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

[redsox907]

Boise reminding ya'll who runs the conference still. Sheppard looked solid outside the INTs that weren't really debilitating. But you know what they say, if you have two QBs you really how none

[Deuce2223]

AROUND THE NATION RECAP

TOP-25
#1 (4-0) Michigan (Just beat #10 Oklahoma)
#2 (4-0) Oregon (Beat BSU 45-37 in Week 1 and is coming off a 59-7 win over Oregon State)
#3 (4-0) Ole Miss. (Already 3-0 in SEC play with including a Week 2 win over Texas)
#4 (4-0) Penn State (They will kickoff Big Ten play this week, so we will see how long they can stay undefeated)
#5 (4-0) Florida (They knocked Clemson out of the Top-25 handing the Tigers their 3rd loss of the season)
#6 (4-0) Louisville (They beat#24 Duke 33-30 but now they have to take on #9 Georgia in Week 6)
#7 (4-0) USC. (They beat #19 LSU in Week 2 31-21)
#8 (4-0) Miami (They beat #22 Notre Dame 36-31 in Week 2)
#9 (3-1) Georgia (They lost to #1 Michigan in Week 1 38-17, and now face #6 Louisville in Week 6)
#10 (5-0) Auburn (They have wins over #23 Baylor and #25 TAMU as well as Texas who is now unranked with 3 loss's)
#11 (5-0) BYU (They are off a a 2-0 start in Big 12 play with wins over #14 TTU and SMU)
#12 (4-0) North Texas (They picked up their first Big 12 win of the season beating #20 Iowa State)
#13 (4-0) Nebraska (They beat #22 Notre Dame 45-21 in Week 3)
#14 (4-1) Texas Tech (They rebounded from their BYU loss by beating previously undefeated Missouri)
#15 (3-1) Ohio State
#16 (3-1) Oklahoma
#17 (4-0) Memphis
#18 (4-1) Missouri (Was ranked #13 but fell after losing to TTU)
#19 (2-2) LSU (Not sure they can survive a 3rd loss)
#20 (4-1) Iowa State
#21 (4-0) Utah
#22 (2-2) Notre Dame
#23 (3-1) Baylor
#24 (3-2) Duke
#25 (4-2) TAMU


PAC-12 NEWS

Both Stanford and Fresno State are off to (5-1) starts that include a perfect 4-0 record in Pac-12 play. Stanford has wins over UTSA, Rice,, San Diego State and Texas State, well Fresno has beaten WSU, Colorado State, Rice and Utah State.

The Bulldogs will face Boise State in Week 6 and also play Stanford in Week 10.

Colorado State and Oregon State are both off to a 0-4 start Overall and Utah State is already 0-3 in Pac-12 play making some question whether or not they should've made the jump

HEISMAN TALK

Texas A&M SR RB Jadarian Price (91 Ovr) leads the votes so far.. Price a transfer from Notre Dame has 127 carries for 639 yds and 15 TD so far this season after rushing for over 1000 yds and 12 TD last year for the Irish.

USC SR QB Jayden Maiava (92 Ovr) had a solid year last year throwing for 3678 yds with 26 TD and 6 INT. So far this year he has thrown for 1214 yds with 14 TD and 1 INT

BSU SR Maddux Madsen (88 Ovr) had a great year last year for the Broncos throwing for 4266 yds with 40 TD and 5 INT.. So far he has thrown for 1203 yds with 12 TD and 0 INT. He also has 231 yds rushing with 3 TD.

Oregon JR QB Dante Moore (92 ovr) also had a great year last year throwing for 3708 yds with 34 TD and 3 INT. So far this year he is on pace for another big year with 1246 yds with 15 TD and 0 INT. He also has rushed for 148 yds and 3 scores.

Nebraska Jr RB Fluff Bothwell had 877 yds and 15 TD last year for Miss State. But so far this year he already has 583 yds and 10 scores for the Cornhuskers.

[Deuce2223]

Boise reminding ya'll who runs the conference still. Sheppard looked solid outside the INTs that weren't really debilitating. But you know what they say, if you have two QBs you really how none

Going into the season I was already counting it as a loss but felt good about the first 3 Quarters and thought maybe just maybe I would pull off the upset.

Right now I don't feel like I have any QB's. I had so many wide open over throws it wasn't even funny. Sheppard's awareness is a 61 thus part of the problem.

[Deuce2223]

WEEK 6 TEAM REPORT

QB PROBLEMS

With SO QB Doug Bayer now on the IR until at least Week 10, the Cougars are forced to ride the wave called Aljani Sheppard... Sheppard has looked great at times with over 1000 yds passing well completing 61% of his pass's but his 9 INT is among the nation's worst but backup Julian Dagger's season has been just as bad if not worse (48% completion with just 2 TD to 6 INT.

