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

[djp73]

Should be able to split those last two at worst, 9 wins is pretty good

[ShireNiner]

This looks like the Wash State teams I was used to seeing in the PAC. But can the defense step up enough against the good teams when the offense is held to 35 point? That was always Leaches problem.

[Deuce2223]

Ward, I think you were a little hard on the Beaver

curious who all is still there in 2026 for Oregon State. My coaching chise is starting as the DC at Oregon State, they had some solid guys across the board

Sadly the CPU doesn't really like the Beavers as they seem to struggle no matter what school I am at.. Their current QB is a transfer from Toledo and their starting RB is a multiple school transfer who started at Washington They go a couple Defensive guy's in the 80's but out of their Top-15 players 12 are Seniors and most of them are Offensive guy's.

[Deuce2223]

Should be able to split those last two at worst, 9 wins is pretty good

Well I am hoping your right cause I just played the Stanford game.

[Deuce2223]

This looks like the Wash State teams I was used to seeing in the PAC. But can the defense step up enough against the good teams when the offense is held to 35 point? That was always Leaches problem.

We are making progress, but still got a little ways to go.. I feel like a true rebuild takes 4-5 years. It's hard to fix a team by Year 2.. I had some decent players on Defense to start so I focused on getting talent on the Offensive side of the ball. Last year I only had 9 Seniors and I cap my transfer portal to 8 players per team so I got lucky and only lost 5, so 14 players total. This year I have 14 Seniors and probably will lose 4-5 players to the portal again.
Right now though the roster has 17 Juniors and 10 of those are on Defense and 8 of the 10 are starters, so I am trying to start preparing for a whole new Defense in 2028.

[Deuce2223]

WEEK 11 RECAP

3


Stanford copies Aztecs game plan as they snap Washington State's 3 game winning streak holding the #1 Offense in the nation to just 24 points the same total WSU scored in their Week 7 loss to SDSU.

Tied 0-0 at the end of the 1st Quarter, Stanford would take a (17-0) lead the 2nd half and into the locker room turning 2 Washington State Cougar turnovers into points as Malachi Nelson throws his first INT since Week 7. Leading (7-0) Nelson led the Cougars into the redzone looking to tie the game midway through the 2nd Quarter but instead SR CB Brandon Nicholson (87) picked off the intended pass leading to another Cardinal touchdown to make it (14-0).. Then with under 2 minutes to play JR RB Brevin Doll would cough up the ball in the backfield as SR DT Dante Drake comes up with the loose ball setting up a Stanford FG just before the half.

Stanford opened up the 2nd half with the ball and JR QB Elijah Brown (90) wasted no time adding to the scoreboard as he drives the Cardinals down the field in 5 players including a 27 yd stike to SO WR Johnny Hall (82) to give the Cardinals the (24-0) lead.

WSU would battle back as Nelson finds Dazmin James on a 45 yd bomb to make it (24-7) Then after forcing a punt, WSU would close the gap with 45 yd FG to make it (24-10) going into the 4th Quarter.

Nelson and James would hookup for touchdown #2 early in the 4th to make it (24-17) and with 3:29 to play on the clock WSU would continue their comeback as Nelson finds WR Landon Wright for his 3rd straight game with a touchdown as the Sophomore hauls in 24 yd strike to cut the lead down to tie the game (24-24). Armed with all 3 timeouts Coach Moore would elect to kickoff and hope for a quick stop, but the Cardinals who struggled most of the 2nd half moving the ball all of a sudden couldn't be stopped as Stanford plays the drive to almost perfection as they wipe off 3 minutes of the clock before settling for a 28 yd FG to take the lead and eventually win the game.

FINAL SCORE STANFORD-27 WASHINGTON STATE-24

KEY COUG'S
QB M Nelson-36/53 (49%) 324 yds 3 TD 1 INT, 17 yds rushing
RB L. Pulalasi-14 carries 63 yds , 2 rec 13 yds
RB B. Doll-4 carries 7 yds 1 Fumble, 2 rec 9 yds
WR D. James-6 rec 125 yds 2 TD
WR L. Creer-6 rec 86 yds
WR C. Pabst-4 rec 26 yds
WR L. Wright-2 rec 38 yds 1 TD
TE M. Wlliams-3 rec 29 yds

[Deuce2223]

WEEK 12 TEAM REPORT

NELSON FOR HEISMAN

Despite the Cougars Week 11 loss to Stanford, Malachi Nelson's breakout season hasn't gone unnoticed by Heisman voters,, as Nelson has quietly joined the Heisman discussion earning a spot at #3 in the latest poll's.

Nelson has completed 332/538 attempts this season (6%) throwing for 3968 yds with 36 TD and 13 INT. Nelson has also shown his ability to make plays with his feet as he now has 61 carries for 378 yds (6.2 avg) and is tie for 2nd on the team with 5 TD's.

CREER GOES OVER 1000 AGAIN

Former 4* WR Lester Creer had a breakout season last year as a True Freshman recording 98 rec for 1195 yds and a school record 17 TD's. Now just a year later he is building on those #'s in just 11 games, Creer already has 90 receptions for 1248 yds and 11 TD's leading the team in all 3 catagories.


