Lot to be said for game

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A high-wire escape or a gritty comeback in the face of adversity?

Maybe it was both, but Washington State’s 21-17 season-opening win against New Mexico provided plenty of concerns and just as many, if not more, reasons to think the 2004 Cougars could exceed expectations once again.

First, the good news: Washington State got contributions from its offense, defense and special teams in overcoming a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit. The Cougar offense put together its lone scoring drive of any considerable length when it was needed most. The defense bounced back from a horrific third quarter to force three turnovers in the final frame. The Lobos’ last four possessions lasted for a total of 1:53. And on special teams, a blocked punt gave WSU field position for the winning touchdown with just more than 7 minutes left.

That said, the running game failed to do anything for Cougars. They were outgained 222-36 in the third quarter alone. And WSU didn’t see its field-goal unit, which remains a question mark this fall.

Perhaps the most important thing derived from this first win was confidence. But the Cougars would insist that confidence was there well before the win was a done deal, even though they looked shaky at times.

“We knew we were better than them, it was just a matter of going out there and executing,” said tight end Troy Bienemann, who corralled the winning touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. After we scored the touchdown to make it 17-14, I guarantee you there was not a soul on that offense that didn’t think we could win that game.”

Added offensive coordinator Mike Levenseller: “We just needed to grow up in the second half.”

Perhaps the single player who grew the most was quarterback Josh Swogger, who almost single-handedly had to move the offense down the field with the running game going out of commission.

Swogger finished 24 of 38 for 240 yards and the Cougars got all three of their touchdowns on throws from the sophomore.

Interestingly, WSU didn’t complete a pass of longer than 26 yards, a surprise both because of Swogger’s big arm and because of a gambling New Mexico defense that usually leaves itself open to giving up the deep ball.

He was limited in part by a wide receiver shuffle that made continuity difficult. The Cougars dropped four passes in the early going, and Levenseller spent much of the game juggling personnel in an attempt to find dependable threats.

The most pleasant surprises at wideout were Trandon Harvey and Greg Prator, who combined for 10 catches and 82 yards. Six of those grabs came in the fourth quarter, when the coaching staff started to settle in with a lineup. Swogger completed passes to seven different players, and it easily could have been eight had tight end Cody Boyd not dropped a pair of passes early.

Still, Swogger, like his Cougar teammates, seemed to find an untapped reserve of moxie when it was needed most, suggesting that fourth-quarter deficits won’t necessarily be a death sentence in 2004.

“When it felt like everything was going against them,” defensive coordinator Robb Akey said, “they found a way to come out, finish the job, make big plays and give ourselves the opportunity to come out of here with a win.”