"Moore to the Story" The Next Chapter in Cougar Football

[Deuce2223]

WEEK 5 AROUND THE NATION RECAP

The Big headlines through the first 5 weeks isn't probably who is in the Top-10 but a team that isn't and another that is quickly working they way up the rankings.


#16 Miami, (Last years's ACC Champion) and Top-4 seed has fallen out of the Top-25 with their 2nd loss of the season as they fall (31-23) to South Carolina. The Hurricanes already with 2 loss's can't afford a 3rd loss if they have hopes of making it back to the playoffs for a chance to play for the Natty.

#15 Boise State won the Pac-12 last year and was 2 points away from advancing in the playoffs as the #11 seed.. Despite losing HC Spencer Danielson to Notre Dame,, BSU is off to a nice 4-0 start as they climb up from #19 to #15 in this week rankings ahead of their Week 5 matchup with Washington State.


Here is a full look at the current Top-25

#1 (4-0) Georgia *Beat #22 Tennessee 45-24 in Week 5 knocking the Vols out of the rankings
#2 (4-0) Oregon
#3 (4-0 Michigan
#4 (3-0) Alabama
#5 (4-0) Ole Miss
#6 (3-0) BYU
#7 (3-0) USC
#8 (3-0) LSU
#9 (4-1) Texas A&M
#10 (2-1) Florida
#11 (5-0) UCLA
#12 (3-0) Oklahoma
#13 (3-1) Nebraska *Was #8 but lost 40-7 to #2 Oregon in Week 5
#14 (2-1) Louisville
#15 (4-0) Boise State
#16 (3-1) Duke
#17 (3-1) Penn State
#18 (2-2) Ohio State
#19 (4-0) UNC
#20 (2-1) North Texas
#21 (3-1) UTAH *Was #9 but lost 33-10 to SMU in Week 5
#22 (2-1) Auburn *Was #15 but lost to TAMU 37-18 in Week 5
#23 (4-0 Clemson *Beat Texas 42-24 in Week 5
#24 (2-1) Texas Tech
#25 (3-2) Pitt

[Deuce2223]

Boise State no longer has HC Spencer Danielson or QB Maddux Madsen but this team is loaded up ready to make a repeat run at both the Pac-12 title and a run at a national title under 1st year HC Shane Beamer.

Despite Danielson's departure, BSU still retained former Ohio State transfer Tavien St. Clair (88) The Redshirt Sophomore has thrown for 971 yds with 5 TD and 2 INT in the Broncos 4-0 start. He also had 185 yds rushing with 2 touchdowns.

BSU still has SR Dylan Riley (89) as RB1.. Riley ran for 1512 yds with 15 TD in 2026 for the Broncos and has carries the ball 73 times for 349 yds and 4 TD this year. Joining Riley is SR Duke Waton (85) a transfer from Louisville,, SR Seth Davis (85) a transfer from Miss State and JR Sire Gaines (89) who scored 13 TD's last season and 8 TD's in 2025 well rushing for a combined 1000 yds the past 2 seasons. Gaines had 13 carries for 84 yds and 3 TD's so far his year.

Well the Broncos RB room is stacked, the WR room has even more playmakers for St Clair to enjoy

JR Kaliq Lockett (91) transfered from Texas and posted 71 rec for 1079 yds and 7 TD last season and is off to a great start with 24 rec for 320 yds and 1 TD this year.

SR Cordale Russell (89) posted 85 rec for 1220 yds and 8 TD last year for Miami OH and this season already has 13 rec for 151 yds and 1 TD in the Broncos first 4 games.

SR Cameron Bates (82) posted a 1000 yd season last year for the Broncos with 62 rec for 1001 yds and 11 TDs well RS SO Gavin Parker poste 66 rec for 1042 yds and 11 TD and is off to a solid start against with 16 rec for 271 yds and 2 TD.


The Washington State Secondary will have it's hands full trying to stop down this group.

[djp73]

try not to make it emotional

[The Hunted]

Good luck against Boise, just read the recruiting part, sucks you missed out on Williams, how is Nelson? I looked at him in my TAMU dynasty, if he is in the portal again (more then likely) i will try get him as Baker is not quote where I need him to be yet.

[redsox907]

Got dang Nelson went off against the puppies

Always tough going up against your own squad

[Deuce2223]

try not to make it emotional

It's always emotional playing on the Blue

[Deuce2223]

Good luck against Boise, just read the recruiting part, sucks you missed out on Williams, how is Nelson? I looked at him in my TAMU dynasty, if he is in the portal again (more then likely) i will try get him as Baker is not quote where I need him to be yet.

Nelson is pretty decent but I think Williams would've been a upgrade for sure. It's funny cause one of the guy's I have enjoyed playing with the most is Tavien St Clair in my original BSU dynasty I got him as well and he led me to 2 Natty's.. Nelson thought led me to 2 Nattys back in CF25 in my Boise thread as well.. So will be interesting to see them square off against each other.