DOLL MAKING A IMPACT

Former Iowa and Iowa State transfer Brevin Doll is showing the ability to make a impact every time he touches the ball.. Doll currently has 114 carries for 492 yds (4.3 avg) and 5 TD's on the ground, he has 66 rec for 672 yds and 5 TD's out of the backfield as a receiver and he also has 24 KR for 508 yds (21.2 avg) giving him over 1500 combined yards on the season.

COUGARS LAND (2) 4* WR

HC Kirby Moore and OC Matt Miller have shown their ability to land some of the Top-WR's in the country, signing Creer their first season on campus and then adding Deon Rugamba and Calvin Wayne last season (both redshirting).

Already with a 4* QB signed for the 2027 class, Moore and Miller now added another deadly duo of pass catchers to their WR room for 2028 and beyond as WSU signed 4* Osacar Paul (#44 Overall/#3 FL/#9 WR) and 4* Glenn Cronk (#61 Overall/#2 NJ/#11 WR).

Well both players are listed at 6'3, they bring a somewhat different skill set as Paul is a speedster who prefers to make his plays on the outside well Cronk is more of a slot guy.

Miller

"I think that both players compliment each other well and I think they fill what we are losing with the graduation of 6'2 Dazmin James and 6'2 Branden Ganashmoorthy."

With an expected 25 scholarships available and only 3 players signed so far going into Week 13, Moore/Miller and the rest of the staff should have a very busy off-season as they look to fill the team's needs both for the 2028 season and beyond.

PAC-12 TITLE HOPES

Despite their Week 11 loss to Stanford the Cougars still have a solid shot at a rematch in the Pac-12 title game.. WSU will go into Week 13 tied with Boise State for 2nd place in the Pac-12 with a 6-2 record, but hold the tie breaker this season having beat the Broncos in a head to head battle. If WSU can beat Texas State next week they are in.

Stanford did lose their Week 12 matchup against Cal dropping them to 8-1 in Pac-12 play but they are a lock to make the Championship as they finish off the season with a non-conference matchup against Notre Dame.


PROJECTED BOWL

WSU currently is projected to play in the Holiday Bowl, with Stanford going to the Alamo Bowl, and Boise State going to the Las Vegas Bowl and UTSA going to the Sun Bowl well Colorado State goes to the Pop-Tarts Bowl.. That however could very well all change depending on what teams might pick up a win in Week 13 and become Bowl eligible.

[Deuce2223]

WEEK 12 RECAP

With just 1 week to play we still have 4 undefeated team's left in the country and all 4 currently reside in the Top-12 with projections of a playoff spot.

With their (27-20) win over #10 Florida in Week 12, (11-0) Alabama holds the #1 spot going into their Iron Bowl matchup with Auburn.

(11-0) Michigan goes into Week 13 at #3 after dropping 1 spot in the rankings from #2. but the Wolverines are not worried about their spot in the rankings they are worried about their trip to Columbus in Week 13 as they take on the Buckeyes.

(11-0) BYU will look to do the impossible finishing back to back seasons with a perfect 12-0 record. The Cougars ranked #5 after a (56-35) win over Arizona State will close out their season @ Utah in Week 13

(11-0) Arkansas State has quietly taken over the Mountain West Conference. The Red Wolves currently ranked #11 will take on New Mexico in Week 13.

Here is a look at the complete Top-25 Rankings

#1 (11-0) Alabama (knocked Florida out of the rankings and will face Auburn)
#2 (10-1) Oregon (Just beat #9 Notre Dame 28-24, and will now face #7 Penn State)
#3 (11-0) Michigan (Just beat Northwestern 35-23 and now will play @ Ohio State)
#4 (10-1) Georgia (Just beat South Carolina 41-37, and will finish @ Georgia Tech)
#5 (11-0) BYU (Beat ASU will play @ Utah in Week 13)
#6 (9-2) Miami (Beat FSU 17-13), will play @ UCF in Week 13)
#7 (9-2) Penn State (beat Indiana 29-27, and now will play @ #2 Oregon
#8 (9-2) LSU (moved up 3 spots after beating Ole Miss 51-26, will face Tulane in Week 13)
#9 (9-2) Boston College (moved up from #16 after beating #7 UNC 38-35, will play @ #20 Duke in Week 13)
#10 (9-2) UNC (will look to rebound from their BC loss @ NC State in Week 13)
#11 (11-0) Arkansas State (will need to win out to claim a playoff spot)
#12 (8-3) Notre Dame (dropped 3 spots after their loss to the Ducks, will play @ #21 Stanford in Week 13)
#13 (10-1) Houston (moved up 4 spots with a win over Oklahoma State.. They will play @ North Texas in Week 13)
#14 (8-3) Texas A&M. They will close out their year hosting Oklahoma)
#15 (8-3) Nebraska (jumped 5 spots after a 56-20 win over Illinois. Will host Iowa in Week 13)
#16 (9-2) Boise State (jumped 3 spots after their 42-24 win over UTSA.. They will play @ Rice in Week 13)
#17 (9-2) Kentucky (jumped 4 spots after their 38-22 win over UCF. They will play @ Louisville in Week 13)
#18 (9-2) Colorado (jumped 4 spots after their 26-21 win over Iowa State. They will play @ Kansas State in Week 13)
#19 (8-3) Maryland (jumped 4 spots after their 30-24 win over NC State. They will play @ Rutgers in Week 13)
#20 (8-3) Duke. (moved into the rankings this week with a 30-21 win over Rutgers, They can ruin BC season's win a win)
#21 (9-2) Stanford (lost to Cal in Week 12 28-21 and now finish against #12 Notre Dame in Week 13)
#22 (8-3) Clemson (played a FCS team in Week 12 winning 63-3, but play @ South Carolina in Week 13)
#23 8-3) Ole Miss (was #14 before their loss to LSU. They will play @ Miss State in Week 13)
#24 (8-3) Washington State (back in the Top-25 after the Bye Week. They will host Texas State in Week 13)
#25 (10-1) ECU.. (unranked but beat Marshall 27-24 in Week 12. They finish off @ Middle Tennessee

