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Sports >  WSU football

Wide receiver from San Diego becomes 19th player to pledge to Washington State in 2020 class

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 12, 2019

Keyshawn Smith, a 6-foot, 165-pound wide receiver from Lincoln High in San Diego, pledged to the Cougars Thursday afternoon. Smith and at least 18 other high school prospects are expected to sign with Mike Leach and WSU next Wednesday when the early period begins.

Sports >  WSU football

Trio of Washington State players named to Associated Press All-Pac-12 teams

Thu., Dec. 12, 2019

Similar to the coaches, the Pac-12’s writers collectively agreed Washington State had the top kicker in the conference this year, voting Blake Mazza to the Associated Press All-Pac-12 First Team.

Sports >  WSU football

In second NFL season, ex-Washington State star Hercules Mata’afa still trying to outplay his size

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 11, 2019

Fewer than two full seasons into his professional career, Mata’afa is still fighting a stereotype that some thought would preclude him from playing in the NFL at all.

Sports >  WSU football

Hawaiian defensive back Alaka’i Gilman decommits from Washington State

Tue., Dec. 10, 2019

A promising defensive back prospect from the Hawaiian islands has chosen to reopen his recruitment six months after committing to Washington State.

Sports >  WSU football

Washington State linebacker Dominick Silvels announces decision to enter transfer portal

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 10, 2019

Dominick Silvels, a Washington State linebacker who led the Cougars in sacks last year but missed the entirety of the 2019 season with undisclosed personal issues, has entered the transfer portal and won’t return to Pullman next season.

Sports >  WSU football

Washington State’s Blake Mazza named to All-Pac-12 first team; Spokane’s Evan Weaver earns top defensive honor

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 10, 2019

Despite boasting the league’s most potent scoring attack at 39.2 points per game, Washington State didn’t place an offensive player on the All-Pac-12 first team, but eight Cougars were named to the all-conference teams released Tuesday afternoon.

Sports >  WSU football

Three-star offensive line prospect from Utah commits to Washington State

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 10, 2019

Almost one week before national signing day, Mason Miller and Washington State apparently have added another piece to their offensive line, receiving a commitment from Utah offensive tackle Rodrick Tialavea.

Sports >  Area sports

WSU’s Morgan Weaver, Makamae Gomera-Stevens called up to U.S. senior national team

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 9, 2019

Morgan Weaver and Makamae Gomera-Stevens, forwards who combined to score 20 goals for the Cougars this season, were called up as fill-ins after two other players, forward Madison Haley and defender Naomi Girma, were injured while playing for Stanford last weekend in the College Cup. The Cardinal beat UNC in penalty kicks to win the national championship Sunday.

Sports >  WSU football

Brandon Arconado becomes first Washington State first-team Academic All-American since 2010

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 9, 2019

Washington State’s Brandon Arconado was named Monday to the Academic All-America First Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Monday, a distinction given to only 25 football players across all three NCAA divisions. Twenty-five more players are named to the Second Team.

Sports >  WSU football

High-powered offenses with contrasting styles set to meet when Washington State takes on Air Force in Cheez-It Bowl

UPDATED: Sun., Dec. 8, 2019

Washington State’s 2019 football season, one that has traversed as many high points as it has low points, will conclude with a post-Christmas trip to Arizona, where the Cougars will play Air Force in the Cheez-It Bowl.

Sports >  Area sports

Time runs out on historic Washington State season in tightly contested loss to North Carolina

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 6, 2019

Washington State’s historic and prideful run through the NCAA women’s soccer field finally ended Friday night, at the hands of a North Carolina team with more history, pride and pageantry than anyone in the sport.

Sports >  WSU football

Mike Leach agrees to contract extension amid rumors, keeping Washington State coach in Pullman through 2024 season

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 5, 2019

Despite reports stating he’d met with administrators from Arkansas earlier in the week about the Razorbacks’ coaching vacancy, Leach officially hopped off the coaching carousel Thursday morning, agreeing in principle to a contract extension that will keep the offensive guru in Pullman through the 2024 football season.

Sports >  WSU basketball

Miller time: Washington State sparked by walk-on forward Tony Miller in 13-point win over Idaho

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 4, 2019

Their rotation shortened because of illness and their top scorer battling offensive inconsistency, the Cougars turned to an unlikely source in the Battle of the Palouse. Tony Miller showed up early, he showed up often, and the well-traveled walk-on forward provided a spark for the Cougars in a comfortable 78-65 win over Idaho at the Cowan Spectrum.