[Deuce2223]

Got dang Nelson went off against the puppies

Always tough going up against your own squad

Yeah.. It's a homecoming for Moore/Miller/Nelson and Ard.. Should make for a fun night.. I am still shocked Coach D left for Notre Dame, but the Broncos are playing well under Beamer.. It's also interesting going up against St. Clair cause he was my QB for 2 seasons in my original thread..

Nelson got some help against the Puppies, but yeah he look great.. That's a big win for us.

[Deuce2223]

WEEK 5 RECAP

Coming off probably their biggest win since coming to Pullman, Coaches Kirby Moore and Matt Miller along with QB Malachi Nelson and RB Greg Ard made their first return trip to "The Blue" as the (3-1) Cougars headed south to take on the #15 ranked (4-0) Boise State Broncos.

Boise State won the toss and elected to kick as Washington State started the game on offense.. Nelson whose career in Boise died before it really ever got started, would play a near perfect opening drive completing 5/6 pass's including a 11 yd touchdown pass to Junior Fineanganofo who hauls in his 2nd touchdown in back to back games. Boise State would answer back late in the 1st Quarter with their first points of the game as Kyle Cunanan connects on a 42 yd FG.

Leading (7-3) Washington State would extend their lead to (14-3) early in the 2nd Quarter as SO RB Antonio Abbott scores on a 2 yd touchdown run Then with 6:34 to play in the half WSU would extend their lead as Adlai Lounsbury connects on a career long 50 yd FG to make it (17-3)

Boise State struggling to get their passing potent passing attack going finally would break free as former Ohio State transfer Tavien St Clair finds Gavin Parker down the sideline for a 19 yd score to cut the lead to (17-10) with 1:05 to play..

Still armed with 3 timeouts, WSU looked to make a final statement in the 1st half as Nelson puts the Cougars into FG range setting up Lounsbury for a 29 yd FG as times expires giving the Cougars the 10 point lead (20-10)

Boise State opened up the 2nd half with the ball but a fumble by Dylan Riley would set up the Cougars inside the red zone and 3 plays later it was Brevin Doll diving in from 3 yds out to extend the Cougars lead to (27-10)

Riley would make up for his earlier fumble with a pair of 20+ runs though and with 4:56 to play in the 3rd, Riley would find the endzone to cut the lead to (27-17.. A turnover on downs would give Boise State the ball back and St Clair and the Broncos would strike as St Clair finds Cordale Russell on a 17 yd scoring strike to cut the lead to (27-24) with 3:07 to play.

Still leading by 3, Washington State would extend their lead back to 10 as Abbott scores his 2nd touchdown with a 10 yd run up and over 3 defenders to make it (34-24) but the combo of St Clair and Riley would march right back down the field as St Clair hits Kaliq Lockett with a 7 yd score making it (34-31) with 6:47 to play.

Washington State looking to slow things down would go to the run game as they looked to limit the Broncos TOP a Malachi Nelson scrambled turned into a 35 yd gain and then 2 1st down runs later it was Leo Pulalsi capping off a 9 play drive that took less then 2 minutes off the clock..

Trailing (41-31) BSU would need 2 scores in the final 5 minutes but the Cougars without recording a sack or a INT would manage to force turnover on downs on back to back series giving WSU the ball back with under a minute to play..

FINAL SCORE WASHINGTON STATE-41 BOISE STATE-31

KEY PLAYERS
QB M. Nelson-30/50 (60%) 334 yds 1 TD 1 INT , 4 carries 43 yds
RB L. Pulalasi-16 carries 82 yds (5.1 avg) 1 TD, 3 rec 48 yds
RB B. Doll-16 carries 57 yds (3.6 avg) 1 TD, 4 rec 27 yds
RB A. Abbott-5 carries 45 yds 2 TD
WR L. Creer-4 rec 38 yds
WR C. Pabst-4 rec 40 yds
WR D. James-4 rec 75 yds
WR L, Wright-2 rec 27 yds
TE M. Williams-8 rec 68 yds
TE J. Finenganofo-1 rec 11 yds 1 TD


QB T. St Clair-21/35 (60%) 220 yds 3 TD, 19 carries 92 yds
RB D. Riley-31 carries 140 yds (4.5 avg) 1 TD 1 Fumble 5 rec 56 yds
WR K. Lockett-6 rec 59yds 1 TD
WR G. Parker-4 rec 44 yds 1 TD
WR C. Russell-2 rec 30 yds 1 TD
TE M. Wagner-2 rec 21 yds

IMPACT FROM THE GAME
-With the loss Boise State drops 9 spots to #24.

-Well BSU lost on the field they did hand WSU a loss off the field as 3* TE/ATH Julius Parms (#506 Overall/#4 WA) signs with the Broncos. Parms was listed at 6'5 233lbs from Vancouver WA.

-UP NEXT
WSU will look to extend it's 4 game win streak as they continue south to take on the (2-2) Utah State in Logan Utah.

