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

By Erich Hilkert

SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 05: Running back Chris Polk
SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 05: Running back Chris Polk /
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22 Nov 1997: Quarterback Ryan Leaf of the Washington State Cougars prepares to pass the ball during a game against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Washington State won the game 41-35. Mandatory Credit: Aubrey Washington
22 Nov 1997: Quarterback Ryan Leaf of the Washington State Cougars prepares to pass the ball during a game against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Washington State won the game 41-35. Mandatory Credit: Aubrey Washington /

3. 1997 (Washington State 41, Washington 35)

The stakes in this game for the Cougars were high: Washington State would go to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1931 with a win.

Ryan Leaf threw for an Apple Cup-record 358 yards and two touchdowns. Leaf tossed a 57-yard touchdown to Chris Jackson midway through the second quarter to give Washington State a 14-7 lead. The team added a field goal to make it 17-7 by halftime.

In the third quarter, Washington State running back Michael Black fumbled the ball, but offensive lineman Rob Rainville recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown to make it 24-7.

The Huskies used a turnover to mount a comeback, cutting the lead down to 24-21.

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Leaf connected with Jackson once again for a 50-yard touchdown to give Washington State a 31-21 lead. The Cougars pushed the lead to 41-28 late in the fourth quarter. Washington scored with just seconds remaining and tried an onside kick. However, the attempt failed to seal the game for the Cougars.

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