No. 21 WSU rolls to 8-1, beating Utah State 49-28

The Cougs control the game and do what they need to to keep the good times rolling.

The No. 21 Washington State Cougars defeated the Utah State Aggies 49-28, advancing to 8-1 on the season.

A late score in the final minute by the Aggies spoiled some of the style points tacked on by WSU (8-1), but overall, WSU controlled this game from start to finish. After USU (2-7) knotted up the score at 7-7 on their second drive, WSU rattled off 28 unanswered to put this game out of reach despite the Aggies best efforts to keep things close.

Kyle Williams began his big day by nabbing two of his three touchdown receptions in the first half to help WSU open up 7-0 and extend the lead to 21-7. Williams finished the game with five catches for 55 yards.

Though WSU held a two possession lead, USU threatened to cut the lead in half with a nine play drive deep into Cougar territory that was extended on a questionable defensive pass interference call on a 4th and 11 fake punt.

Sitting at the WSU 24, USU quarterback Spencer Petras tried to hit Kyrese White near the end zone but instead found Kapena Gushiken for the interception.

The Cougar offense wouldn’t be able to capitalize on the takeaway before half and settled for a 21-7 halftime lead.

Wayshawn Parker found some success early against the USU run defense with seven first half carries for 45 yards and one touchdown near the goal line to give WSU the lead. To begin the second half, he got right back to work and instantly expanded the lead with a 75-yard touchdown run.

That would be only one of three Parker second half carries as he didn’t see much action after due to an apparent ankle injury.

Not counting the final kneel down, WSU scored on four of their five second half possessions. Though WSU couldn’t turn a USU turnover on downs into points, their next possession was a six-play, 65 yard drive that were boosted by long runs from Parker and Leo Pulalasi, and capped off by a John Mateer keeper from a yard out, giving WSU a commanding 35-7 lead.

The final 21 minutes became a shootout. Each team scored a touchdown in the final six possessions of the game. First, the Aggies broke up the 28 unanswered points from WSU with a QB keeper of their own after an 11-play drive. WSU answered right back on the second play of the fourth quarter. On 3rd and Goal from the USU 2, Mateer rolled to his left and fired a dart to Williams near the back corner pylon for his third touchdown of the game.

The Aggies again responded with an even longer 13-play grinding drive to keep within three possessions. WSU recovered the ensuing onside kick and ate up clock with a continued strong run game led by Djouvensky Schlenbaker. Schlenbaker led the Cougs back near the goal line and Mateer would put the finishing touches on the game with a three-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Mathers on 4th and 1 with under two minutes to play.

Before anybody could hit publish on their 49-21 WSU victory scores, Derrick Jameson broke off a 72-yard touchdown run with 42 seconds to play to make the score look closer than it really was at 49-28.

Sitting at 8-1 with losses from a handful of teams in front of them in the CFP poll, WSU has a great shot to crack the top 20 and continue to make the postseason picture very interesting down the stretch.

WSU will hit the road for their final two road trips of the season, beginning in Albuquerque, New Mexico to face the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday, November 16th.