COUG FOOTBALL
Recap and
highlights: Washington State Cougars fire on all cylinders in 59-24 victory
over Eastern Washington Eagles
UPDATED:
Sat., Sept. 15, 2018, 9:29 p.m.
NCAA
FOOTBALL
at Martin
Stadium, Pullman
Finall WSU
59 –EWU 24
➤
Friday, Sept. 21: Washington State Cougars at USC Trojans, 7:30 p.m. PDT TV:
ESPN
PULLMAN –
In seven years under Mike Leach, the Cougars have built a potent offense,
strengthened their defense and, a more recent development, have gradually
transformed Martin Stadium into a considerably difficult place to win a
football game if you aren’t wearing crimson and grey.
Eastern
Washington visited and won here in 2016, but the Pullman venue and its primary
tenant aren’t quite as vulnerable as they were two years ago and on Saturday
the Eagles became the ninth straight visiting team to walk out of Martin
Stadium with a loss after WSU dominated its FCS visitor 59-24 in front of a
sellout crowd.
The
Cougars (3-0) bring their unbeaten record to No. 16 USC on Friday for their
Pac-12 opener in Los Angeles while the Eagles (2-1) host Cal Poly on Saturday
in Cheney.
WSU’s
offense didn’t have trouble getting off the ground Saturday and, unlike in the
previous game against San Jose State, the Cougars were able to put points on
the board in each of the four quarters, with 14 in the first, 14 in the second,
7 in the third and 17 in the fourth.
Cougar
quarterback Gardner Minshew passed for a career-high 470 yards, beating his
previous best of 463 set last season while playing at East Carolina, and threw
two touchdown passes while completing 45-of-57 (78 percent) throws.
His
preferred target, sophomore receiver Tay Martin, also had a career night,
catching 13 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown.
On only
six carries, junior running back James Williams managed to get into the end
zone for three rushing touchdowns and his freshman counterpart, Max Borghi,
added another midway through the fourth quarter.
The
Cougars never trailed in the game, but EWU posted its biggest threat in the
third quarter, twice closing the gap to 11 points. The Eagles could’ve cut
WSU’s lead to one possession on a 44-yard field goal from Roldan Alcobendas,
but a holding penalty negated the kick and forced EWU to punt.
Minshew
led an important eight-play, 99-yard touchdown drive with 4:37 left in the
third quarter to reestablish an 18-point WSU lead and Jahad Woods came up with
a key interception later in the period, giving the Cougar offense the ball back
on EWU’s 27-yard line with :35 to go in the third. – Theo Lawson
Difference
makers: James Williams scores a trio of touchdowns in Washington State’s
blowout win
TV Take:
Washington State provided plenty of highlights for Pac-12 Networks to replay in
59-24 win over Eastern Washington
There is
an argument to be made instant replay is the most significant invention in the
history of football. At least the broadcast part of it. | Read more »
First
quarter
Q1 9:27 –
WSU 7, EWU 0: The Cougs strike first in this one. After Gardner Minshew finds
Tay Martin up the seam for a 22-yard gain tho the EWU 1-yard line, James
Williams pounds it in for 6 for the Cougs. Minshew threw for 59 yards on the
drive, with Jamire Calvin his favorite target. Calvin had 38 yards on the
7-play, 68-yard drive.
The drive
was set up by Jalen Thompson’s interception of EWU QB Gage Gubrud. Peyton
Pelluer applied the pressure as Gubrud threw.
Q1 6:09 –
WSU 7, EWU 0: The defenses are trading punches.
Q1 1:45 –
WSU 14, EWU 0: Gardner Minshew caps an 8-play drive with a 14-yard TD pass to
Easop Winston. Minshew is up to 181 yards passing for the game. He threw for
all 83 yards on the drive.
Second
quarter
Q2 12:11 –
WSU 14, EWU 3: Roldan Alcobendas is good on a 37-yard field goal. EWU QB Gage
Gubrud threw for 50 yards on the 60-yard drive. Gubrud is up to 59 yards
passing.
Q2 12:11 –
WSU 21, EWU 3: Cougars returner Travell Harris takes the EWU kickoff 100 yards
for the score. It was the redshirt freshman’s first career touchdown.
Q2 10:24 –
WSU 21, EWU 3: The Cougars get their second interception of the game, this time
it’s Darrien Molton with the pick of Gage Gubrud’s long pass.
Q2 2:17 –
WSU 28, EWU 3: James Williams finishes WSU’s 98-yard drive with authority,
powering in on a 2-yard run to push the Cougs advantage to 25. A tough pass
interference call on the Eagles on WSU’s 3rd-and-goal attempt set up Williams’
score.
