Cougs breathe sigh of relief
SEATTLE – The Cougars got their easy win on Saturday and Washington State University fans were able to go home happy. But WSU nearly came out of Qwest Field with what they feared most – serious injuries.
Two defensive mainstays, linebacker Scott Davis and defensive end Adam Braidwood, left early after getting hurt.
Davis suffered a right foot sprain and Braidwood a hyperextended right elbow. At one point, it appeared that both problems might be significant, but X-rays taken on both injuries showed no bone damage. Braidwood, head coach Bill Doba said, could have re-entered Saturday’s game if need be. Davis’ injury could still hold him out of the Oregon State game, but defensive coordinator Robb Akey struck a more optimistic note after the game.
“It sounds like everything’s cool now,” Akey said. “I think we’ll have them both back by the Oregon State game.”
A third, more prominent defender, middle linebacker Will Derting, played sparingly. Derting has been battling the effects of the flu, and Akey said the Cougars saw no reason to unnecessarily push the senior.
“Thursday we sent him home as it was,” Akey said. “He played the first couple of series, wasn’t feeling great and so we just got him out of there. Greg Trent came in and did a great job and saved Will, too.”
Another true freshman, Cory Evans, played much of the game in relief of Davis. Matt Mullenix played most of the snaps at defensive end after Braidwood left the game.
Boyd jumps right into action
Tight end Cody Boyd had hardly seen the field this year. In the first practice of the fall, pain in his right heel kept him from playing.
That pain ended up being the result of three bone cysts, and he hadn’t returned in earnest until the week of practices leading up to Saturday’s game.
For a while, it appeared the junior wouldn’t play, either. But when the Cougars’ No. 2 tight end got the call in the third quarter, he was ready.
On Boyd’s first play of the season, he caught a sideline pass from Josh Swogger, turned upfield and saw nothing but open turf.
The play resulted in a 39-yard gain – nearly enough for a score – and paved the way for Jerome Harrison to garner his third touchdown of the day on the next snap.
“When you get held out of stuff you want to be doing, you always feel a lot better about getting in there,” Boyd said. “I got open, I guess.”
The tight end was limited by injuries last year as well and has had somewhat of a star-crossed career, something even he admitted after the game.
But on that first play and about 10 snaps thereafter, he looked good to go. On the long run, Boyd crashed into two defenders in an attempt to get into the end zone. It wasn’t successful, but for Boyd the result felt nearly as good.
“I’m the injury bug waiting to happen,” he joked. “I’d been telling people on the sidelines that it was a month of aggression saved up right there.”
Notes
Grambling head coach Melvin Spears has chosen to wear a suit and tie for all games this season in honor of legendary coach Eddie Robinson, who did the same in his 57 years at Grambling. … Grambling running back Ab Kuuan, expected to be the team’s primary rusher, carried the ball just twice. Kuuan fumbled on one of those two carries and he apparently didn’t play thereafter because of a coach’s decision. … The Cougars tallied seven sacks on the day, giving them 13 in their last two games.
•Redshirt freshman quarterback Gary Rogers played for a second consecutive week in mop-up duty, but the Puyallup, Wash., native has yet to throw a pass as the Cougars have had a big lead in each game. … Jerome Harrison has six consecutive 100-yard games. His three touchdowns matched a career best, set against UCLA last season. … Grambling finished with 11 yards rushing on 37 carries. … Washington State’s 141 points are its best three-game total to start a year since 1908. That year, WSU had 150 against Eastern Washington, Spokane YMCA and Bremerton Navy.