Both Sheppard and Dugger have however shown their ability to run and that's something they need to probably do more often as the duo as combines for 21 sacks which ranks worst in the Pac-12.

JUST WHO IS LEO PULALAS??

247 Sports

Pulalasi was one of the best pure football players in the Northwest in the class of 2023. He can play running back, switch out to the slot, step behind center and line up at quarterback in the Wildcat and play linebacker or safety. He's a true swiss-army-knife of sorts, you just see head coach Dave Miller find ways to get the ball in his hands or put him in a position to make stops. He may not have elite top end speed, but when he's in the open field, he's gone, no one is catching him. He's a physical runner, he gets plenty of yard after contact and is a consistent tackle-breaker. And he always seems to do it with a smile on his face- Pulalasi loves football and loves to play it- it's evident.

A 3* Recruit out of Tacoma WA, Pulalasi had offers from alot of schools residing in the new Pac-21 as well as the MWC but family pressured him to head to BYU but after a season in Utah, Pulalasi returned home to play for the Crimson Cougars.

So far Pulalasi has lived up to his billing leading the team in rushing with 98 carries for 455 yds and 4 TD well also showing off his ability as a receiver with 20 rec for 191 yds and 1 TD

FRESHMAN IMPACT
Coach Kirby Moore didn't just sign a Top-20 Recruiting Class at the High school level, he recruited immediate impact players.

4* RB Antonio Abbott (41 carries 161 yds 2 TD) and Cliff Provo (24 carries 107 yds 1 TD) have provided solid depth behind Pulalasi well WR Lester Creer (37 rec 438 yds 6 TD and TE Junior Fineanganofo (24 rec 291 yds) have been huge assets in the passing game.

O-LINE STRUGGLES
With 5 new starters on the O-line you had to figure there would be some struggles as the unit learns to play with each other but so far those struggles have been huge.

JR Tackle Ashton Tripp has allowed a team high 7 sacks through the first 5 games well FR Center Isaia Woolfork has been credited with 4. Even transfers Hal Schmidt (2) and BJ Tolo (3) have struggle, as New Mexico transfer J Tasi has been the only one to not have given one up.

TEAM STATS

Despite their 2-3 record, Coach Moore and Miller have made a huge impact in Pullman as the Cougars lead the nation in Yards per Game (553.) ranking 6th in the nation in rushing yards with 202.6.

RECRUITING NEWS
WSU lost it's first 2 recruits of the season this week as 4* WR Paul Devey (#34 Overall/#1 OR/#7 WR) has announced he is staying home and playing for the Ducks.. Devey had visited Pullman in Week 4 and had narrowed his list down to 3 schools (Oregon/WSU/Washington) . WSU also lost out on 3* RT Ian Nsekhe (#1429 Overall/#14 WA/#101 T) Nsekhe from Gig Harbor WA has signed with Oregon State after visiting Pullman in Week 5.

Well losing out on Nevey is a huge loss, WSU does still have a trio of 4* WR in their Top-5 of their Big Board with several currently listing WSU as their #1 school.

6'2 Calvin Wayne from Portland Oregon is ranked (#96 Overall/#2 OR/#21 WR) and has WSU #1 with Arizona State and USC in his Top-3 but neither school has yet to offer.

6'1 Rayshon Jones is from Couer D Alene Idaho and is ranked (#171 Overall/#1 ID/#35 WR). He has WSU #1 with Utah, USC, Washington and Iowa State in his Top-5.

5'9 Deon Rugamba is from Seattle WA. Ranked #317 Overall/#5 WA/#62 WR) has WSU #1 but has scholarship offers from Cal, Washington and Oregon State. He will visit Pullman in Week 8.

**Interesting note.. WSU has moved into 1st place for the services of 4* QB Johnathan Provo.. Listed at 6'0 192lbs from Jackson Mississippi, Provo (#101 Overall/#2 MS/#11 QB) originally had TCU #1

[djp73]

Bummer about the Bayer injury. Hopefully when he comes back he can provide some stability at the QB position.

Pretty sure awareness is irrelevant if you are controlling the player

[Deuce2223]

Bummer about the Bayer injury. Hopefully when he comes back he can provide some stability at the QB position.

Pretty sure awareness is irrelevant if you are controlling the player

I would like to agree with you but sometimes when I watch just how bad some of Sheppard's throws are it makes me question all logic.

