Kirby Moore doesn’t need a reminder that the calendar has flipped to conference play. What he needs now is for Washington State to turn the first month’s lessons into something tangible against Fresno State.
“There are a lot of lessons that we've got to take from this first month of the season," Moore said, "and carry that into conference play."
That starts with Caden Pinnick handling pressure the right way. Fresno State is the kind of defense that attacks from everywhere, and it won’t wait around to see if a quarterback settles in.
Washington State wants Pinnick to identify the rush quickly and respond with conviction, either by getting the ball out as a passer or using his legs to escape. The model is clear: quarterbacks who beat that kind of pressure decisively can make it hurt, like USC’s Jayden Maiava with 349 yards in the season opener or Rice’s Jacurri brown with 141 yards last week in the option game.
Hesitation, though, plays right into the Bulldogs’ hands and opens the door for turnovers and tackles for loss.
The other place Washington State can seize control is in the middle of Fresno State’s offensive line. The Cougars’ defensive front has already flashed against a seasoned opponent, with Kaden Beatty and Jirah Leaupepetele making early noise against Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita and the defense finishing with three sacks, all in the first half.
Fresno State’s lack of experience and its early-season injury issues make the interior of the line a spot where WSU should be able to create real problems. The Cougars have the kind of depth and physicality between the hashes to make life difficult for quarterback Jayden Mandal and the backs behind him.
And Mandal is the next test. Fresno State has opened games slowly in each of its four contests, and while Mandal brings toughness from his multi-sport background, this is still just his sixth career start at quarterback for the Bulldogs.
Moore described Fifita as the quintessential “progression” passer, while Mandal is more of a first-read thrower who wants to get the ball out and let it rip. That has worked so far, with seven touchdown passes and no interceptions against San Jose State, Sacramento State and Rice.
Washington State’s defensive backs will have to stay glued in man coverage and force Mandal to move past his first option, giving the safeties a shot to read the play and make something happen on the ball.
In Other News...
Washington State Heads Into Fresno State With Two Big Injury Concerns
Washington State heads into its matchup with Fresno State still sorting through its health on both sides of the ball, and the latest availability report leaves a few important questions hanging over the Cougars. Running back Kirby Vorhees is listed as questionable because of an upper-body injury, while tight end Trey Leckner is probable and could be in line for his season debut after being sidelined for most of the year by a foot issue.
The defensive side has taken a harder hit. Linebacker Nylan Brown is expected to miss significant time with a foot injury, and several other Cougars defenders are listed as doubtful or out, leaving the staff to manage depth as the week moves on. For a team trying to keep momentum heading into a road game, the injury report may end up shaping just as much of the conversation as the matchup itself. [Read more 🡒]
WSUs Jirah Leaupepetele Faces A Fresno State Twist Few Fans Saw Coming
Jirah Leaupepeteles next game carries a personal angle as much as a football one. The Washington State defensive lineman is preparing to line up against Fresno State, where his brother Jonah plays right guard, setting up the kind of family crossover that usually adds a little extra buzz to an otherwise ordinary Saturday. It also gives their parents and other relatives a chance to make the trip to Pullman and watch both sides of the family storyline unfold in one place.
The twist, of course, is that the matchup may not look the way it first seemed. Jonah is listed as questionable and is not expected to play because of an injury, leaving the possibility of a brother-versus-brother showdown hanging in the balance. Even so, the family presence in the stands gives the game a personal layer, and for Jirah, the emotional backdrop will be there whether or not the on-field collision ever happens. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Receivers Put On Notice As Offensive Frustration Builds
Washington States offense has spent the first month searching for rhythm, and Darrius Clemons is not sugarcoating where the pressure sits. The receiver said the group has to sharpen up and show more consistency after four games, a message that fits the frustration around an attack that has not yet found its footing. He also pointed to the challenge of adjusting after Tony Freemans injury, an early setback that has already changed the rooms depth and expected roles.
For Clemons, the standard is simple: when the ball comes his way, he has to make the play. He also took a hard look at his own performance and the larger expectations that come with playing receiver, knowing the group will be judged not just on effort but on results. For a team still trying to steady its offense, the question now is whether that message turns into cleaner execution before the frustration grows louder. [Read more 🡒]