Pac-12 Football: 10 best Apple Cup rivalry games of all time

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 02: NFL Hall of Famer Warren Moon attends DIRECTV’S Seventh Annual Celebrity Beach Bowl at DTV SuperFan Stadium at Mardi Gras World on February 2, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images For DirecTV) /

7. 1975 (Washington 28, Washington State 27)

This was Washington’s first game under Don James as head coach. Following in the shoes of longtime Huskies coach Jim Owens, Washington’s 5-5 season was underwhelming. With the team trailing 27-14 late in the fourth quarter, the season didn’t seem to hold many silver linings either.

However, Al Burleson returned an interception 93 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 27-21.

Then, the Huskies had got the ball back with just two minutes left in the game. Warren Moon underthrew a Hail Mary pass, but the ball bounced off a Cougar defender and into the hands of Washington’s Spider Gaines who relayed the botched play for a 78-yard touchdown for the win. Gaines’ catch stands as one of the most iconic moments in the series.

James won his first seven Apple Cup contests. He still has the most wins (13) of any coach in the Apple Cup.

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