Recap and highlights: No. 20 Washington State has its way on offense during 49-28 rout of Utah State
PULLMAN — At the front of the pack on the sideline, Jake Dickert pumped his fist and repeated himself several times.
Let’s go. Let’s go. Let’s go.
The rain was on its way to Gesa Field, the site of No. 20 Washington State’s 49-28 win over Utah State on Saturday night, but Dickert wasn’t fazed. Neither was his quarterback, John Mateer, who had just surged in for his third of five total touchdowns on the night. By the end of the game, the rain was pouring, but so were the points for the Cougars, who have now won four straight.
It added up to a blowout win for WSU, which enjoyed one of its best rushing outings of the season with 287 yards on the ground, using a string of 28 unanswered points to pull away for good and earn their eighth win of the season. On an 18-for-24 effort, Mateer posted one touchdown on the ground and four through the air, and true freshman running back Wayshawn Parker registered 149 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
The Cougars’ defense also produced a pair of takeaways, an interception by nickelback Kapena Gushiken and a forced fumble and recovery by linebacker Buddah Al-Uqdah, who now has five takeaways this season. Gushiken’s pick came late in the second quarter, and Al-Uqdah’s fumble recovery happened early in the third, but WSU’s offense couldn’t turn either into points.
Fortunately for the Cougs (8-1), they had little trouble on offense otherwise. In his first 100-plus yard rushing game of his young career, Parker broke free for a 75-yard touchdown rush on the first play of the third quarter, marking the longest WSU rushing touchdown since 2006. Mateer also found senior receiver Kyle Williams for three touchdowns: A 17-yard connection in the first quarter, a 14-yard hookup in the second and a 5-yarder in the third, when Mateer rolled out and lasered one to Williams in the back corner of the end zone, torching a Utah State defense that ranks among the worst in the country.
The Aggies tied the game on its opening series, knotting things at 7-7, and they scored later on a QB keeper, a touchdown pass from Spencer Petras to Kyrese White and finally a 72-yard touchdown rush by Derrick Jamison in the final seconds.
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In between, the hosts flirted with danger a couple times, but they came away largely unscathed. In the final moments of the third quarter, Mateer lost a fumble deep in USU territory, and the ball bounced all the way to the end zone, where an Aggie batted it out of the back — a penalty, ensuring the ball stayed with WSU. In the aftermath, Utah State head coach Nate Dreiling drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Several other oddities unfolded during this affair. In the second quarter, Utah State kept a drive alive on a fake punt pass by drawing a pass-interference penalty, and according to the rulebook, that penalty isn’t supposed to be called on fake punts because the defense is jamming the outside receivers, expecting a punt.
Earlier in the game, after Parker punched in a short rushing touchdown, WSU kicker Dean Janikowski appeared to pull off a successful onside kick, which was the ruling on the field. But upon a Utah State challenge, officials ruled that WSU running back Djouvensky Schlenbaker had engaged in a block before the kick went 10 yards, and possession went to USU.
All told, WSU is kicking off the final four games of the regular season on the right note. The Cougars now face three more games: At New Mexico on Nov. 16, at Oregon State on Nov. 23 and at home against Wyoming on Nov. 30. Then they’re off to a bowl game, and though the odds may be long, the Cougs do have a small chance at making the 12-team College Football Playoff.
How realistic is that scenario? WSU is ranked No. 21 in the first round of CFP rankings, putting the group nine spots out of the playoff. But on Saturday, several teams ahead of the Cougars dropped games, including No. 15 LSU, No. 17 Iowa State and No. 18 Pittsburgh. It may not matter much in the end — but either way, lots of good things happened for WSU this weekend.
First quarter
15:00 – WSU 0, USU 0: The Cougars won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Aggies will start with the ball.
13:37 – WSU 0, USU 0: Aggies throw two straight incompletions and are forced to punt. The Cougars start their first drive at their own 35.
10:24 – WSU 7, USU 0: On the first play the CW broadcast picks up, Mateer completes a 17-yard touchdown to Williams on fourth down.
Mateer starts 3 of 5 for 33 yards as the Cougars drive 65 yards for the score. Parker added three carries for 25 yards.
5:01 – WSU 7, USU 7: The Aggies go on an impressive drive, capped by a 3-yard touchdown from Petras to Hestera.
USU marches 75 yards in 11 plays to tie the score. Petras is 8 of 10 for 64 yards.
Second quarter
14:57 – WSU 14, USU 7: Doesn’t look like much defense will be played tonight. Parker scores a 1-yard touchdown run to cap an 85-yard drive.
Aggies nearly had a pick-six on a throw to the sideline earlier in the drive, but it was just past the hands of the defender for a first down completion.