[Deuce2223]

WEEK 7 RECAP

After a disappointing homestand that saw the Cougars go just 1-3 at Martin Stadium, the Cougars took to the road looking for another road win in Cali as they took on the San Diego State Aztecs in Week 7 coming off their "Bye" Week.

The Aztec's came in sporting their own 3 game losing streak that included home loss's to Stanford (49-17) and Cal (45-39) as well as a non-conference loss at UCLA (34-20).

WSU would take the early (7-0) lead after forcing a quick 3 and out by the Aztec's but SDSU would tie the game early in the 2nd Quarter (7-7) as QB Jayden Dengel caps a 82 yd drive with a 9 yd QB keeper. and after holding WSU to a FG would take the lead (14-10) as Dengel (82 Ovr) finds SR WR Kyri Shoels (77 Ovr) for what would be the first of back to back touchdowns sandwiched around a Sheppard INT that gives the Aztecs the (21-10) lead with 2 minutes to play in the half.

Sheppard would rebound from his earlier INT with a 34 yd touchdown pass to Lester Creer to cut the lead to (21-17) going into the locker room. Sheppard and Creer would start up right were they left off in the 2nd half as the Cougars go 80 yds on 11 play including a 13 yd strike from Sheppard to Creer to take the lead (24-21).

San Diego State would manage to tie the game (24-24) late in the 3rd Quarter though as this game came down to the wire. WSU would open up 4th with a 13 play drive that ended with FR RB Antonio Abbott scoring what would be the first of (2) 4th Quarter touchdowns. Trailing (31-24) SDSU was dealt a blow as Dengel is forced from the game leaving JR QB Pierce Clarkson (80 Ovr) to take over.. Clarkson would play well though as he leads SDSU down the field with 5/5 pass's before SO RB Cincere Rhaney caps the drive with a 6 yd touchdown run to tie the game (31-31).

WSU looking to take off as much time as possible runs the ball 10 times on the game winning drive as WSU goes over 200 yds on the the day including Abbott's go ahead touchdown..

SDSU had a chance to tie the game but Clarkson would complete just 2/8 pass's on the final drive as SDSU turns the ball over on downs after going 3/3 on 4th down attempts throughout the game.

FINAL SCORE WASHINGTON STATE-38 SAN DIEGO STATE-31

KEY STATS
QB A. Sheppard-19/28 (67%) 267 yds 2 TD 1 INT, 63 yds rushing
RB L. Pulalasi-19 carries 117 yds 1 TD, 1 rec 12 yds
RB A. Abbott-6 carries 18 yds 2 TD
FB C. Provo-5 carries 17 yds, 1 rec 7 yds
WR L. Creer-3 rec 72 yds 2 TD
WR D. Faupel-6 rec 63 yds
WR B. Ganashamoorthy-4 rec 60 yds
TE J. Fineanganofo-4 rec 53 yds

OFFENSE OUTLOOK

With 215 yds on 43 carries, the Cougars finished the game with a 5.0 avg proving that Moore and Miller might need to adjust their offensive game plan moving forward. But then when you look at the fact that the Passing game and Sheppard also produced 9.5 yds per pass, it shows that maybe it's just the fact that the Offense was balanced and the fact Sheppard manage to escape with just 1 INT and 1 Sack on the day.

A injury to SR WR Tobias Merriweather opened up the door for WR Branden Ganashamoorthy to make a appearance.. The 6'3 Junior from Monroe WA played well finishing with 4 rec for 60 yds proving that maybe there is more depth to the WR room then Moore and Miller thought.

DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK

The Defense continues to make just enough plays to keep the team in the game and give the Cougars a chance for the win. Well we havn't had a turnover (INT/Fumble) since Week 2. After getting crushed by Boise State allowing over 250 yds on the ground it was nice to hold SDSU to just 60 yds on 37 carries (1.6 avg).

SPECIAL TEAMS

Reserve RB Maxwell Wood saw the bulk of the kicks coming his way today as the Aztecs looked to keep the ball out of Lester Creer's hands, and he responded with 3 returns for 96 yds (32 avg).

[djp73]

that's a nice road win

[redsox907]

Pretty sure awareness is irrelevant if you are controlling the player

Awareness as a user will still affect consistency on throws and lower awareness players go ice cold faster. Higher awareness will keep them from starting cold in road games and they'll be able to shake off interceptions faster and not go cold.

nice win. typing out Ganashamoorthy every update if he keeps contributing. Nickname similar to GNK incoming

[ShireNiner]

Number one offense in the country with ypg, that sounds like a classic Cougars offense. Just need to get the defense to step up more and wins will be coming.