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WSU Football | Arizona romps over Cougs in Tuscon 48-7
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'Cat's Travis Cobb takes kickoff 86-yards TD (AP J. Miller)
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The Washington State Cougars won the coin toss to begin their game Saturday in Tucson against the No. 18 Arizona Wildcats. They didn't have another thing go their way for nearly three hours.
Playing their fifth consecutive road game, Arizona had too much size, speed and experience for WSU.
When a knee was taken by 'Cats third string quarterback Bryson Beirney to end the game, Arizona earned a decisive victory by a final score of 48-7.
Coach Mike Stoops Wildcats were all about business after a bye week gave them time to rest and heal their bumps and bruises.
Just thirteen seconds into the game, Washington State found themselves trailing 7-0. Travis Cobb took the opening kickoff 86-yards for a touchdown.
Coach Paul Wulff's Cougars didn't have any answers to the 'Cats offense in the first half. Arizona scored on every possession in the first two quarters of play.
Offensive line injuries continued to plague Washington State. Tyson Pencer started at left tackle on a bad wheel. After getting beat twice allowing quarterback Jeff Tuel to be sacked, Pencer was forced to take his high ankle sprain to the sideline for the rest of the game. Alex Reitnouer settled in to do a pretty good job the rest of the way.
The Arizona defense executed their schemes with precision. They held the Cougars to just 109 yards of total offense in the first half while forcing and recovering two fumbles. The second half was more of the same. WSU finished the game generating a meager 204 total yards when they had the ball.
A problem for the Cougs was they didn't have the ball often and when they did it wasn't for long.
Washington State didn't do themselves any favors by getting flagged for six penalties before halftime. They played smarter football in the second half with just a lone pass interference call which actually may have saved a touchdown.
Near the end of the first half, Jeff Tuel tried to force a play rolling to his left to avoid a blitzing linebacker. He threw awkwardly injuring his right knee on the play. Early report was a slight knee sprain. After the game Coach Wulff described the injury as a subluxed knee cap. Subluxing a knee cap is a partial dislocation from its normal position in the groove in the end of the thigh bone. Time will tell, players typically recover quickly from this type of knee injury. Tuel was on crutches and in street clothes for the second half.
Marshall Lobbestael came on in relief of Tuel completing 4 of 7 passes for 85 yards. He hooked up with a fellow sophomore Jared Karstetter for a 64-yard touchdown.
"It was a great one-handed catch. You know, Jared always seems to make a play. He's doing an outstanding job. Jared's going to continue to play well and he's going to be a guy that we can really rally (with) in the next couple of years." - WSU Coach Paul Wulff
The long touchdown pass play was a clear sign of the attitude of these Cougar football players. Even halfway through the final quarter and being on the wrong side of a 48-0 score, the team was still looking for ways to score.
There is no quit in Coach Wulff's Cougs. Period.
Looking at the defense, WSU missed tackles time and time again today. Too often a player would be in position only to be faked out by an Arizona ball carrier.
"We work so much on tackling. We have people there in position. Guys are where they need to be. They didn't make a play. Sometimes we got out-quicked or out-moved and that's been the case all season. They (were more athletic) today in spots." - Coach Wulff
What Washington State saw in Tucson today were the results when a football program is rebuilt from the ground up by Coach Stoops and his staff. It's taken six years, but it's evident what will happen when a plan is developed, implemented and maintained.
"(Arizona's) got good team speed. They seem to be pretty healthy. Their line play has veteran players that are in their fourth and fifth year. They're experienced, big and strong. There is a big difference right now between their guys and our guys. That's just part of our guys growing up. We've got to keep eating a lot and lifting (weights) a lot and just getting these guys to grow up." -Coach Wulff
There's no way to sugar coat the reality Coach Wulff refers to when it comes to overall team size and speed. Fortunately a part of the reality of the Cougar football team is the speed of the young players who are redshirting this year coupled with the athletic potential of those prospects who have verbally committed to be part of the next freshman class. That too, is a situation which doesn't require sugar coating.
Washington State has three more chances to pick up conference wins.
The Cougs return to Martin Stadium next Saturday. It will be Dad's Weekend in Pullman. There's nothing like the atmosphere created by a home football game at WSU.
Cougar Nation is a difference maker.
"We need our crowd. We need it to be a cool day. We need to get our kids jazzed up and go get a win." - Coach Wulff
With the win today, Arizona is now bowl-eligible this season.
For Coach Wulff and the Cougar football team, they are still working toward that goal.
Post Game Notes Jared Byers and Jay Matthews recorded their first career starts today against the Wildcats. Coach Wulff has now started a total of 21 players this season in their collegiate debuts. That total breaks down to 14 student/athletes on defense and 7 on offense. Jeff Tuel started his fifth game this season. He has now equaled the school record at WSU for a true freshman starting at quarterback set by Drew Bledsoe. True freshman Gino Simone hauled in four more catches today, continuing his streak of at least one catch in every game he's played this year. Providing both solid play and leadership, seniors Andy Mattingly and Xavier Hicks combined for 33 tackles today with 11 and 12 respectively. Sophomore Jared Karstetter's 64-yard touchdown reception marks his sixth this season to lead the team.
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