Sports >  WSU football

Once again, Washington State’s Mike Leach making his way through coaching rumor mill

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 4, 2019

Washington State fans watched their team lose in the Apple Cup for the seventh straight time last Friday, 31-13 in Seattle, but now it’s onto something that causes them even more discomfort.

Sports >  WSU basketball

Heart infection likely to keep Washington State’s Deion James off court for remainder of 2019-20 season

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 4, 2019

The Colorado State graduate transfer posted on his Twitter account Wednesday morning that he’s been diagnosed with a heart condition called myocarditis and will “miss 3-6 months of basketball.” Even if James recovers in three months, it may not enough to return for the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas, which begins on March 11.

Sports >  WSU football

Anthony Gordon becomes third straight Washington State QB to nab Senior Bowl invite

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 3, 2019

For the third time in as many years, a Washington State quarterback will have an opportunity to boost his NFL stock in front of professional scouts, general managers and head coaches.

Sports >  NCAA football

Jimmy Lake’s ascent to head coaching role at Washington no surprise to those from Spokane’s North Central, Eastern Washington

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 2, 2019

Eastern Washington fans and Spokanites who have no genuine rooting interest in the Pac-12 Conference may soon find themselves pulling for the purple-tinted team located on the shores of Lake Washington.

Sports >  WSU football

Washington State rewind: Max Borghi says Cougars hung their heads early on in 31-13 Apple Cup loss

UPDATED: Sat., Nov. 30, 2019

WSU now gets what essentially equates to a third bye week before learning its bowl destination, which will be announced next Sunday and perhaps unofficially revealed a day or two before then. We’ll dive into preliminary bowl scenarios in our weekly rewind, rehash what happened in the Apple Cup and cover what was said after it.

Sports >  WSU football

After 31-13 Apple Cup loss, Washington State’s Mike Leach suggests Washington’s Jimmy Lake ‘likes to take a lot of credit for everything’

Fri., Nov. 29, 2019

Jimmy Lake didn’t have an opportunity to comment on another dominant effort from his defense in the Apple Cup. The Huskies didn’t make their defensive coordinator available to reporters following a 31-13 win at Husky Stadium. But Lake’s name still found its way into the postgame conversation.

Sports >  WSU football

Analysis: Washington employs familiar strategy to manufacture similar result against Washington State in 31-13 Apple Cup win

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 29, 2019

There wasn’t a Shelton, a Qualls, a Vea or a Gaines playing on Washington’s defensive line Friday afternoon. The Huskies still got all the pressure they needed, and then some.

Sports >  WSU football

Difference makers: Hunter Bryant sparks Washington offense, defense makes timely plays in victory over Washington State

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 29, 2019

Difference makers from Washington’s 31-13 victory over Washington State in the 112th Apple Cup in Seattle

Sports >  WSU football

Washington State WR Brandon Arconado doesn’t return to field after suffering apparent wrist injury

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 29, 2019

For the second straight game, Washington State’s Brandon Arconado took an early trip to the injury tent and missed the remainder of the first half after an apparent injury to the same left wrist that forced him to leave the Cougars’ 54-53 win over Oregon State.

Sports >  WSU football

Washington State’s Anthony Gordon becomes 13th QB in college football history to throw for 5,000 yards in single season

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 29, 2019

Gordon came into the Apple Cup needing just 80 yards to become the 13th QB to pass for 5,000 in a single season. It was a small amount for the nation’s leading passer, averaging 447.2 per game, and Gordon didn’t waste too much time eclipsing 5,000 against UW.

Sports >  WSU football

Mike Leach, Washington State end first-quarter touchdown drought in Apple Cup

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 29, 2019

Anthony Gordon completed nine of his first 10 passes and handed off to his roommate, sophomore running back Max Borghi, on the 1-yard line to put the Cougars up 7-0 after just six minutes of Friday’s game at Husky Stadium.

Sports >  WSU football

The pick: Why Washington will beat Washington State in the 112th Apple Cup

Fri., Nov. 29, 2019

It does seem that whenever the Cougars end their extended Apple Cup slump, they’ll do it on a down year for the Huskies. This qualifies as one of those. But, given how tough this matchup has been for Leach and the Cougars, it would be better if it didn’t coincide with a down year in Pullman.