal. He later caught a 45-yard touchdown pass. He was open for a possible TD in the second quarter, but Hogan lobbed the ball over the wrong shoulder.