WSU has passing interest

PULLMAN – A day after offensive coordinator Mike Levenseller talked about needing to throw the ball to set up the run, the Cougars played their second scrimmage like those words were nothing but the truth.

Throwing on 10 of the first 11 plays – the 12th was a quarterback scramble – DeMaundray Woolridge then took his first carry of Wednesday night up the gut and then to the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown run.

That play highlighted a session vastly different from the first scrimmage, played on Saturday, when the Washington State University offense slogged through much of the afternoon.

This time, however, WSU resembled the Cougars squad most everyone expects this fall – moving the ball through the air on offense, allowing too many yards through the air on defense.

“I think the offense, after last week, decided they better step it up a little bit,” head coach Bill Doba said. “It was much better, I thought, since last week.”

Still, as Doba pointed out, he couldn’t be too thrilled as it was his defense giving up the yardage. Cornerback Don Turner again got beat by Jason Hill for 33 yards into the end zone, a theme of fall camp – and that was just one of four passing touchdowns thrown by Alex Brink and Gary Rogers.

Brandon Gibson caught four passes for 85 yards and a touchdown, while Chris Jordan had six catches for 74 yards and a score. Finas Rabb III caught the fourth scoring strike, a short red-zone throw.

The Cougars defense, which played its most basic fronts in the first scrimmage, blitzed frequently with mixed success. Getting to the quarterback on occasion, the blitzes also opened passing lanes and room for Woolridge on his long score.

“They blitzed us again and he broke it and he was gone,” Brink said. “We’re going to need that out of him to change the momentum and the game.”

The Cougars have one more scrimmage on Saturday, exactly two weeks before the season opener at Auburn on Sept. 2. While the head coach was pleased with some of the improvements from one session to the next, he acknowledged that the coming practices will be important.

“We’ve still got a long way to go,” Doba said.

Notes

The kicking game continues to be a concern, as both Romeen Abdollmohammodi and Loren Langley missed their first two field-goal attempts, one from 32 yards, the other from 42. … Doba said he hopes to have defensive end Matt Mullenix back on the field in the next two days in a cast after breaking his hand. Lance Broadus replaced Mullenix on the first-team defense. Also, cornerback Tyron Brackenridge could be back in three or four days from his hamstring issues, Doba said. … Freshman Andy Mattingly of Mead intercepted a Kevin Lopina pass along the sideline and went about 55 yards for a score the other way.