Difference makers: Blake Mazza boots Washington State into Pac-12 North lead with win over Stanford

Blake Mazza

Washington State’s redshirt freshman transfer beat out Jack Crane for the placekicking job in mid-August. Nearly two months later, Mazza delivered a game-winning field goal for the Cougars, booting a 42-yarder through the uprights with 19 seconds left to secure a 41-38 win at Stanford Stadium. Mazza was 2-for-2 on field goals, making a 23-yarder in the second quarter, and made all five of his PATs.

Gardner Minshew

The nation’s leading passer had exceeded the 400-yard barrier four times this season coming into Saturday’s game. He did it for the fourth time against Stanford, completing 40-of-50 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns. Minshew was sensational in the second half, when the graduate transfer quarterback hit on 24-of-27 passes – including his first 19 – for 247 yards and two TDs.

K.J. Costello

Stanford’s signal-caller was just as accurate as Minshew. Costello, a junior, finished 34-of-43 passing for 323 yards and four touchdowns, including a 25-yard strike to JJ Arcega-Whiteside late in the fourth quarter that tied the game up at 38-38.