WSU recap
High point of the game
The Cougars were overmatched at Auburn, but for one offensive possession that wasn’t the case. Gary Rogers came in off the bench and took WSU 90 yards in six plays, hitting five passes in a row including a 50-yarder to Cody Boyd for the score.
Low point of the game
Just when the Cougars were gaining a little momentum for the first time all night after the Boyd touchdown, Auburn successfully converted a 4th-and-14 from its own 16 on a fake punt that went for 42 yards. WSU had little chance of victory thereafter.
A pat on the back
Defensive tackle Aaron Johnson had to leave the game with a hip pointer sustained on Kenny Irons’ 58-yard touchdown run, but the junior lineman returned for the Cougars and made some nice plays despite the pain and obvious fatigue.
Needs fixing
As hard as the players on the defensive line played against Auburn, it still wasn’t enough in the face of a consistent running attack. The Tigers ran just 63 plays, and when some Pac-10 teams go closer to 90 or even 100 offensive plays, WSU will have to figure something out. Going to a 3-4 was a worthy test, and the Cougars may need to get even more creative if possible.
Three unanswered questions
“Where was the veteran savvy Alex Brink was supposed to show Saturday night, and will he rebound in the coming weeks?
“Is there anything else WSU can try on the defensive line to keep its players fresh in the fourth quarter?
“Auburn was effective on offense but not overwhelming. What happens when the Cougars face a team that runs and throws the ball with precision, as will be the case in league play?
Glenn Kasses