COUGARS
FROM PULLMAN — We'll keep this quick because it's late, but here we go with our capsulated look at UCLA's 44-36 win over WSU. Read on.
…
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME — Connor Halliday did everything he could in the second half, finishing with 330 yards passing and five touchdowns. Sure, he threw an interception late that didn't help WSU's chances. But this is the best Halliday has played all season, and he calmed considerably after completing just 7 of 18 passes in the first half. Brett Hundley only threw three incompletions for UCLA.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME — Cyrus Coen had the best game of his young career, finishing with a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception. Cassius Marsh and Anthony Barr each had 2.5 sacks for UCLA.
PLAY OF THE GAME — Probably Eric Kendricks' 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown, because that made it 37-7 heading into halftime, and that proved to be just too many points for WSU to overcome.
STAT OF THE GAME — Four. That's how many kicks the Cougars had blocked in the first half. Another number: 65. The Bruins scored four of their touchdowns in the first half with the aid of just 65 yards of total offense (a blocked field goal for a touchdown, a fumble returned for a touchdown, a 24-yard scoring drive after Teondray Caldwell's fumble, and a 41-yard scoring drive after the safety and ensuing kick return.)
WHAT WE LEARNED — There's still some fight left in this team, and maybe there's more hope for the future than some thought after a pretty tough week. The Cougars trailed by 30 points at halftime, yet they played in the second half as if they thought they had a chance to win. And if they recover that last onside kick, who knows? Mike Leach called it the best effort he's seen from WSU this season, and said it ranked up there with any he's ever seen as a coach. That's high praise after what he said a week ago.
UP NEXT — A 12 p.m. game Saturday against Arizona State (Pac-12 Networks). The Sun Devils dropped to 5-5 today after losing to USC.
Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple
Jim Allen Sports reporter Jim Allen's primary coverage areas are Eastern Washington University football and men's basketball, Whitworth University men's basketball, and college and high school soccer. He also contributes to the SportsLink Blog.
Recent work by Jim
Christian Caple Sports reporter Christian Caple covers Washington State University athletics. He also contributes to the SportsLink Blog.
Recent work by Christian
Greg Lee Greg Lee covers high school sports in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. He also contributes to the SportsLink Blog.
Recent work by Greg
Jim Meehan Jim Meehan's coverage areas include Gonzaga University men's basketball, Whitworth University football, the Spokane Shock, golf and volleyball. He also contributes to the SportsLink Blog.
Recent work by Jim
Chris Derrick Chris Derrick is a sports reporter for the sports section. His primary coverage areas are the Spokane Chiefs, women's basketball and high school sports in the fall and spring.
Recent work by Chris
Josh Wright Josh Wright is a freelance correspondent who covers the University of Idaho football team and men's basketball team.
Recent work by Josh
Vince Grippi is the online producer for SportsLink, a product of The Spokesman-Review.
999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201
P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210
Main switchboard: (509) 459-5000 • (800) 338-8801
Newsroom: (509) 459-5400 • (800) 789-0029
Customer service: (800) 338-8801
© Copyright 2013, The Spokesman-Review
Terms of use • Privacy policy • Copyright policy
Spokane7
48°
Get blog updates by email
Please keep it civil. Don't post comments that are obscene, defamatory, threatening, off-topic, an infringement of copyright or an invasion of privacy. Read our forum standards and community guidelines.
You must be logged in to post comments. Please log in here or click the comment box below for options.
comments powered by Disqus« Back to SportsLink