COUGARS PULL OFF UPSET OVER NOLES IN ROUND 1
The disappointment of not making it to the Pac-12 Championship game quickly faded away when WSU found themselves as the #10 seed scheduled for a trip to Tallahassee.
Coach Moore "
I think of alot worse places to have have to play a playoff road game then in Florida in the middle of the winter. Our Fans and our boys already feel like they won before they even took the field.. Have you ever been to Pullman in the winter."
Well WSU showed they could do more then just have a mental victory coming away with a victory in their first ever playoff appearance. The Cougars jumped out to a early (14-0) lead on a pair of touchdown pass's including a 80 yd strike to RB Clint Powell back from his 3 week stint on the IR, Powell once a Heisman Top-5 voter showed the nation he should be a #1 favorite next year.. Powell's return couldn't have come at a better time as WSU loses start RB Brevin Doll just 2 plays into the game after a 21 yd run in the opening series.
FSU would cut the lead in half making it (14-7) midway through the 2nd Quarter as SR RB Ousmane Kromah (94 ovr) scores on a 9 yd touchdown run with 5:31 to play in the half but WSU would extend the lead to (17-7) with 3:55 to play as Adlai Lounsbury connects on a 37 yd FG..
FSU had a chance to cut into the lead just before the half after Owens throws a INT but the Seminoles fail to convert the turnover into points as the 1st half comes to a close.
Both teams would struggle out of the gate in the 2nd half as Lounsbury fails to connect on a 52 yd FG to extend the Cougars lead and with 4:33 to play in the 3rd Quarter, FSU would make it (17-14) as SR QB Khalil Wikins (87) finds SR WR BJ Gibson (83) on a 31 yd touchdown strike.
WSU however answers back scoring on 9 plays in just a minute 21 as Owens finds Maxwell Woods out of the backfield on a 25 yd touchdown pass to make it (24-14) but with 35 seconds to play in the 3rd Quarter FSU makes it a 3 point game as Wilkins finds Osumane Kromah on a 25 yd score to make it (24-21) as we head to the 4th.
Coach Moore knew the Cougars would need a touchdown in the 4th if they had any chance to hold onto the lead and with 6:53 to play in the game Owens delivered his 4th touchdown of the game as he finds Cory Izien on a 29 yd score to extend the lead to (31-21).
FSU would settle for a 22 yd FG with 4:49 to play making it a touchdown difference (31-24).. Washington State known for their face pace high scoring offense would pull a 180 and slow things down as they looked limit the Seminoles comeback chances.
Facing a 4th and 2 with under 2 minutes to play, Coach Moore had a choice let Lounsbury try for a 53 yd FG, Punt or go for it knowing a 1st down would likely seal the victory. Moore went with the later but made a huge call to do it inserting backup QB Calvin Loyd to give the Cougars his scrambling abilities and Loyd delivered with a 9 yd run as WSU continues their drive before settling for a 45 yd FG less then a minute later as WSU takes the 10 point lead with 1:09 to play.
FSU out of timeouts had to throw the ball but on his 3rd attempt Wilkins is picked off by JR LB JOvan Clark as WSU takes over and runs out the clock.
FINAL SCORE WASHINGTON STATE-34 FLORIDA STATE-24
KEY STATS
QB T. Owens-25/35 (71%) 341 yds 4 TD 1 INT
QB C. Loyd-1 carry 9 yds
RB A. Abbott-11 carries 88 yds, 1 rec 8 yds
RB M. Woods-8 carries 41 yds, 4 rec 56 yds 1 TD
RC C. Powell-8 carries 79 yds, 5 rec 122 yds 1 TD
RB B. Doll-1 carry 21 yds
WR C. Pabst-5 rec 47 yds
WR L. Creer-4 rec 61 yds
WR C. Izien-3 rec 40 yds 1 TD
TE J. Finenganofo-2 rec 5 yds
QB K Wilkins-21/35 (60%) 280 yds 2 TD 1 INT, 11 carries 16 yds
RB O. Kromah-22 carries 115 yds 1 TD, 2 rec 39 yds 1 TD
RB J. Wilder-2 rec 25 yds
WR B. Gibson-9 rec 113 yds 1 TD
WR M. Major-4 rec 41 yds
TE C. Loftin-2 rec 34 yds
TE T. Gelsey-2 rec 28 yds
