Notebook: Stanback receives a positive review

The stats made it look like another step forward for Isaiah Stanback yesterday. Washington's junior quarterback threw for a career-high 301 yards, completing 22 of 39 passes, and tied another career best with two touchdown passes.

But on the scoreboard, it was anything but progress as Washington lost 56-17 to California, suffering one of the most embarrassing home losses in Huskies history.

Washington's struggles could provoke a quarterback controversy when Johnny DuRocher becomes eligible after next week's game against Idaho no matter what happens against the Vandals.

But UW offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said the game shouldn't be viewed as a negative for Stanback.

"I don't think it's fair to say he took a step back," Lappano said. "I don't think he did. We put him in a tough situation in that two-minute drill with about seven minutes left. The game was clearly out of hand then and to put him in that was hard."

Stanback responded by throwing an interception that was returned 41 yards for a touchdown, the only pick he has thrown all season.

"Other than that, he made some good throws," Lappano said. "He missed a couple, but when you are throwing the ball more down the field vertically like we did today, those are harder to make. You're not going to make every one."

Said coach Tyrone Willingham, "I like overall what I'm seeing from him."

And Stanback's opinion?

"I thought I was all right," he said. "I missed some things. I'm never satisfied with what I do. I'll make corrections and get better."

Where's the run?

Washington's biggest offensive problem yesterday was its lack of a running game. Lappano said he thought the Huskies would be able to run the ball out of its one-back sets.

The Huskies rushed for just 68 yards on 27 carries, with a long of 15 from Stanback. No running back had a carry of longer than eight.

Center Brad Vanneman blamed the line.

"It starts up front and we didn't play up to par today," Vanneman said.

Stanback to Shack

The Huskies said they changed an offensive tendency to score the touchdown that put them ahead 7-0 in the first 20 seconds of the game.

After an interception by Darin Harris at the UW 44, Stanback found Sonny Shackelford, who ran between Cal defenders and went the distance.

"It was just something we set up in practice," said Stanback. "We knew that out of that formation Cal had only seen certain plays, so we tried to simulate the play they saw on tape and run something different."

Cal, by a mile

For 19 straight games, Washington owned the California Bears. Cal beat the Huskies 7-0 in 1976 and then found seemingly every conceivable way to lose to Washington.

But in 2002, in coach Jeff Tedford's first year, Cal beat Rick Neuheisel's last team, 34-27. Since then, the Bears have rocked the Huskies with their offense. In 2003, Cal totaled 729 yards and won 54-7. Last year, it was 479 total yards and a 42-12 win. And yesterday, 557 yards and 56 points.

That's 1,765 yards of total offense in three games — or 5 yards beyond a mile.

Lynch injured

Cal sophomore running back Marshawn Lynch left the game in the third quarter after injuring his left pinky finger on a defensive player's helmet during the run.

The injury, which was diagnosed as a possible fracture or dislocation, will not be an issue according to Lynch.

"I'll be back next week," said Lynch, who rushed for 46 yards on five carries. "I'll tape it together, I'll be fine."

Notes

• Both Robert Jordan and Cal coach Jeff Tedford are now fans of the Pac-10's new instant-reply rule. Early in the second quarter, Jordan caught an apparent 24-yard touchdown pass that was initially ruled incomplete. After reviewing the play, officials awarded Jordan with a touchdown.

"I love it," said Tedford when asked his opinion of instant replay. "That's why I'm a fan of it, that's why I'm in favor of it, and that's why I voted for it."

• LB Chris Stevens became the second true freshman to play for the Huskies this year, joining Darrion Jones.

• WR Sonny Shackelford's 124 yards receiving marked a career-best, as did K Evan Knudson's 46-yard field goal in the second quarter.

• LB Chris Stevens became the second true freshman to play for the Huskies this year, joining Darrion Jones. Stevens played only on special teams.

Seattle Times staff reporters John Boyle and Bud Withers contributed to this report.