Cougars already have 150 total yards, averaging 7.1 a play.
14:55 – WSU 14, USU 7: Cougars recover a surprise onside kick, but Utah State challenges the play and it is reversed due to a WSU player blocking before the ball went 10 yards. WSU opts for a standard kickoff after the penalty.
12:43 – WSU 14, USU 7: Aggies drive stalls and they punt to the WSU 25.
7:17 – WSU 21, USU 7: The Aggies can’t do anything to slow the Cougars.
Mateer hits Williams on a 14-yard touchdown, his second of the game. WSU now with 225 total yards, 127 passing and 98 rushing.
6:01 – WSU 21, USU 7: Another empty drive for the Aggies, who had a big play open, but failed to complete it on third down.
4:53 – WSU 21, USU 7: Haberer comes in to punt for the first time this season, the Cougars first of the game. His kick takes a bad bounce and goes out of bounds at the USU 35.
2:00 – WSU 21, USU 7: Aggies had their drive saved by a pass interference penalty on a fake punt. USU faces 3rd-and-5 from the WSU 31 on the other side of the 2-minute timeout.
1:46 – WSU 21, USU 7: Costly decision by USU’s Petras, who throws an interception to Gushiken in the red zone. Cougars start at their own 13.
1:05 – WSU 21, USU 7: Cougars can’t get a first down so the Aggies get the ball back on their 30 with no timeouts remaining.
Halftime
Washington State’s offense scored long touchdown drives on its first three possessions to lead Utah State 21-7 at halftime.
John Mateer threw two touchdowns to Kyle Williams for 17 and 14 yards. Mateer completed 13 of 18 attempts for 141 yards, while Williams had three receptions for 38 yards.
Wayshawn Parker added eight carries for 45 yards and a touchdown.
The Cougars will receive the second half kickoff.
Third quarter
14:48 – WSU 28, USU 7: Parker runs right up the middle for a 75-yard touchdown on the first play of the half.
Aggies rank second-worst in the country in scoring defense and are showing why in Pullman.
13:28 – WSU 28, USU 7: Aggies RB Turner tries to run on 4th-and-one and after replay review, had the ball stripped by WSU’s Al-Uqdah at the Aggies 34, where the Cougars will take over.
10:48 – WSU 28, USU 7: Cougars can’t capitalize on the good field position. Mateer is sacked on third down and Janikowski hooks the 40-yard field goal attempt.
9:26 – WSU 28, USU 7: Aggies had a big pass called back due to holding and are forced to punt again. WSU starts at its 35.
5:52 – WSU 35, USU 7: Cougars stopped twice at the goal line, before Mateer breaks through for a 1-yard touchdown.
The rout is on for the Cougars, who have 374 total yards. Parker leading the way with 11 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
2:02 – WSU 35, USU 14: Barnes scores a 2-yard touchdown run to snap a long scoreless drought for the Aggies. Still a lot of ground to make up and USU has only held WSU out of the end zone once on three possessions this half.
0:00 – WSU 35, USU 14: Cougars catch a break before the fourth quarter, as Mateer fumbles and the ball bounces 20 yards into the end zone, where a USU player bats it out of the back of the end zone instead of jumping on it for a touchback.
That’s a penalty that sets the Cougars up with a red zone opportunity instead of a turnover.
Fourth quarter
14:49 – WSU 42, USU 14: Mateer completes a 5-yard touchdown to Williams – their third of the game – to pretty much put this one away. Cougars have piled-up 422 total yards on the Aggies, who just surrendered their season average for points allowed.
8:39 – WSU 42, USU 21: Aggies back on the board with a 12-yard touchdown from Petras to White. USU should line up for an onside kick.
1:05 – WSU 49, USU 21: Little bit of style points for the Cougars as Mateer completes a 3-yard touchdown to Mathers.
Mateer will finish 18 of 24 for 179 yards and four touchdowns, adding 12 carries for 38 yards and another score.
Pregame
Washington State still holds hope of qualifying for the college football playoff.
Coming off a bye week, and coming in at No. 21 in the initial CFP rankings, the Cougars (7-1) host Utah State (2-6) tonight at 7:30 p.m. The game will air on KSKN (CW Network).
WSU is a 20-point favorite and is expected to be favored in its final four games. The Cougars escaped with a come-from-behind win over San Diego State in their last action.
The Aggies, also coming off a bye, snapped a five-game losing streak with a narrow win over Wyoming on Oct. 26.
Series history
Washington State and Utah State have a 2-2 all-time series record, with the Aggies winning the only recent meeting 26-23 in 2021. In that game the Cougars, led by Nick Rolovich before he was fired mid-season, surrendered a 12-point fourth-quarter lead.
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