Defense holds its own
PULLMAN – Washington State didn’t play well against California on offense, a pain made worse by the fact that its defense played yet another solid game.
The Golden Bears came to Pullman having scored more than 40 points in five consecutive games. But after giving up 21 in the first half, the Cougars defense pitched a second-half shutout and gave its offense one opportunity after another to pull the team back into the game.
“I can’t ask any more of our defense,” WSU head coach Bill Doba said. “They battled as tough as they could. They fought it out through injuries and everything else. They shut them out in the second half. They held a team that’s averaging 41 points a game or more to approximately two touchdowns, really, because they had the blocked punt.”
The WSU secondary did a particularly solid job of limiting quarterback Nate Longshore, who finished with 176 yards passing and a pair of interceptions with no touchdown tosses.
“We played well against the pass,” said safety Eric Frampton, who had one of the interceptions and also caused, then recovered, a fumble. “We were thinking the offense would get a spark. I give credit to the offense. They got it into the red zone. They made some plays. Things just turned the wrong way, went the wrong way, and (they) didn’t punch it in.”
Credit Cal’s offense for one thing: WSU, which led the nation in sacks coming in, got only one.
Defensive end Mkristo Bruce called this the most physical game he’s been a part of, and it was clear that the player getting midseason All-American awards left and right was shaken by Cal’s dogged protection of Longshore.
“They kicked my butt on every aspect of the game today,” Bruce said. “They came out and they hit me and hit me and hit me. Every play of the game, they hit me.
“I got shut out in the sack department, but like I said they hit me in the mouth every single play. And they let me know about it.”
Cougs pick Bears
WSU and Arizona State have both played Cal and USC, the two teams left undefeated in Pac-10 play and the two that most everyone assumes to be the best in the conference.
The Cougars have the advantage of having seen both teams at home, and when asked afterward, every single Cougar – if willing to make a choice – said Cal was the better team.
“Cal wins,” Bruce said. “They’re relentless. USC is a great football team. … I think Cal is a more relentless football team. They go out there and it’s by any means necessary when they’re out there.”
Offensive lineman Sean O’Connor and Frampton agreed and chose Cal.
“They’re darn good,” Doba said of Cal. “Don’t ask me who’s best, them or Southern Cal. I’d pay to go watch them. It’s going to be a good ball game.”
The Bears and Trojans meet in Los Angeles on Nov. 18.
Hill, Harris give it a go
A pair of Cougars offensive starters took the field despite injuries.
Wide receiver Jason Hill played with a shoulder sprain, and right tackle Charles Harris played with an ankle sprain.
Hill had been able to practice this week after injuring the shoulder a week before at Oregon State, but the senior wideout was held to two catches for 23 yards. He nearly reeled in a 29-yard touchdown early, but the fourth-down pass slipped away form his outstretched hands.
“I don’t think Jason Hill was at his peak,” Doba said. “I think he’s still a little bit sore.”
Harris sprained the ankle in practice on Wednesday and didn’t do any on-field work thereafter. But the lineman – who is the only Cougar on the offensive front to have played every game at the same position – warmed up and decided to give it a go.
“He’s a tough kid,” offensive line coach George Yarno said. “He rolled his ankle and got about 300 hours of treatment from the time he was hurt to Saturday and played the whole game. I was real proud of him.”
Notes
Wideout Brandon Gibson had a career day, catching eight passes for 130 yards. … Defensive end Mike Graise suffered a hamstring injury and Gibson a hip pointer. Gibson said his injury wasn’t serious, but Graise’s status for future games is unknown. … Starting running back Dwight Tardy finished with five carries for minus-1 yards. … The announced attendance at Martin Stadium was 31,441, a disappointing turnout given the home team’s record and the caliber of opponent visiting Pullman. … Next week’s game against Oregon also will have no TV coverage and kick off at 2 p.m., barring a late and unexpected change. … This was WSU’s lowest-scoring game since the 2000 Apple Cup, a 51-3 loss. … It was also the first time since the 2004 season opener at New Mexico that WSU and its opponent have gone scoreless in the same half. … The game was played in a speedy 2 hours, 55 minutes.