Highs & lows: WSU vs. Oregon

High point

For a team complaining about bad bounces a Hail Mary to finish off the first half had to look like an omen of the best variety. Alex Brink’s pass somehow found its way past Chris Jordan and an Oregon defender, allowing Jason Hill to bat the ball into the air and then catch it with no time on the clock to give the Cougars an improbable 14-10 halftime lead. Now, if only WSU could figure out how to make that kind of play at the end of the fourth quarter …

Low point

When a basketball player beats your football team, it’s never a good thing. Oregon forward-turned-wide receiver Jordan Kent grabbed a 67-yard touchdown pass one play after Loren Langley missed a field goal. The score was Oregon’s third touchdown of the third quarter and gave the Ducks a 31-21 lead. It didn’t finish off the Cougars, but it sure made things difficult the rest of the way.

Play of the game

Dennis Dixon played just half the game at quarterback for Oregon, but he made the big play near the game’s end. On a 2nd-and-12 from the Cougar 38-yard line, Dixon sprinted out on an option keeper and picked up 14 yards, a first down and enough momentum to carry the Ducks into chip-shot field goal range for the winning points.

Player of the game

As WSU has learned this year, it’s not about the ability to make plays, but when that ability shows up that counts. As such, Oregon defensive end Darius Sanders gets the nod here. Sanders had just three tackles, but two of them were in the backfield, including a nine-yard sack that helped push WSU out of field goal range. (The subsequent kick hit the crossbar.) Sanders also picked off an Alex Brink throw that helped give Oregon all the momentum in the third quarter.

Stat of the game

The Cougars have lost four Pac-10 games by three points, five by four or less.

Glenn Kasses, staff writer