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.
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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.
