Nov. 30—PULLMAN — In a season in which so much had gone wrong for the Washington State football team, almost everything went right in the Cougars' season finale Saturday at Gesa Field.
The stout Cougar defense contained its lone Pac-12 rival to one touchdown, the offense left its second-half sorrows in the past with 13 post-intermission points and WSU beat the Beavers 32-8 to secure its sixth victory and bowl game eligibility.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Cougars (6-6) honored 25 seniors, including five who spent five years at WSU and a slew of guys who followed Rogers and company from South Dakota State to Pullman.
"Proud of this group of seniors for the way they've really fought the whole season and kept the team connected," WSU coach Jimmy Rogers said. "A lot of things went right tonight."
A defensive exclamation point
With the Washington State defense pitching a shutout midway through the third quarter versus the Beavers (2-10), The CW Network cameras captured a rare sight.
A smiling Rogers.
When Washington State's overwhelming pass rush, in this moment headlined by seniors Darrion Dalton and Parker McKenna, brought Oregon State freshman quarterback Tristan Ti'a to the ground, Rogers, typically stoic, was beaming at the prospect of his defense disrupting an Oregon State drive that had reached midfield.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn his ear was likely a pumped-up WSU defensive coordinator, Jesse Bobbit and company.
"I was just excited that the defensive staff gets fired up," Rogers said. "It's a joy to listen to them find excitement."
He had a lot to smile about in WSU's regular-season finale.
WSU senior linebacker Caleb Francl forced a fumble on Oregon State's opening drive, which McKenna recovered.
Then, Francl secured a turnover solo, jumping a pass from Ti'a for his second interception in as many weeks. The pick was Ti'a's first collegiate interception in his first career start.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWSU cornerback Colby Humphrey flashed his juggling skills when he batted a rogue ball from Ti'a once, twice, thrice and four times before finally securing the interception.
The Cougars totaled six sacks and seven players registered at least half a sack. Junior defensive end Isaac "Bobby" Terrell accounted for six total tackles and 1.5 sacks.
A school record for Freeman
The announcement was uttered over the Gesa Field PA system six times or so.
No. 0 Tony Freeman donned a No. 39 jersey for each of his six punt returns.
Freeman made the switch because WSU redshirt freshman linebacker Anthony Palano, who also wears No. 0, was on the Cougars' coverage unit.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFreeman, a wide receiver who racked up a team-high 84 receiving yards on seven catches Saturday, made his biggest impact in the punt return game, totaling a single-game WSU record with 169 yards on six returns.
The junior speedster recorded a long of 59 yards and had a 43-yard return early in the second quarter, which set up Kirby Vorhees' rushing touchdown that made it 13-0.
Freeman said he had worn No. 37 in practice, but found that he could not change into it as fast, so he made the switch to a bigger jersey — a detail which proved to be pretty important.
"Countless times, literally every third down. 'T free, T free, you gotta put on 39,'" Freeman said of switching numbers for punt returns. "I'm like, 'Here we go again.' But it was honestly just a blessing. We gotta wear 39 a little bit more if I'm starting to do that in that."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA chippy rivalry
Former WSU coach Jake Dickert once said that the WSU and OSU football teams were not buddies.
One year and a coaching change later, both the Cougars and the Beavers seem to have taken that sentiment to heart. The two teams chirped all game long.
WSU senior safety Tucker Large, ever the impressive trash talker, was ejected after officials charged him with two unsportsmanlike penalties. Large accounted for two pass breakups before leaving the game in the fourth quarter.
Washington State quarterback Eckhaus said that the Beavers had some choice words for the Cougs during their last encounter.
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"It was all talk, because you see the scoreboard. I guess that makes us the Pac-2 champs, or Pac-12 champs," said Eckhaus, who passed for nearly 200 yards, ran for 63 and accounted for a passing and a rushing touchdown. "One of their players said, 'This isn't a rivalry game.' ... Well, we just won, so I guess this is a rivalry game."
One more game
The Cougars are bowl-bound and that means an awful lot to Rogers and everyone involved in the WSU football program.
"To be bowl eligible is huge for us, because the players can keep faith in what we are building," Rogers said. "We lost four games at the point differential of 12 points and that's what stings."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Cougars will continue to practice this week before receiving news of their bowl assignment next weekend.
This is the final year of the Pac-12's existing affiliations with a slew of bowl games.
At 6-6, WSU could be bound for the L.A. or New Mexico bowls.
Wherever the Cougars are going, they are thankful to have a few more weeks together as a football team.
"We're deserving of a bowl game, and I'm glad that we got that win," Eckhaus said. "Really grateful to get to spend more time with these guys (and get) one more game with these guys."
Washington St. 32, Oregon State 8
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFirst Quarter
WSU — FG Stevens 26, 9:21.
Second Quarter
WSU — FG Stevens 44, 14:08.
WSU — Vorhees 2 run (Stevens kick), 11:54.
WSU — Leckner 1 pass from Eckhaus (run failed), 1:34.
Third Quarter
WSU — Eckhaus 5 run (pass failed), 4:51.
Fourth Quarter
ORST — T.Walker 12 pass from Ti'a (Reichle run), 5:49.
WSU — A.Johnson 2 run (Stevens kick), 5:01.
A — 24,806.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Oregon St., Hankerson 16-71, Hatcher 2-8, Ti'a 11-(minus 39). Washington St., Johnson 4-64, Eckhaus 9-63, Vorhees 14-42, Woods 6-10, Dugger 1-7.
PASSING — Oregon St., Ti'a 28-41-2-240. Washington St., Eckhaus 17-28-0-197.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRECEIVING — Oregon St., T.Walker 7-61, Caufield 6-56, East 5-56, Hankerson 3-23, Card 3-19, Freauff 2-11, Milbourn 1-8, Durant 1-6. Washington St., Freeman 7-84, Meredith 2-32, Leckner 2-7, Vorhees 1-25, Ganashamoorthy 1-19, Faleye 1-10, Johnson 1-10, Noga 1-8, Neal 1-2.
MISSED FIELD GOALS — None.
Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2268, [email protected], or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.
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