Cougars turn to blitz tricks

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State had managed no more than a pair of field goals in 12 possessions against Washington State on Saturday evening.

Still, the Beavers had a chance to tie the game on their 13th and final possession – a chance that looked even better as they neared the red zone with more than 2 minutes left on the clock.

But WSU defensive coordinator Robb Akey had a trick up his sleeve, and never could there have been a better time to use it then right at that moment.

Having played a conservative style of defense for much of the game, Akey decided to turn up the heat on Oregon State quarterback Matt Moore and started blitzing with multiple linebackers to harass the Beavers signal-caller.

It worked.

Scott Davis, an outside linebacker and a team co-captain, picked up two sacks in the final four plays of the drive and forced another Moore pass off line with a thunderous hit as he was releasing the ball.

“We started blitzing and it seemed like they didn’t want to block me,” Davis said. “I just ran right through.”

“We hadn’t gone to it a lot during the course of the game. We hadn’t gone to it during the course of the season,” Akey said. “The table was set for us to be able to use it there to close the ballgame.”

Davis’ success started when the Beavers got to the Cougars 26-yard line, with the linebacker working his way to and then through the middle of the Beavers offensive line to sack Moore for a loss of 7 yards. After one running play, Davis came untouched around the corner to hit Moore and cause the incomplete pass on third down.

Needing one more big play, Akey called on Davis and the blitz once again, and Davis sprinted up the gut to corral Moore for a 10-yard loss on fourth down that effectively ended the game.

“I’m calling him the closer from here on out,” Akey said. “He can have all the game balls he wants.”

Davis had just six tackles, but three of them were for losses – and he also chipped in with a pair of recovered fumbles.

His was one of a number of impressive individual defensive efforts, but the game-sealing plays down the stretch made Davis’ day stand out.

“After the first one I thought they were going to pick it up,” Davis said. “And then the second one happened. And then I wasn’t expecting to do it a third time.

“The defense had to win the game. We had to make a stop and we did.”