Defense flagged down
PULLMAN – With UCLA quarterback Drew Olson having a career day and running back Maurice Drew a constant threat, Washington State’s defense could ill afford costly mistakes.
The center of concern according to numerous Cougars coaches this week, that WSU defense couldn’t hang onto a 17-point fourth-quarter lead, and the late-game collapse was sparked by the types of errors WSU knew it couldn’t have.
After scoring to go up 38-21 with 23 seconds left in the third quarter, the Cougars allowed UCLA to march 80 yards in just 51 seconds thanks to three 15-yard penalties on consecutive plays that moved the Bruins from their own end to the red zone in a matter of moments.
On the drive’s first play, safety Husain Abdullah made contact with a UCLA receiver early, drawing a flag for pass interference. On the next play, Drew scampered out of bounds only to be hit late by safety Eric Frampton – another 15-yard penalty. Then, with the ball suddenly on the WSU 39-yard line, defensive end Adam Braidwood was flagged for roughing the passer. All three penalties came before the third quarter was through, allowing UCLA a score in the second play of the fourth and an opening for the big comeback.
“One of them was mine, and I take full responsibility,” said Braidwood, who also had two sacks. “That was tough. That killed us. Those are all our fault. We gave them that touchdown – that’s 45 yards.”
The Cougars benched all three players for a time in the fourth quarter.
“That was brutal, and I’m not happy about that,” defensive coordinator Robb Akey said. “That’s not going to be acceptable, and we will not let that happen.”
How about Harrison?
Jerome Harrison’s marvelous senior season continues to amaze.
Harrison’s 260 yards on Saturday placed him third on the WSU single-game rushing list by bumping, well, himself. Previously, Harrison’s 247 against UCLA last season was third on the list.
But the 200-pound back is now on pace to break the Cougars record for rushing, and at this pace he might even have a chance to finish the year as the top rusher in the nation.
Harrison is averaging 166.8 yards a game, which unofficially will place him behind only Memphis’ DeAngelo Williams, who is at 180.5 per game.
WSU’s big-play threat on the ground now has 1,001 yards through six games, putting him on pace for 1,835 yards in the regular season. That would easily surpass Rueben Mayes’ school record of 1,637, established in 1984.
Of his career-high against UCLA, Harrison said he knew early it would be a big day.
“After the first or second carry, I came back to the huddle and I looked in my linemen’s eyes and they had a look of determination,” he said. “I’ve been here a year-and-a-half almost now, and I looked at my offensive linemen and I’ve never seen that look that they had.
“After I saw that, I was like, it’s going to be me and the safety all day. And that’s what it was.”
Notes
The Cougars sold out Martin Stadium Saturday, and the capacity crowd of 35,117 was noticeably louder than it was the week before against Stanford. … The Cougars haven’t won an October game since 2003, going 0-7 in 2004 and 2005 thus far. … Kick returner and backup cornerback Lorenzo Bursey sprained his right shoulder in the first half and did not return. … The Bruins wasted a golden opportunity when an improvised fake punt went awry. Gunner Michael Norris was uncovered, so punter Aaron Perez threw the ball his way, but Norris never turned to look for the ball and the Cougars took over on downs. … This was the Bruins’ first win in Pullman since 1993. … For the second consecutive week the Cougars were beaten badly in time of possession, holding the ball for just 24 minutes and 12 seconds in regulation.