WSU RECAP
High point of the game
Even after a lackluster first half, WSU appeared to give itself a chance with a nice drive to open the third quarter. Getting a little help from a bizarre double-turnover play, the Cougars’ Jed Collins jumped over the pile on a 1-yard touchdown run that brought the home team within three points of Arizona and made it look like another dominant second half would lead to a third straight WSU win.
Low point of the game
Down 27-17 in the fourth quarter, the Cougars still had a chance when they had Arizona pinned in its own territory and in a third-and-17. A stop would have given WSU’s offense good field position and a chance to make things interesting down the stretch. Arizona, using a game plan more conservative than Pat Robertson, called for a draw play to Chris Henry, and with one cut the Arizona back managed to pick up 19 yards and a first down. The Wildcats ended up killing more than six minutes with the drive, effectively ending the game.
A pat on the back
Chris Jordan turned in an impressive effort in his first game back since injuring his knee again against Baylor in September. Jordan, a senior wide receiver, didn’t expect to play much against Arizona but injuries to Jason Hill and Michael Bumpus forced Jordan into significant playing time. Despite experiencing swelling in that fragile left knee, he caught three passes for 43 yards in one of the few inspired efforts turned in by the Cougars.
Needs fixing
While it’s tempting to call for an attitude adjustment, what the Cougars really need is a running game. Although WSU ran the ball well in the fourth quarter against Oregon and UCLA, in 18 of the last 20 quarters it has left something to be desired. Dwight Tardy seems to be running hard, but he and the rest of the Cougar runners don’t seem to be finding many holes against defenses that are anything short of exhausted. Until that changes, the onus will fall to Alex Brink and the passing game to lead WSU, and that will be dangerous considering the injury situation at wide receiver.
Three unanswered questions
1) What happened to all the momentum that WSU had built up, and can it be recovered?
2) Why has the coaching staff struggled with knowing when to call for trick plays?
3) How will the offense operate if both Jason Hill and Michael Bumpus can’t play this week?
Glenn Kasses