Washington State left Seattle with a loss in the Apple Cup, but the Cougars also left with a few things to build on after a 24-10 defeat to Washington on Sunday night.
The scoreboard tilted the wrong way, yet Washington State showed some fight with a defense that produced key stops and an offense that finally found life in the fourth quarter. The problems were still hard to miss: third-down struggles, turnovers, and missed chances kept the Cougars from turning any of it into a real push.
Caden Pinnick handled the offense for Washington State and finished 16 of 25 for 142 yards with two interceptions. He also carried 14 times for 61 yards and the Cougars’ lone touchdown.
Daniel Blood was his top target, catching five passes for 57 yards. On defense, Keith Brown led the way with six tackles, while Khamari Terrell added five.
Washington State had an early opening on its first possession, moving 41 yards. Pinnick sparked that drive with a 25-yard run and an 11-yard completion to Blood, but the Cougars came away empty after a missed 52-yard field goal.
The defense answered with a three-and-out, highlighted by Linus Zunk’s stop for no gain and quarterback hurry, but Washington later worked an 11-play drive into a 48-yard field goal. Washington State was then sacked on third down on its final two possessions of the quarter and trailed 3-0 after one.
The second quarter brought more frustration, though the defense did manage one big moment. Keith Brown stopped a fourth-and-1 rush at the Washington State 1 as the clock ran out in the half, preserving a goal-line stand.
Washington’s only points of the quarter came after a Cougars interception, and another short field after a fumble ended with a missed 29-yard field goal. Washington State, meanwhile, was shut out with just two first downs and 22 yards before heading to halftime down 10-0.
The Cougars finally put together a sustained drive in the third quarter, going 12 plays and 70 yards. Pinnick connected with Blood for 32 yards to help set it up, but a delay-of-game penalty preceded a missed 32-yard field goal.
Washington State’s defense kept the game within reach after that. Nylan Brown logged a tackle for loss, and Jaylen Thomas hurried an incomplete fourth-and-1 pass at the Washington State 38.
Pinnick then found Darrius Clemons for 12 yards on the last play of the quarter, but the Cougars still entered the fourth trailing 10-0.
That’s when Washington State showed its best stretch. The Cougars opened the fourth with a nine-play, 62-yard march and converted fourth-and-3 at the Washington 43 when Pinnick ran for 4 yards.
Pinnick finished the drive himself from 11 yards out, and Jack Stevens’ PAT cut the deficit to 10-7. Washington answered by stretching the lead to 17-7, but Washington State kept coming, piecing together an eight-play, 51-yard drive that ended with Stevens drilling a 42-yard field goal with 4:30 left to make it 17-10.
Washington had the last word, scoring again to put it away. Washington State’s final possession ended with an interception, and Washington closed out the 24-10 final.
The Cougars now head to Manhattan, Kan., where they’ll face Kansas State on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m.
In Other News...
Washington State May Be Without Its Most Dangerous Weapon At Kansas State
Washington State may have to head into its game at Kansas State without one of its most explosive playmakers after wide receiver Tony Freeman suffered a knee injury in the Apple Cup. Coach Kirby Moore said Freeman is trending on being out while the Cougars wait on MRI results, a development that would leave them trying to replace a receiver who has been one of the biggest threats in the passing game and on special teams.
Kirby Moores update at least brought some clarity elsewhere on the roster, with cornerback Jalil Tucker and defensive end Ben Beatty expected to be available. But Freemans status is the one that matters most for an offense that will need other receivers and return men to absorb his workload if he cannot go, and the final medical word will shape how Washington State approaches a difficult road matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces A Huge Receiver Problem Ahead Of Kansas State
Washington State is heading into its matchup with Kansas State with a concern that could reshape the offense for a week. Wide receiver Tony Freeman is likely to miss the game because of a knee injury, according to head coach Kirby Moore, and his exit from the previous game came early enough to raise immediate questions about the Cougars depth at the position.
Freeman was seen on crutches afterward, which adds to the uncertainty around how quickly Washington State can get back to full strength on offense. There is some better news on the injury front, with cornerback Jalil Tucker and defensive end Ben Beatty expected to be available, but the receiver situation leaves the Cougars with a key issue to sort out before they face Kansas State. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Has Two Costly Problems To Fix Before Kansas State
Washington States 24-10 loss to Washington in the Apple Cup left the Cougars with a familiar kind of frustration: too many stalled drives, too many wasted chances and too little margin for error. Coach Moore and quarterback Caden Pinnick both pointed to the same broad issues afterward, with turnovers and special teams adding to the damage in a game that never really gave WSU a chance to settle in.
The most glaring concern is the offenses inability to stay on the field, a problem that showed up against the Huskies and will loom even larger with Kansas State next on the schedule. Add in the kicking-game hiccups, and the Cougars enter the new week knowing the fix is not about one area alone but about cleaning up several parts of the operation before the competition level rises again. [Read more 🡒]