Cougs Punch In, Ko Cal Leaf, Black Lead Quick-Strike Offense To 63-37 Pac-10 Rout

Washington State’s offense treated the football like a ticking time bomb, and that was OK with linebacker Steve Gleason.

The No. 13 Cougars scored touchdowns on their first six possessions, and five of those drives lasted less than two minutes.

Even though they held the ball for only about eight minutes in the first half, the Cougars jumped to a 42-6 lead en route to a 63-37 thrashing of California on Saturday. They have never scored so many points in a Pac-10 game.

“I was amazed,” Gleason said. “I was sitting there shaking my head and thinking they’re sweet.”

California (2-4, 0-3) lost its fourth consecutive game, despite piling up 460 yards and leading in time of possession and turnovers.

“I was surprised they jumped on us so quickly in the first half,” coach Tom Holmoe said.

“It’s a lethal combination to come in here against a team that’s hot and very talented, and play poorly,” Holmoe said. “There’s quite a bit of difference between WSU and Cal right now.”

One major difference is that with six wins over Division I opponents, the Cougars (6-0, 4-0 Pac-10) have qualified for a bowl. Defensive lineman Dorian Boose said the Cougars are focused on gaining their first Rose Bowl berth since 1931.

“At this point, winning is a lot easier for us,” Boose said. “We’re a team that knows how to win now.”

Boose and linemates Leon Bender, Rob Meier and Jonathan Nance each sacked Cal quarterback Justin Vedder once. Gleason had 10 tackles.

Washington State coach Mike Price said this team is better than the 1992 team that opened 6-0 and finished 9-3.

“Let me start out by saying that we played like a top10 team today,” Price said. “We put it together today.”

Quarterback Ryan Leaf threw five touchdown passes and Michael Black scored three times.

Playing just three quarters, Leaf was 13 of 21 for 332 yards without an interception. His five touchdown passes tied a school record set by Jack Thompson in 1976 and matched by Timm Rosenbach in 1988 and Drew Bledsoe in 1991.

“I am not really disappointed about not getting the record, as long as my name is up there with those guys when I leave,” Leaf said.

Cal managed to move the ball but was scoreless from early in the first quarter to late in the third. It scored four late touchdowns when the game was out of reach.

The Bears scored first on a 52-yard pass from Vedder to Kofi Nartey on their first possession. But the conversion kick failed, foreshadowing a major breakdown of the Cal offense.

Vedder was 26 of 45 for 351 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions.

Washington State was forced to punt on its first possession, but got the ball back immediately on a roughing penalty. Black crossed up a Cal blitz by running 24 yards up the middle for Washington State’s first touchdown.

Backup running back DeJuan Gilmore ran 54 yards down the right sideline to make it 14-6 late in the first.

The Cougars scored 28 unanswered points in the second quarter, including three touchdown passes by Leaf - one a 72-yarder to Chris Jackson.

Nian Taylor blocked Nick Harris’ punt on Cal’s next possession, and the Cougars took possession at the 14. Jackson made a diving end zone catch on the first play.

Black ran 28 yards for a 35-6 lead with 7:02 left in the half.

Brandon Moore’s interception gave the Cougars possession on their 28. Kevin McKenzie came back to catch a floating pass from Leaf and then waltzed into the end zone on a 57-yard scoring play and a 42-6 halftime lead.

On Washington State’s opening drive of the third, Black scored on a 55-yard pass from Leaf.