SEATTLE (AP) - Even with 72,000 fans watching inside Husky Stadium and much of the state tuned in on television, Brandon Gibson was lonely. And afraid.

Alex Brink's pass hung up so long, too long. And Gibson was so open, too open, down the middle of the field behind a confused Washington secondary.

"Honestly, I was scared," Washington State's receiving star said later, with a smile that seemed to stretch from Pullman to Seattle. "I was thinking, 'I will catch this ball or the state of Washington will be mad at me."'

Just half of it is - the purple-and-gold half.

Brink threw for a series-record 399 yards and five touchdowns - the last that tantalizing, 35-yarder to Gibson with 31 seconds left - as the Cougars rallied to win the 100th Apple Cup 42-35 over the Huskies on a wild Saturday night.

Brink completed 27 of 40 throws in his 40th and final start. He became the first Cougars quarterback to beat the Huskies three times while tying Jack Thompson's 1976 record for touchdown throws in an Apple Cup game.

Brink didn't want to night to end. He grabbed a camera from a friend and took pictures of the scoreboard, photographs he intends to frame and hang on his bedroom wall.

His photo shoot came just after Gov. Chris Gregoire had entered an impromptu Cougars mosh pit to present WSU with its third Apple Cup trophy in four seasons. It was just beyond the end zone in which Alfonso Jackson intercepted a desperation pass from Washington's Jake Locker on the game's final play.

"Hey, it feels awesome," said Brink, who has also felt the sting of criticism for never getting the Cougars to the postseason despite his gaudy numbers. "It's just crazy. I couldn't have asked for a better ending."

Washington State's career leader in all major passing categories finished his career third in Pac-10 history in passing yards - and may have saved coach Bill Doba's job with the Cougars (5-7, 3-6 Pac-10).

The 67-year-old Doba is 30-29 in five seasons at WSU, but hasn't led the Cougars to a bowl since 2003.

"I'm not going to resign," Doba said. "I sure as hell hope I'm back, yes."

WSU athletic director Jim Sterk said Saturday's heroics will factor into the school's imminent decision on Doba.

"This is a great way to finish, and we will take that into consideration next week," Sterk said outside the Cougars' joyous locker room.

"Three out of the last four Apple Cups are wins, so that's a pretty positive statement."

Sterk said the school will issue a statement Monday on the process of deciding Doba's future, with a final decision likely within a week.

Locker returned from a scary neck injury two weeks ago to rush for 103 yards and two touchdowns - including a go-ahead, 1-yard run that gave Washington (4-8, 2-7) a 35-28 lead with 12:18 remaining.

Locker also threw for 224 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Huskies, who will now try to spoil Hawaii's undefeated season and quest for a Bowl Championship Series bid next week in their finale.

"(That) gives us an opportunity to recover some of the things that we lost this year," said Tyrone Willingham, who joined Don James as the only UW coaches to lose to the Cougars three times in four seasons.

Down 35-28, WSU was about to be backed up with a third-and-20 midway through the fourth quarter, but Washington freshman safety Nate Williams was called for defensive holding. On the next play, Brink found Gibson running free across the field for a 40-yard touchdown to tie it at 35 with 7:29 left.

On WSU's final drive, Brink found Michael Bumpus for 18 yards and 22 yards before his decisive throw to Gibson, who had six catches for 137 yards and two scores while setting the school record for yards receiving in a season (1,180).

Washington was going mostly nowhere - down 28-20 and with 23 total yards on its last four drives - when WSU's Jackson lowered his helmet into the chin of Marcel Reece after a pass soared high incomplete. The personal foul erased a third-and-10 and woke up the Huskies.

Locker found Reece all alone for a 63-yard touchdown. Locker then threw a dart across his body while getting shoved out of bounds on a conversion try. Reece caught that, too, to tie the game at 28 late in the third quarter.

After WSU went three and out, Locker ran three times for 37 yards and three first downs - including on third-and-6 in which he juked four Cougars to get to the WSU 6. The dynamo then took a shotgun snap on fourth-and-1 and barreled over right guard to end the 16-play drive and give Washington a 35-28 lead with 12:18 left.

"We could have buried them," Locker said, ruing the Huskies' late mistakes.

Locker's second rushing score of the night was his 12th of the season, tying Mark Brunell's school record for quarterbacks. It also gave him 879 yards rushing, most in a season for a Pac-10 QB.

"Unbelievable. Gutty. Great performance," offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said. "He hadn't played in a week, hadn't practiced in a week and a half. Unbelievable the stuff that kid did today."

The Cougars took a 28-20 lead six minutes into the second half when Jeshua Anderson blew past cornerback Byron Davenport for Brink's third touchdown pass, from 28 yards.

Washington State rallied from deficits of 10-0 and 17-7 to take a 21-20 lead at halftime, thanks mostly to 222 passing yards from Brink and two touchdown throws to third-string tight end Devin Frischknecht. Chris Ivory ran for 114 yards and had WSU's other touchdown in the first half.

"I can't even put into words what this means for the program," Brink said.

Doba will soon find out.