Q2 0:39 –
WSU 28, EWU 10: Gage Gubrud finds Andrew Boston for the 26-yard touchdown as
the Eagles chip away at the Cougs’ lead. Tamarick Pierce picked up 34 yards on
the ground for EWU on the drive. Gubrud is up to 98 yards passing for the game.
Halftime
reads
Some fans
must choose between family, team ties as Washington State Cougars host Eastern
Washington Eagles
With a
proximity of only 80 miles between the two schools, the sellout crowd of nearly
33,000 at the Washington State-Eastern Washington football game had dozens of
fans whose families have allegiances to both schools. | Read more »
Sellout
crowd on hand for regional battle between Washington State, Eastern Washington
WSU
reported ticket sales at 32,952, which makes Saturday’s game the 13th sellout
at Martin Stadium since the beginning of the 2012 season. It comes one week
after the Cougars announced an attendance figure of just 26,141 for the home
opener against San Jose State – an 8 p.m. start time in Pullman. | Read more »
Third
quarter
Q3 11:41 –
WSU 28, EWU 17: The Eagles open the second half with a 9-play, 75-yard
touchdown drive. Gage Gubrud, who threw for 50 yards and ran for 4 more on the
drive, found Zach Eagle wide open on the sideline for the 34-yard touchdown
pass.
Q3 8:58 –
WSU 28, EWU 17: EWU’s Roldan Alcobendas sees his 44-yard field goal taken off
the board for a holding penalty on the Eagles. After the 5-yard setback the
Eagles decided to punt. Alcobendas, who also handles the Eags’ punting, saw his
punt downed at the WSU 1-yard line.
Q3 3:54 –
WSU 35, EWU 17: James Williams gets his third touchdown of the game, this one
an 8-yard carry, as Washington State completes an 8-play, 99-yard drive. WSU QB
Gardner Minshew threw for 91 yards on the drive. He is up to 354 yards through
the air.
Q3 4:37 –
WSU 35, EWU 24: The Eagles respond to WSU’s long TD drive with 6 of their own.
A Gage Gubrud 44-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Merritt cuts the the Cougars
lead back down to 11.
Q3 1:05 –
WSU 35, EWU 24: Jahad Woods makes the defensive play of the game, so far. The
WSU linebacker hauls in an acrobatic interception of Gage Gubruds short pass to
give the Cougs the ball deep in EWU territory.
Fourth
quarter
Q4 14:05 –
WSU 38, EWU 24: WSU kicker Blake Mazza makes a 44-yard field goal to push the
Cougs’ lead to two touchdowns.
Q4 9:47 –
WSU 45, EWU 24: Gardner Minshew throws his second touchdown of the game, this
one to Tay Martin on a 21-yard jumpball up the sideline.
Q4 8:24 –
WSU 52, EWU 24: Max Borghi scampers in for a 6-yard touchdown run. The Cougars
benifited from a EWU fumble on their kick return. WSU has 24 points off of EWU
turnovers in this one.
Q4 1:21 –
WSU 59, EWU 24: Trey Tinsley hits Robert Lewis for the 6-yard touchdown pass.
East Valley High-alum Rodrick Fisher caught his first pass on the drive.
Pregame
WSU
O-Line: The big boys up front for the Cougs are looking to keep a clean pocket
for QB Gardner Minshew again tonight. Theo Lawson with more on WSU’s sackless
streak:
UPDATE:
The Cougars gave up a sack. Two, in fact, during their third drive of the game.
A nice
tribute: A bouquet of flowers was placed on the 3-yard line at Martin Stadium
before the game. Late WSU QB Tyler Hilinski wore No. 3. He was honored before
last week’s game against San Jose State.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
WSU
football
TV Take:
Washington State provided plenty of highlights for Pac-12 Networks to replay in
59-24 win over Eastern Washington
Spokane Spokesman-Review
By Vince
Grippi
There is
an argument to be made that instant replay is the most significant invention in
the history of football. At least the broadcast part of it.
In a game
with many 30-second pauses, filling the time with replays helped make football
America’s favorite game.
But its
most-recent advancements, like super-slow motion and the replay review, has
added a Dr. Jekyll to replays’ Mr. Hyde.
Both were
on display on the Pac-12 Network’s broadcast of Saturday night’s Washington
State 59-24 win over visiting Eastern Washington.
What they
saw …
No one can
accuse the Pac-12 Networks of showing too few replays, which is great for
viewers – unless there is the occasional moment when the beginning of a play is
missed.
The
abundant replays are also good for the broadcast crew.
Play-by-play
voice Guy Haberman is adept at setting up what happened, and Ryan Leaf, the
former Washington State quarterback, didn’t back down no matter what the play
showed.
