‘98 UW defense up to task

On Sunday, Washington State head coach Bill Doba called the Cougars’ Rose Bowl-clinching win over Washington in 1997 his fondest Apple Cup memory. Unfortunately for Doba, that was also the last positive memory from the Apple Cup. The Huskies have won six straight in the in-state game for bragging rights, and this week The Spokesman-Review will take a look back at each game, beginning with the first game of the streak.

1998: The Huskies got the six-game streak started off with a 16-9 win in Pullman, a win that put them in a bowl game and sent the Cougars to their first winless Pac-10 season in 23 years. Husky running back Willie Hurst was one of the few offensive stars in a game dominated by defense, running for 155 yards on 28 carries, including the game’s first touchdown. All WSU could muster until the game’s final minutes was a safety on a bad punt snap.

The Cougars damaged their own chances with a missed field goal and an interception in the end zone, as well as 14 penalties for 125 yards, offsetting 265 passing yards by the quarterback combo of Paul Mencke and Steve Birnbaum.

The result: The Huskies lost to No. 11 Air Force in the Oahu Bowl, 45-25, to fall to 6-6 on the season. The Cougars finished 3-8 after starting the year 3-0.