The Aggies opened up their season with a 37-10 loss @ Oklahoma before returning home for a 45-3 win over Idaho State (FCS West). They then lost to Cal 41-10 before rebounding for a 34-26 win over Fresno State in Week 5.

[Deuce2223]

WEEK 6 RECAP

Coming off the 2 biggest wins in the Coach Moore era and riding a 4 game win streak the question still remained.. Just how good could WSU really be? Despite a 5 touchdown win the truth is that question still remains to be answered.

Malachi Nelson at times looks like one of the best QB in the country and other times he looks like the 2nd coming of Ryan Leif's NFL career. Nelson today looked like both.

Nelson would throw 3 touchdowns in the first 12 minutes of the half including a 75 yd bomb to Lester Creer as he completes 15/21 (73%) pass's but it was the 6 pass's that he didn't complete that were the problem, as Nelson throws 3 INT's in a span of 4 minutes including a 22 yd "Pick 6" by FR CB Isiah Killebrew that would lead to Coach Moore inserting 4* FR Johnathan Provo for his 2nd game of the season Provo would play well throwing a touchdown on his first series and leading WSU on a 11 play drive that ended with 19 yd touchdown by Leo Pulalasi to extend the Cougars lead to (35-14) at the half.

Provo would open up the 2nd half leading WSU on a 13 play 80 drive that ended with a 1 yd touchdown run by FB Cliff Provo, but then like Nelson the wheels would fall off a Provo ends his day throwing a pair of INT's leading to Coach Moore making another change at QB as he inserts 2026 starter Aljani Sheppard who hasn't been seen since his 2 INT day in the Cougars Week 0 loss to Missouri.

Sheppard looking to try and help give his Defense a breather would play well in his 1st series completing 3 of 3 pass's including a 24 yd touchdown to SO WR Carter Pabst who records his first "Hat trick" of his career hauling in his 3rd touchdown of the game as WSU extends their lead to (49-14) as the 3rd Quarter comes to a close.

Utah State who hadn't scored since the "Pick 6" late in the 2nd Quarter would finally find the endzone to open up the 4th Quarter scoring as backup QB Lyle Winbush(69) throws his first career touchdown to make it (49-21) but Sheppard wasn't done trying to prove he is ready to help the Cougars anyway he can, as Sheppard finds Creer for touchdown #2 as the Cougars close out the final scoring , as Nevada turns the ball over twice including a INT by MLB Gage Jones..

FINAL SCORE WASHINGTON STATE-56 UTAH STATE-21

KEY PLAYERS
QB M. Nelson 15/21 (71%) 248 yds 3 TD 3 INT
QB C. Provo-12/20 (60%) 143 yds 1 TD 2 INT
QB A. Sheppard-7/9 (77%) 75 yds 2 TD
RB G. Ard-15 carries 98 yds 6.5 avg)
RB L. Pulalasi-11 carries 71 yds 1 TD, 4 rec 31 yds
RB B. Doll-12 carries 57 yds , 7 rec 111 yds
RB A. Abbott-9 carries 45 yds, 1 rec 10 yds
FB C. Provo-1 carry 1 yd 1 TD
WR L. Creer-5 rec 122 yds 2 TD
WR C. Pabst-7 rec 65 yds 3 TD
WR D. James-3 rec 39 yds
WR L. Wright-2 rec 26 yds
TE M. Williams-3 rec 34 yds 1 TD
TE J. Fineanganofo-2 rec 28 yds


UP NEXT

(5-1) Washington State will return home to Pullman to host (2-3) San Diego State as they look to extend their win streak to 6 games. This will be just their 2nd home game of the season as Coach Moore finally gets to host some potential recruits for the 2027 class.

The Aztecs started their year off with a 43-38 win over Eastern Michigan but then lost 3 straight (Stanford 37-34) (Oklahoma 50-32) and (Boise State 31-23) before rebounding with 42-41 victory over Cal in Week 6

AROUND THE PAC-12 UPDATE
Boise State rebounded from their loss to the Cougars with a 38-16 win over Fresno State in the Battle for the Milk Jug
Stanford defeated Texas State 38-17
UTSA beat Colorado State 45-42
Oregon State beat Rice 37-6

Stanford and Boise State are now both (5-1) Overall like the Cougars and Stanford is currently tied with WSU with a 4-0 record in Pac-12 play.

TOP-25 UPDATE
#2 Georgia defeated #21 Auburn 42-31 knocking the Tigers out of the Top-25.
#3 Oregon fell 40-34) to #13 USC.. With the loss the Ducks are now #10 well the Trojans jump 2 spots to #11
#12 Louisville lost 52-38 to Rutgers and drops to #24
#18 North Texas fell out of the rankings this week with their 2nd loss of the season as they fall 27-24 to Kansas.
#22 Boston College was undefeated at 5-0 but falls 31-17 to Miami dropping to #25 well the Hurricanes rejoin the Top-25 at #21.

Arkansas State joins the rankings at #22 as they move to 5-0 this week with a win over Air Force
La Tech is also in the Top-25 as they move to 5-0 with a 49-30 win over UAB.