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

Cougs pass final rehearsal before season opener


Alex Brink claims WSU is one week away from being ready. Associated Press
 (File Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

PULLMAN – The rehearsal went off without a hitch. Now it’s time to play the game.

At least it will be in about a week. Which is fine with Washington State University quarterback Alex Brink.

“I think we are a week away from being prepared,” he said following yesterday’s “thud” scrimmage in which the Cougars got there timing down for Saturday’s opener at Wisconsin. “These next six, seven days are going to be real important for us. I feel good where we at. We’ve made a lot of progress in the last couple weeks on both sides of the ball really.

“As soon as we get a couple guys back and we are 100 percent healthy, we’re going to be right where we need to be.”

A “thud” scrimmage is basically the defense playing one-hand touch on the ballcarrier, with the idea being to execute on both sides of the ball, not to hit. The officiating crew called the Cougars for one penalty over the course of the hour the ones and twos squared off.

The day finished with the deep reserves, few of whom will travel, playing a true scrimmage, the culmination of which was 6-foot-2, 228-pound defensive lineman Bob Hilgert scooping a fumble and running some 50 yards until he was caught.

Other highlights included:

“Jed Collins twisting around and grabbing with one hand a Brink pass that was well behind him, pulling it in before he hit the ground.

“Romeen Abdollmohammadi nailing a 47-yard field goal into a stiff breeze, although he hit the left upright from 26 yards out during a hurry-up drill.

“B.T. Walker catching up with and stripping Benny Ward on what looked to be a sure touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Brink.

“Starting tailback Dwight Tardy returning two days after a root canal to carry the ball for a few plays. Reserve Chris Ivory, who is still feeling the effects of a leg injury, sat out the scrimmage.

“Freshman Jeshua Anderson getting behind corner Walker for a 30-yard touchdown pass from Cole Morgan to end the main part of the scrimmage.

Besides Ivory, receiver Brandon Gibson, cornerback Chima Nwachukwu and defensive tackle A’i Ahmu sat out the scrimmage. Safety Alfonso Jackson returned from a concussion, albeit in a yellow no-contact jersey. Linebacker Jason Stripling played while waiting to hear from the NCAA on his appeal of his academic probation. The decision is scheduled to come down by Thursday.