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SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Washington relished its role as spoiler. Taking advantage of four turnovers, the 14th-ranked Huskies knocked No. 10 Washington State out of the Pac-10 Conference race with a 26-14 victory in the annual "Apple Cup" game. The result handed idle Oregon the Pac-10 title and a Bowl Championship Series berth. The Ducks are off until hosting Oregon State on December 1. Washington (8-2, 6-2 Pac-10) can gain a share of the conference title if Oregon loses to Oregon State. But the Ducks hold the tiebreaker based on their 24-17 victory over the Huskies on October 27. Washington State was its own worst enemy as the 10th-ranked Cougars (9-2, 6-2) came up empty on three 1st-and-goal opportunities inside the 6. The struggles inside the red zone included a failed fourth-down conversion, a fumble and an interception. The Cougars were denied their first 10-win season since 1997, when Ryan Leaf led them to the Rose Bowl. Reggie Williams caught 11 passes for 203 yards for Washington, which plays at No. 2 Miami next week. Cody Pickett completed 25-of-38 passes for 371 yards with a touchdown and interception for the Huskies. After Washington took a 7-0 lead on Rich Alexis' one-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds left in the first quarter, the Cougars tied it on Jason Gesser's 15-yard TD pass to Mike Bush five minutes into the second period. But Washington State's problems began after John Anderson booted a 29-yard field goal to give the Huskies a 10-7 lead with nine seconds left in the first half. Jason David fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and guard Aaron Butler recovered at the Washington 18. Anderson booted a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give the Huskies a 13-7 halftime lead. Washington State got the first possession of the second half, but again coughed up the ball when David Minnich fumbled inside the 10. Safety Wondame Davis returned it five yards to the 1, setting up Willie Hurst's one-yard TD plunge on first down just 61 seconds into the third quarter. The Cougars had a chance to get back in the game on their next possession, driving to a 1st-and-goal at the 6, but Gesser fumbled after a nine-yard loss. Gesser got clearance to play on Wednesday after getting knocked out of last week's game at Arizona State. He suffered a bruised left shoulder in the third period Saturday, but stayed in the contest, completing 22-of-34 passes for 227 yards. Washington State put together another sustained drive late in the third quarter, leading to a 1st-and-goal at the 5. After a three-yard sack and offside penalty, the Cougars tried a trick play on 2nd-and-goal from the 13. But Minnich's halfback option pass was picked off by cornerback Roc Alexander and returned to the Washington 12. The Huskies took a 26-7 lead on Pickett's seven-yard TD pass to tight end Jerramy Stevens with 10:23 remaining in the contest. Washington State finally converted from the red zone on Gesser's five-yard TD pass to Nakoa McElrath with 3:58 remaining in the contest, but Washington recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock by picking up three first downs.
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