The leftovers: Nuggets, notes and quotes from WSU’s 52-23 win over Oregon State
Time to empty out the notebook. Anything you may have missed from an emphatic Cougar win Saturday afternoon at Martin Stadium.
Starting with the most essential, Oregon State quarterback Jake Luton was discharged from Pullman Regional Hospital Saturday evening and was able to return home. Luton was stretchered off the field after taking a violent hit from Cougars safety Jalen Thompson in the fourth quarter. Luton’s dad reported on Facebook that his son had suffered what probably is a “thoracic spine fracture,” though the Beavers have yet to provide an official injury report. Luton also posted on Twitter Saturday night, “Thank you to everyone for all the kind messages and support. I’ll be back! #GoBeavs”
Washington State improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2005. If the Cougars can beat Nevada this weekend, it’ll be the first 4-0 start since 2001, when they reeled off eight in a row.
Cougars coach Mike Leach evened his record in Pac-12 Conference openers to 3-3. He has a much better record in the third game of the season, though. Leach is 6-0 in the third game at WSU and 12-4 all-time.
The Cougars forced two fumbles for the 18th time under defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. They’re 15-3 when that happens.
The Beavers hadn’t registered a sack in the first three games of the season, but tripled their 2017 tally with three takedowns of Luke Falk at Martin Stadium.
Luke Falk is closing in on a number of Pac-12 passing records this season and Saturday moved ahead of former Cal quarterback Jared Goff for career touchdowns (98). Falk is now fourth on that list and would need 18 more to match Matt Barkeley for the top spot.
Falk is also fifth in the Pac-12 for career passing yards (11,788) and could supplant former OSU QB Sean Mannion for No. 1 with 1,812 more.
Elsewhere in the world of Falk stats, the WSU signal-caller became the first Cougar QB to beat a single team four times and set the school record for most TD passes thrown against one team.
What’s more impressive than that is the fact that since at least 2000, no other FBS quarterback has thrown for more touchdowns against a single team.
In case you didn’t know, Tavares Martin Jr. set a personal record for receiving yards (194) while fellow Belle Glade, Florida, native Isaiah Johnson-Mack hit individual bests in catches (9), receiving yards (79) and touchdown catches (2). Another outside receiver, Dezmon Patmon, had career highs in catches (6) and receiving yards (68).
The Beavers’ Tino Allen was the third Belle Glade-born receiver playing in this game. Allen wears No. 9 like Johnson-Mack, but didn’t play in the game.
WSU has notched three defensive touchdowns in the last two games. The Cougars’ first and third opponents, Montana State and Oregon State, combined to score just three offensive touchdowns against WSU.
Both Mason Vinyard and Garrett McBroom recorded their first career full sacks. Vinyard’s sack, late in the first half, was also the first tackle of his career.
Oregon State running back Ryan Nall ran 15 times for 118 yards and two touchdowns. In two games against the Cougars, Nall has rushed for 249 yards and four touchdowns.
There was quite the disparity between pass plays and run plays for Washington State. The Cougars called 13 designed runs compared to 61 passes.
Two Cougars handled kickoff duties for the third game in a row. Placekicker Erik Powell did it seven times and Jack Crane did it three more times.
Powell is still perfect this season on field goals that haven’t been blocked. The senior had one deflected on Saturday, so he’s officially 4-for-5 on the season.
The Cougars debuted their “anthracite” jerseys in the game.
Saturday’s game was the 102nd meeting between the two teams and the earliest in 28 years. WSU now leads the all-time series 51-47-3.
Jamal Morrow was the game captain for the 25th consecutive time and improved his coin toss record to 19-6.