Cameron Scarlett had the best day of his career, yet all Stanford coach David Shaw wanted to talk about was the fifth-year senior’s blocking on a pass play early in the second quarter that led to a Cardinal touchdown.

“That was the biggest challenge we gave Cam this year, was that he needs to be a great pass protector,” Shaw said. “We’re faking on the left side and the safety blitz came on the right and Cam came all the way down and made a great block and allowed us to get that ball off. I can’t say enough about where Cam Scarlett is right now. Just playing such great football.”

Scarlett rushed for a career-high 157 yards and a touchdown, quarterback Davis Mills had another impressive game in place of injured starter K.J. Costello before apparently getting hurt himself, and Stanford posted its most impressive win of the season, beating No. 15 Washington 23-13 on Saturday night.

The Cardinal (3-3, 2-2 Pac-12) extended their home winning streak to six, dating to 2007, against the Huskies with a plodding, methodical offense that kept Washington quarterback Jacob Eason on the sideline for long stretches.

Schedule Date Opponent Time Aug. 31 N’western W , 17-7 Sept. 7 at USC L, 45-20 Sept. 14 at Cen. Fla. L, 45-27 Sept. 21 Oregon L, 21-6 Sept. 28 at Ore. St. W, 31-28 Oct. 5 Wash. W, 23-13 Oct. 17 UCLA 6p Oct. 26 Arizona TBD Nov. 9 at Colorado TBD Nov. 16 at Wash. St. TBD Nov. 23 Cal TBD Nov. 30 N. Dame TBD

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“Most people wouldn’t understand a team like us playing with confidence, but that’s fine,” Shaw said. “People don’t have to understand.”

Stanford dominated Washington (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) in nearly every offensive category and held an 18-minute edge in time of possession.

“It’s very satisfying but by no means are we satisfied,” Scarlett said. “It felt good to get the win. We had so many guys go down and get hurt. But it feels good. We needed that and we’re going to build on it.”

Jet Toner added three field goals to help the Cardinal, who have won back-to-back games following a three-game losing streak.

Scarlett carried the ball 33 times, including nine times on Stanford’s final drive when the Cardinal worked five minutes off the clock to seal the win.

“He’s playing the best football of his career right now,” Shaw said. “Just handed the ball to him repeatedly against loaded boxes even when they knew we were running the ball.”

Mills was crisp until coming out of the game for an unknown reason in the middle of a scoring drive in the fourth quarter. He was 21-for-30 passing for 293 yards and a touchdown, but spent the final nine minutes on the sideline with what appeared to be a bag of ice wrapped around his left calf. Jack West ran the offense down the stretch.

Stanford got a big lift from its defense, which harassed Eason into an interception and forced a punt on Washington’s first two drives in the fourth quarter.

Eason was 15-for-35 for 181 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

The Huskies were held to one touchdown and two field goals while the defense wore down.

“They played more physical than we did and they did a better job,” Huskies coach Chris Petersen said. “We have to get better in the passing game. We needed touchdowns. Field goals are not going to do against this team.”

Stanford did a decent job pressuring Eason early, but the Cardinal didn’t get to Washington’s quarterback until midway through the third quarter when linebacker Gabe Reid dropped Eason for an 18-yard loss on a 3rd-and-5 play. Washington’s ensuing punt failed to cross midfield, setting up Scarlett’s short TD run.

Michael Wagaman is an Associated Press writer.