Leaf
pointed out the good, like each of Gage Gubrud’s three touchdown passes or the
key block on Travell Harris’ 100-yard kickoff return for Washington State. He
also pointed out the bad in most cases, highlighting a stiff-arm by WSU
receiver Easop Winston before a touchdown pass arrived as well as a possible
uncalled hold on an Eastern.
That is
also part of replay’s influence, the ability of viewers to criticize every flag
or nonflag.
Replay
highlighted two first-half spots that were off by a couple of yards. It didn’t
show a holding call that took away a 53-yard touchdown pass for Washington
State.
And it
also allowed Leaf and Haberman many opportunities to discuss the physical
nature of Washington State’s defensive backfield.
Late in
the game, Haberman and Leaf discussed an incomplete pass that featured
aggressive hand-fighting by Marcus Strong.
“That’s
pass interference,” Leaf said, then explained why.
Thanks to
replay, he had multiple chances to do that.
What we
saw …
One person
we didn’t see or hear enough was Cindy Brunson, especially in the second half.
Too often
the sideline reporter is little more than an appendix, someone whose job seems
to be nothing more than running after coaches as they leave the field at
halftime.
That’s
shouldn’t be Brunson’s role. She puts more emphasis on the reporter part.
TV Take:
Pac-12’s Cindy Brunson, Ryan Leaf make returns to Martin Stadium
When Andy
Grammer’s song, “Back Home,” resonated through Martin Stadium Saturday night
during the second quarter of Washington State’s easy win over San Jose State,
it had special meaning for one member of the Pac-12 Network broadcast crew. |
Read more »
The
initial example of this came in the first quarter. Washington State was on a
defensive roll, seemingly bothering Gubrud with its blitzes.
After
another stop, the defense was on the sidelines. Brunson listened to what was
being said.
Brunson
relayed to the viewers linebacker coach Ken Wilson’s message to the group,
talking about Eastern’s formations and what the Cougars were going to do
differently.
“Let’s
really confuse this quarterback,” Brunson quoted Wilson as saying.
As Eastern
rallied, Eagles’ coach Aaron Best had a decision to make in the third quarter.
Either try a long field goal or punt. After a timeout, he decided to punt.
Brunson
told the viewers the why behind the decision. Best trusted the group that had
started to give WSU fits with an aggressive mentality starting in the second
quarter.
“Go get me
that ball back,” Best told his defense.
The
Cougars went on a 99-yard drive capped by James Williams’ 8-yard run.
And Leaf
questioned the passive defensive scheme all the way down the field.
“I just
can’t get over they’re bringing three every time and sitting eight back there,”
said the former quarterback, pointing out more than once the Eagles’ lack of
pressure. “That just hasn’t worked for them.”
This was
only Leaf’s second game as an analyst and it showed at times.
With less
than 5 minutes left in the first half, WSU quarterback Gardner Minshew threw
one of his rare incompletions, mainly because two Cougar receivers were
standing right next to each other. Immediately, Leaf pointed out the problem,
explaining a mesh route and how it wasn’t run correctly.
Two plays
later, a 19-yard pass to Jamire Calvin, Leaf gushed about the WSU receivers.
“These
receivers are in the right place at all times,” he said. “That’s why Gardner
Minshew has so much confidence in where they are going to be.”
It can’t
be both.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Some fans
must choose between family, team ties as Washington State Cougars host Eastern
Washington Eagles
UPDATED:
Sat., Sept. 15, 2018, 8:35 p.m.
By Ryan
Collingwood
Spokane
S-R
Sellout
crowd on hand for regional battle between Washington State, Eastern Washington
PULLMAN –
Add Kevin Bacon to the list of proud Eastern Washington graduates.
The
longtime Mead resident and banker isn’t a Hollywood actor, but he has no
problem adjusting roles.
Before his
son, freshman wide receiver Lucas Bacon, walked on to Washington State’s
football team this fall, his allegiance had been to his alma matter and the
Washington Huskies.
He was
proudly wearing crimson on Saturday, though.
Hours
before kickoff between Washington State and Eastern Washington at Martin
Stadium in Pullman, Kevin and about a dozen relatives donned WSU jerseys with
the No.82 at a tailgate party – Lucas’ number, with the surname Bacon across
the back.
Kevin’s
brother, Kent Bacon, also graduated from EWU and was wearing one of the
jerseys. Kent would occasionally pull up the jersey and flash his undershirt –
a red Eagles T-shirt.
“I am an
Eagle, but now I’m also a Coug. We’re here to support Lucas,” Kevin said. “It’s
been fun. I am glad these two programs play each other now.”
Kent
agreed.
“The gap
between (Washington State and EWU) has closed a bit,” Kent said. “Growing up in
the 1980s, it was a huge gap.”
Lucas
Bacon set Mead High School receiving records last fall and was recruited by
both EWU and WSU, Kevin said.
“Doing the
EWU and WSU thing has been a big transition for the family,” Kevin said said.