[redsox907]

Texas State should be light work to earn the CCG spot

[Deuce2223]

WEEK 13 RECAP

Senior Day has arrived as WSU says goodbye to 14 Seniors including 12 starters.

QB Malachi Nelson
2027-3968 yds 36 TD 13 INT 17 Sacks, 61 carries 378 yds 5 TD

RB Leo Pulalasi
2027-157 carries 814 yds 6 TD 19 rec 168 yds
Career-361 carries 1716 yds 17 TD, 53 rec 456 yds 2 TD

TE Mason Williams
2027-49 rec 481 yds 4 TD

WR Dazmin James
2027- 53 rec 835 yds 7 TD

WR Branden Ganashamoorthy
28 games 4 rec 60 yds

OT Jaylin Cadwell
11 games played

OG BJ Tole
18 games started for WSU

OT Ashton Tripp
23 games started for WSU

OT Nikola Milovac
2027- 11 games started.

LB Dallas Pritchard
37 games started 151 Tackles, 10 TFL 6 Sacks 1 INT

DT Bryce Butler
2027-11 games started 31 Tackles 11 TFL 5.5 sacks

DT Kaden Beatty
27 games started 55 Tackles, 14 TFL 6 Sacks

CB Sharif Denson
2027-8 games started 55 Tackles 1 INT

P Ryan Harris
37 games played 157 punts, 6818 yds (43.4 avg),, 37.0 Net

GAME RECAP

Sticking with tradition both WR Branden Ganashamoorthy and OT Jaylin Caldwell would get the start and B.G. would come up huge as he steps in for Carter Pabst.

B.G. opened up the game scoring the first touchdown as he hauls in a 8 yd pass from Nelson to give the Cougars the early (7-0) lead but Nelson and B.G. were not done.. Leading (24-7) after the end of the 1st Quarter, the duo would hookup for touchdown #2 as B.G. hauls in a 54 yd pass and catch score as WSU extends the lead to (31-7) with 3 minutes to play in the half. A late punt by the Bobcats would set up a 41 yd FG by Adlai Lousnsbury as WSU extends their lead to (34-7) going into the half.

Despite the lead WSU would continue to throw the ball in the 2nd half and Ganhashamoorthy continued to dazzle leaving many to wonder just why he hadn't received more PT during his career in Pullman. B..G would finish the game with a team high 11 rec for 163 yds on 18 targets earning Pac-12 Player of the Week honors.. Nelson looking to make a final push in his Heisman voting over extended himself early in the 4th Quarter with a pair of INT's leading to a TSU touchdown making it (41-21) midway through the 4th Quarter leading to his exit as backup Ajani Sheppard took over for the final 2 drives of the game..

Sheppard rumored to potentially also be playing his last game in Pullman would play well leading the Cougars to a pair of scores including a 14 yd touchdown pass to SO TE Junior Fineanganofo in the final 30 seconds as WSU secures their spot in the Pac-12 title game and a rematch with Stanford.

FINAL SCORE WASHINGTON STATE-55 TEXAS STATE-21

KEY COUGARS
QB M. Nelson-40/65 (61%) 451 yds 2 TD 2 INT sacked 4 times
QB A. Sheppard-2/2 (100%) 27 yds 1 TD, 1 carry 10 yds
RB L. Pulalasi-21 carries 77 yds 2 TD, 1 rec 11 yds
RB B. Doll-11 carries 72 yds , 5 rec 41 yds
RB A. Abbott-5 carries 6 yds 2 TD
FB .C. Provo-3 carries 19 yds
WR B. Ganashamoorthy-11 rec 163 yds 2 TD
WR L. Creer-10 rec 101 yds
WR D. James-7 rec 67 yds
TE M. Wlliams-5 rec 64 yds
TE J. Fineanganofo-3 rec 31 yds 1 TD