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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Cougs send Pack packing


WSU tight end Troy Bienemann deflects two Nevada defenders. 
 (Christopher Anderson/ / The Spokesman-Review)

RENO, Nev. – So much for the Cougars’ inability to put away a team when it gets the chance.

Washington State University played Nevada to an early stalemate, but as soon as the Cougars figured out how to attack the Wolf Pack, they opened up the floodgates on a 55-21 blowout win that deflated the home crowd of 17,552 in Mackay Stadium.

Defensive back Eric Frampton started off things by intercepting a Jeff Rowe pass and taking it 36 yards for a touchdown. After that, the Cougars offense appeared to figure out Nevada’s new 3-4 defense and rolled to 534 total yards.

WSU scored 27 points by the half and Alex Brink sparkled, earning himself a permanent rest by the middle of the third quarter, hat on backward and headset firmly in place.

Nearly every Cougars player at a skill position on offense had a big night. Brink finished 15 of 23 for 202 yards and three TDs. Jerome Harrison ran for 121 yards on 18 carries, his fifth consecutive game going past the century mark. Jason Hill caught five passes for 92 yards and two TDs, giving him four in the first two games of the year and tying him for fifth on the WSU career list with 16. Troy Bienemann caught four passes for 58 yards and a TD.

But Michael Bumpus ended up having the biggest night of all, as he etched his name into the WSU record books in multiple categories. The sophomore wide receiver caught only two passes for 21 yards, but he returned five punts for 157 yards including an 87-yard TD.

That return broke the school-record punt return of 81 yards, done twice in the same game against San Jose State in 1967. It was also Bumpus’ third career punt return for a TD, tying a school record held by Mark Williams. The sophomore’s total punt return yardage of 157 is second-best in school history, trailing only Shawn Tims’ 167 in a game against Louisiana-Lafayette in 1997.

The starters’ success cleared the way for a number of second-stringers to play, something that wasn’t expected until next week’s game against Division I-AA Grambling State.

Josh Swogger finished off the first half with a 2-minute drill that led to a field goal, then came back in midway through the third quarter for extended action. He completed his first TD pass of the year to true freshman Brandon Gibson, who made good on his first career catch by going 44 yards.

Nevada scored multiple TDs late, but the scoring barrage in the first three quarters was more than enough to put the game out of reach.

After Gibson reeled in his TD, the score was 48-7, and another true freshman, running back DeMaundray Woolridge, scored in the fourth quarter to push WSU to a 55-21 lead. He added a 70-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

Eight Cougars put points on the board, including Reno native Graham Siderius, who booted three second-half extra points in relief of Loren Langley.

Nevada was also debuting a new offensive look with a pistol offense, but until garbage time it was largely ineffective against the Cougars defense. At halftime, the Wolf Pack had accrued 97 yards on 33 plays and were 0 for 6 on third downs. Star wide receiver Nichiren Flowers was benched for the first half by head coach Chris Ault.

The Cougars hadn’t scored more than 55 points since putting up 77 in that game against Louisiana-Lafayette in 1997. At the rate the offense moved the football, a repeat performance might just be possible next week as the Cougars look to wrap up a perfect non-conference season.