Max Borghi rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns as Washington State snapped a seven-game losing streak against rival Washington and kept its hopes alive for a berth in the Pacific-12 Conference championship game with a 40-13 victory Saturday in the Apple Cup in Seattle.

The Cougars (7-5 overall, 6-3 Pac-12) could finish in a three-way tie for the North Division title if Oregon State were to upset Oregon on Saturday. WSU would have the tiebreaker against the Beavers and Ducks on the basis of its 4-1 record in divisional play and would advance to next week's Pac-12 championship game in Las Vegas.

Quarterback Jayden de Laura was 27-of-32 for 245 yards against the Huskies' nation-leading pass defense.

Freshman Sam Huard got his first start for the Huskies (4-8, 3-6), who failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2009. Huard was 17 of 31 for 190 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions, one of which was returned for a score.

After leading 13-7 at halftime, the Cougars pulled away by tallying the first 17 points of the second half.

Borghi scored on a 1-yard run midway through the third quarter and Dean Janikowski added a 41-yard field goal, his third of four in the game.

Deon McIntosh scored on a 2-yard run with 14:23 remaining to make it 30-7.

Huard threw a 16-yard scoring strike to Rome Odunze with 11:55 left.

Janikowski kicked a 39-yarder and Armani Marsh returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown to cap the scoring.

The Cougars opened a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, outgaining the Huskies 153-2.

WSU took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards in seven plays, with Borghi scoring on a 32-yard run around the right end as he eluded four defenders inside the 10-yard line.

Janikowski kicked field goals of 31 and 25 yards, the latter making it 13-0 midway through the second quarter.

Huard then directed a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by Kamari Pleasant's 10-yard run.

Janikowski missed a 48-yard field goal attempt wide left on the final play of the half, leaving WSU with a 13-7 lead.

The Cougars finished with a 454-200 edge in total offense and had 26 first downs to UW's 11. WSU possessed the ball for 41:25.

--Field Level Media