“But it’s been fun to come down to Pullman.”
With a
proximity of only 80 miles between the two schools, the sellout crowd of nearly
33,000 had dozens of fans whose families have allegiances to both schools.
The
stepmother of former Washington State and New Orleans Saints safety Steve
Gleason, a Gonzaga Prep graduate whose inspirational fight against ALS started
the Team Gleason Foundation, was proudly donning red and black Saturday.
Jackie
Gleason, an EWU graduate and elementary school teacher, wore EWU gear as her
husband and Steven Gleason’s father, Mike, sported a 1998 WSU Rose Bowl
sweatshirt.
“The
Gleasons are a house divided for a day,” joked Jackie Gleason.
Before the
game, Jackie said she received text messages from her WSU alum daughters,
including “Go Cougs!” and the “Eagles are going down.”
Jackie,
now 65, said football wasn’t as big of a deal at EWU when she attended. Now
that the program has been a consistent FCS Top 25 program, she said she’s
enjoyed following the Eagles’ ascension.
“It’s very
exciting,” Jackie said. “The whole family is a Coug family, so it’s great to
see EWU compete with them now.”
EWU and
WSU have faced each other just three times in the modern football era,
beginning in 2012. Longtime EWU radio man and former standout WSU safety Paul
Sorensen never faced the Eagles when he played in the early 1980s.
Sorenson,
an All-American who went on to have a short stint in the NFL, was the man of
the hour prior to kickoff Saturday. He was chosen to wave the Cougar flag, an
honor often reserved for WSU’s most accomplished alums.
He wore
both EWU and WSU shirts.
“To wave
the flag in front of your peers and old teammates, to see how much change WSU
has gone through … it’s awesome,” Sorensen said.
Sorenson,
who has more than 30 years of combined radio service between WSU and EWU, said
he has a hard time picking between the two schools.
“I pull
for EWU and I pull for WSU,” he said, “I know that sounds like a wimpy answer,
but I like both schools. There’s such dichotomy between the schools and they’ve
grown so much. I consider myself both an Eagle and Coug and it’s pretty fun.”
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
VOLLEYBALL
Game
Recap: WSU Volleyball | September 15, 2018
From WSU
Sports Info
Washington
State tripped up by East Tennessee State
Brown
posts new career high in assists in five set match
Next Game:
at
Washington
9/20/2018
| 8:00 PM
PAC-12
NETWORKS
BOWLING
GREEN, Ky. Washington State volleyball
(9-1) fell in a hard fought five set battle against East Tennessee State in the
final match of the WKU Tournament inside E.A. Diddle Arena.
Set scores
for the match were: 23-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-18, and 13-15.
East
Tennessee State took control of the opening set midway through the competition,
generating multiple small runs to hold a 17-7 advantage over the Cougars. WSU
fought back however with a 10-2 run of their own to cut the Bucs' lead down to
just two points at 19-17. ETSU went on to hold down a two point lead for the
remainder of the opening set of play to ultimately win it 25-23 over the
Cougars.
Set number
two featured just as intense play as the first, with each program trading
points early in the set. WSU was able to jump ahead of the Bucs with a 5-2 run,
fueled by kills from McKenna Woodford, and Ella Lajos. Washington State
continued its' high pace of play to keep pressure on East Tennessee, and tied
up the match at 1-1 after the 25-17 set victory after the final kill from
Lajos.
The third
set of play saw the Bucs creating a 5-0 run over WSU early on, to jump out to a
7-3 advantage to begin the set. The Cougars battled back-and-forth with ETSU
throughout most of this set, until a 5-0 run from the Cougs propelled them to a
20-19 lead over East Tennessee State, with help from a service ace by Ashley
Brown, and kills from Taylor Mims, and Lajos. ETSU, after trading points with
WSU, totaled five straight to take the set over Washington State at 25-22 by
the final point.
The
Cougars battled back once again in this contest, breaking a tie score with the
Bucs with a 5-1 run after kills from Lajos, and Mims surged WSU ahead at 13-11.
Washington State maintained a lead for the rest of the set, sealing the victory
with back-to-back kills from Woodford, to tie up the match at 2-2 overall.
A 4-1 run
sparked WSU out to the early set number five advantage over ETSU as Claire
Martin, and Mims provided the fire power behind the offensive attack. East
Tennessee State however was able to generate small runs throughout the and
ultimately take the set at 15-13 for the match victory.
QUOTE” "...All
these little things, a point here, a point there, a missed dig or a missed
serve, not transitioning, all those things add up when you're playing against
really good teams, and of course that's what we pretty much have from here on
out, for the rest of the season when we hit conference play...," Head
Coach Jen Greeny discussed post match, on the outlook for conference play
starting next week.
#
