Mckenzie Finally Pays Off

Notebook

Washington State’s Kevin McKenzie began where he left off one week ago against Oregon - with a case of fumblitis and coach Mike Price on his case.

McKenzie, who fumbled twice in the fourth quarter last week to facilitate the Ducks’ ultimately futile comeback, was 3 for 5 fielding punt returns against San Jose State University.

“I felt confident in my punt returns, but then I went out and fumbled the first one,” McKenzie said.

WSU recovered no harm, no foul. The second time, he wasn’t so fortunate, setting up the Spartans’ first points, a 32-yard field goal.

But in between the two miscues, McKenzie, a junior wide receiver from Long Beach, Calif., ignited the crowd with one of the Cougars’ most spectacular plays of the day.

With 2:23 left in the first half, McKenzie pulled in a short Ryan Leaf pass on WSU’s 34-yard line, broke a tackle on the 38 and jetted the rest of the way for a 68-yard touchdown return to give the Cougars a 24-0 lead on their way to their 52-16 rout.

“I was kind of frustrated,” McKenzie said. “I was just determined to get the ball past that point (38-yard line).

McKenzie finished with three catches for 100 yards. On special teams, he had five returns for 29 yards.

And in the process, he received some praise from Price. “I was glad to see that happen to Kevin. The guy’s got a lot of talent,” Price said.

Wanted man

Moments after the Spartans filed into the visitors dressing room, several area police officers made their way into the entryway looking for Spartans safety Ashanti Hayes.

Police said they had an outstanding warrant for Hayes’ arrest. Hayes began his collegiate career at Washington State in 1993 and redshirted that season. He was a reserve defensive back and special teams player for WSU in 1994.

When asked about the incident, Spartans coach John Ralston said “This is something where we have to cooperate with the people involved and find out what the problem is later on.”

Hayes, 21, paid a $1,050 bond and was released, Pullman police dispatcher Billie Shinall said.

Shinall and WSU campus police officer Brian Jacobson said the misdemeanor warrant was for failure to appear in court on a charge of possession of marijuana while Hayes was a student in Pullman.

Hayes is the older brother of Spartan wide receiver Windrell Hayes, who scored on a 72-yard pass play.

Pancakes for lunch

Give the how-to-flatten-an-opponent award to Washington State’s Steve Gleason, whose tackle on kickoff returner Melvin McClendon got the most oohs and aahs from the 24,195 spectators. The hit occurred after the Cougars took a 14-0 lead near the end of the first quarter.

“I didn’t really hit him that square,” said Gleason, a redshirt freshman who graduated from Gonzaga Prep.

“I pretty much flat-backed him. I was kinda pumped and people were jumping on me so I couldn’t hear the crowd’s reaction.”

Ehlo is in the house

Former Washington State hoop star and Seattle Sonic Craig Ehlo had one of the best seats in the house Saturday - on the Cougars sideline.

It was the first time in five years the 1983 graduate has gotten to see the Cougars football team play.

“We’ve got two kids in school who dictate the schedule,” said Ehlo, who most recently played for the Atlanta Hawks before signing with the Sonics in the off-season.

Ehlo, his wife Jani of Spokane, and kids live on Mercer Island. But eventually, he said, “Spokane will be our final resting spot.”

He said now that he’s playing for an NBA team in the Northwest, “my wife is in heaven right now.”

Ehlo’s feelings about playing for his fourth NBA team (Houston, Cleveland, Atlanta, Seattle): “All my stops have been good and they’ve gotten better. I’m ending with the best.”

Points galore

So they’re not the big, bad scoring machine from Ohio State, but the Cougars can do their share of racking it up, too. In the last two games, WSU has scored 107 points (55 and 52).

“I really think it’s a testimony to (quarterback Ryan) Leaf,” said wide receiver Chad Carpenter, who scored two touchdowns and finished with four catches for 94 yards. “He’s been reading his keys really well and reading his defenses really well and our offensive line has been playing really well.”

Ralston’s reaction

Ralston, who has been around the block in the world of football more than a few times, said he likes the Cougars’ chances in the Pac-10 Conference.

“He (WSU coach Mike Price) has some really skilled athletes, an excellent quarterback, a good running back, and all the ingredients of an excellent defense,” Ralston said, “so I can’t help but think Washington State will be heard from in the Pac-10. I think they are as strong as any team we’ve played in the Pac-10, if not stronger.”

The Spartans lost to Cal 45-25 and to Stanford 25-2. They travel to Washington on Nov. 16.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 color photos