Win allows WSU a big sigh of relief

PULLMAN — Much to the surprise of many an observer, Washington State snapped a four-game losing streak at UCLA on Saturday. In a sense, the upset win saved the 2004 season, at least for seven more days.

The Cougars (4-5, 2-4 Pac-10) still need to win out in order to claim a winning record in the regular season and sneak into a bowl game, but now the uphill climb they face consists of only two games, not three.

“It was a huge win for us and our program,” a relieved and more relaxed Cougars coach Bill Doba said Sunday. “It’s as big as anything we’ve done so far. Because everybody was saying, ‘OK, here we go again. The Cougs, they’re going to lose the rest of the way out or maybe beat the Huskies.’ And now, it gives us a chance for a winning season.”

But Doba can’t rest easily, even though the first of three hurdles to a bowl game is out of the way. This week, WSU faces what must be called a much more difficult task. The Cougars are on the road once again, this time at Arizona State, where the Sun Devils are 5-0 and will be retiring the jersey of Pat Tillman in a game-day ceremony.

The Sun Devils are ranked 20th in the nation, thanks to a potent offense starring quarterback Andrew Walter, and the Cougars have struggled in the Pac-10 season against teams that can throw the ball efficiently.

“I think it’s the team we’re playing that’s going to make it a little bit tougher,” Doba said, addressing the team’s bowl prospects at this point. “They did beat UCLA, and they did beat Stanford, and I think they beat Oregon. Those are three of our losses. They’re a good football team and they’re at home. “We’ve got a tough opponent. Arizona State’s no slouch.”

Doba is also cognizant his team is far from perfect, as the four-game losing streak spanning the month of October would suggest.

Specifically, WSU’s special teams units have emerged as a concern as of late, with issues in almost every phase of the kicking game.

Doba made the call to sideline freshman kicker Loren Langley in favor of Graham Siderius after Langley missed a 28-yarder against the Bruins. Siderius drilled a 31-yarder, and now the head coach has — dare it be said — a late-season kicking controversy on his hands.

On Sunday, Doba said he wanted to see how things played out in practice this week but admitted that he’ll almost certainly give Siderius the first crack at a field-goal attempt against the Sun Devils. Langley has outperformed Siderius in practice over the course of the year, but Siderius’ successful try in Pasadena has given the coach pause.

“Graham responded well,” Doba said. “So maybe Graham’s a gamer and just doesn’t kick well in practice. But anyway, we’ll work it out this week. Probably, Graham will get the first shot at a field goal.”

But Doba said he intends to stick with Langley when it comes to extra points, since he tends to get the ball up in the air faster and is 21 of 23 on the year.

Punter Kyle Basler has also been off lately, his struggles continuing Saturday with a 39.4-yard average on eight punts. And the coverage and return teams have been shaky, with Michael Bumpus fielding one punt at his own goal line and fumbling another.

“He’ll get better as time goes on,” Doba said. “He’s a freshman. We’re going to grow with him. He makes big plays. (Reggie) Bush fumbles the ball for USC, and I don’t see them changing him.”

Injury update

Doba confirmed that defensive tackle Aaron Johnson, who strained his right MCL against the Bruins, is unlikely to return any time before a bowl game.

Johnson started against UCLA alongside Steve Cook, but his injury means fellow freshman Ropati Pitoitua will return to the starting lineup. Odell Howard will serve as the duo’s primary backup, and Bryan Olson, who saw some time earlier in the year when Cook and Pitoitua were out with injuries, will also factor into the rotation.

Linebacker Brian Winter also went for X-rays after re-injuring a leg he had broken earlier in the year. The X-ray showed no damage, but Doba said Winter is still sore. The senior didn’t play at all in the second half.

Right tackle and offensive captain Sam Lightbody has a bruised knee, but is probable to play against Arizona State.

Two players who missed Saturday’s game, cornerback Alex Teems and wide receiver Chris Jordan, are still uncertain for next week. Doba said Teems (neck) is doubtful, and Jordan (groin) is questionable.

Notes

Running back Chris Bruhn did not play in his first game in uniform after missing time with a knee injury. Doba said it was largely because Jerome Harrison and Allen Thompson ran so well. … Not surprisingly, Harrison was the team’s nominee for Pac-10 offensive player of the week after racking up 247 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Linebacker Scott Davis was the team’s defensive pick. … Doba said the coaching staff has had a change of heart on the matter of playing backup quarterback Gary Rogers. When Josh Swogger went down with an injury for the season and Rogers, a true freshman, was elevated to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, Doba had said the team would find playing time for Rogers so he would have some game experience. But Sunday, Doba said Rogers is getting good work in practice and is willing to take a chance that the team won’t need him so he can preserve his redshirt year.