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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Aches pestered Akey


Before his injury Saturday, Washington State University running back DeMaundray Woolridge took on Auburn defender Aairon Savage in the first half. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

AUBURN, Ala. – Robb Akey has not had the easiest of weeks. The Washington State defensive coordinator had to prepare his defense for a hard-nosed physical Auburn offense. If that weren’t hard enough, the Cougars were hit by a pair of injuries to starters on the defensive line in the two weeks before Saturday night’s 40-14 defeat.

The second, to defensive tackle Feveae’i Ahmu, took place on Tuesday and essentially forced Akey and WSU to rewrite much of its defensive game plan.

“I had different rotational things in mind,” Akey said after the game. “It’s been a headache. I haven’t been sleeping a whole lot.”

Short on linemen, the Cougars resorted to a 3-4 look they had practiced recently for much of the second half. Although successful at times, the Cougars gave up a 58-yard touchdown run on the alignment’s first play, the opening snap of the third quarter.

Backup defensive linemen Matt Eichelberger and Mike Graise saw some snaps to help give the starters a breather, but those two alone and the 3-4 defense weren’t enough.

By game’s end, the WSU defense was noticeably fatigued, hands on hips all over the field between plays.

“I think they were gassed pretty good,” Akey said.

Things got especially difficult when Washington State tackle Aaron Johnson came off the field with a hip pointer, but the junior was able to return and play through the pain for the latter portion of the contest.

Injury update

Aside from Johnson and running back DeMaundray Woolridge, a few other Cougars limped off the field.

Cornerback Don Turner suffered wrist and hip flexor injuries, and Akey was unsure how serious they were. Safety Michael Willis has a shoulder injury, and cornerback Markus Dawes apparently has a mild ankle issue.

Both linebacker Steve Dildine and defensive end Mkristo Bruce had nose injuries, and long snapper Tony Thompson sustained a concussion.

Langley selected

WSU ended up going back to kicker Loren Langley after bringing both he and Romeen Abdollmohammadi on the trip.

Doba said Langley was better in warm-ups and the day before, leading the coach to give him the kicking job after much indecision throughout camp.

The junior didn’t attempt a field goal, but he made both extra points and recorded a tackle on his first career kickoff, knocking a returner out of bounds and momentarily knocking himself out on the sidelines, it appeared.

Notes

Akey said he hopes to have Ahmu (foot) back for the Pac-10 opener against Stanford. … Early in the game, backup offensive lineman Kenny Alfred began rotating at guard with Dan Rowlands, who was replacing the injured Andy Roof in the starting lineup. … Auburn has won 43 consecutive games scoring 30 or more points. … True freshman Andy Mattingly of Mead took snaps at linebacker in the fourth quarter. … Head coach Bill Doba said he didn’t have any in-game issues with the new timing rules, and the contest was completed in a tidy 3 hours and 2 minutes. … It comes as little surprise, but Auburn dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 34:02. … Darryl Blunt did well in his first game as WSU’s punter, averaging 42.1 yards on seven kicks. … Doba said Woolridge’s injury didn’t change his game plan much, because by that point the Cougars were focusing on passing to play catch-up, anyway. … Walk-on wide receiver Andy Largent made the trip to Auburn.