Recap and highlights: No. 22 Washington State handles Northern Colorado 59-17, moves to 2-0
At Martin Stadium, Pullman, Washington
59 - 17 
PULLMAN – Senior quarterback Anthony Gordon followed a strong season-opener by completing 31 of 39 attempts for 464 yards and four touchdowns, and 22nd-ranked Washington State defeated Northern Colorado 59-17 on Saturday afternoon at Martin Stadium.
WSU senior Brandon Arconado caught eight passes for a team-high (and career-best) 127 yards and a touchdown. Senior wideout Easop Winston Jr. had six receptions for 113 yards and two scores, while sophomore running back Max Borghi had 51 yards from scrimmage and a career-high three touchdowns.
Washington State’s defense allowed 355 yards but forced four turnovers – all of them on fumbles – and moved to 2-0 overall for the third year in a row. It was also their third straight win over Big Sky opponents.
The teams traded touchdowns their first drives, and after the Cougars scored to make it 14-7 the Bears drove yet again, to the WSU 34-yard line. But on the next play, Jahad Woods stripped the ball from Jullen Ison’s right arm, and Stone jumped on it. The Cougars scored a touchdown four plays later to make it 21-7.
By half their lead was 24-10, and Washington State broke open the game with back-to-back touchdowns to start the second half. – Dan Thompson, For The Spokesman-Review
Highlights: Washington State 59, Northern Colorado 17
Pac-12 Networks / YouTube
First quarter
9:22 – WSU 7, N. Colorado 0: Anthony Gordon finds Easop Winston Jr. open on a slant route for a 7-yard touchdown pass as Washington State gets off to a strong start with a solid first drive.
The Cougs marched right down the field, needing just four plays to go 62 yards. Gordon was 3 for 3 for 46 yards. Winston caught two passes for 39 yards.
The WSU defense, led by linebacker Jahad Woods, was stout in their first appearance. Woods made three tackles before the Bears were forced to punt from their own 29, which set the Cougs up with good field position.
5:58 – WSU 7, N. Colorado 7: The Bears answer the WSU touchdown with one of their own on the ensuing drive.
Running back Milo Hall took advantage of a huge hole in the middle of the defense for a 7-yard touchdown run.
Hall had 34 yards on the ground during the 8-play, 75-yard drive, including a 3-yard run on 3rd-and-1.
2:48 – WSU 14, N. Colorado 7: The Cougars jump back ahead as Anthony Gordon hits Max Borghi for a 4-yard touchdown on a swing pass.
WSU went 75 yards on 8 plays for the score. Gordon found Brandon Arconado open over the middle for 15-yard connection to convert a 4th-and-2 from the UNC 42 to keep the drive alive. The WSU quarterback is now 8 for 10 for 113 yards.
Borghi has 14 total yards.
Second quarter
13:53 – WSU 21, N. Colorado 7: The Cougars extend their early lead as Max Borghi powers in from 2 yards out for his second touchdown of the game.
WSU struck quickly after recovering a UNC fumble.
Starting at their own 29, the Cougs rode Anthony Gordon’s arm down the field. Gordon hit Tay Martin for 25 yards to get out of Bears territory. Then, after a 5-yard run from Deon McIntosh, Gordon found an open Brandon Arconado for a 39-yard gain to the UNC 2.
Gordon is now 10 for 12 for 177 yards.
3:40 – WSU 21, N. Colorado 10: Northern Colorado kicker Collin Root makes a 50-yard field goal.
The Bears’ drive was extended by a roughing the punter penalty on WSU.
0:00 – WSU 24, N. Colorado 10: Washington State kicker Blake Mazza is good on a 20-yard field goal as the first half comes to an end.
The Cougars capitalized on UNC running back Milo Hill’s fumble with 51 seconds left. Anthony Gordon hit Dezmon Patmon with a 29-yard pass to keep the drive going on 3rd-and-1.
Halftime
Third quarter
11:43 – WSU 31, N. Colorado 10: The Cougars come out of halftime firing with 75-yard drive capped by Anthony Gordon’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Easop Winston Jr.
Gordon completed all six of his pass attempts during the drive, throwing for 74 yards. The WSU QB is up to 325 yards for the game on 22-for-29 passing.
Winston Jr. has 69 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Eight receivers have recorded a catch for the Cougs.
7:11 – WSU 38, N. Colorado 10: Max Borghi bulls his way in from 3 yards out for his third touchdown of the game.
The Cougars covered 50 yards in 5 plays behind quarterback Anthony Gordon. The redshirt senior completed three passes during the drive for 52 yards and ran for 10 yards.
The Cougs weathered a bizarre unsportsmanlike conduct call during the drive when offensive lineman Liam Ryan was penalized for “pointing at an opponent” after Gordon’s first-down scramble.
4:19 – WSU 45, N. Colorado 10: The Cougs find the endzone for the 3rd time this quarter as Brandon Arconado snags Anthony Gordon’s 5-yard touchdown pass.
Gordon is now up to 426 yards passing with four touchdowns. Arconado has six receptions for 95 yards.
Washington State receiver Easop Winston Jr. had two catches during the drive to take him over 100 yards receiving for the game. The senior has 113 yards on 6 grabs.
WSU started the drive at the UNC 49 thanks to a Milo Hall fumble. The Cougs forced the fumble one play after rush linebacker Ron Stone Jr. was ejected for targeting.
Fourth quarter
9:37 – WSU 52, N. Colorado 10: With a big lead, Trey Tinsley steps in at quarterback for the Cougars and fires a dart to Tay Martin for a 4-yard touchdown pass.
Tinsley took over for Anthony Gordon to start the Cougs second drive of the fourth quarter. Gordon looks to be finished for the game with 464 yards passing and 4 touchdowns.
The Cougars defense forced their fourth turnover of the game when UNC backup quarterback Conor Ragan fumbled a handoff attempt at his own 10-yard line.
3:55 – WSU 52, N. Colorado 17: Northern Colorado strikes on a 28-yard touchdown run by Cole Ingersoll to cut into the Cougars’ big lead.
The Bears marched 75 yards over 10 plays, rushing for 64 yards on the drive.
1:23 – WSU 59, N. Colorado 17: Deon McIntosh, a transfer from Notre Dame, shows off his elusiveness on a 21-yard touchdown run to extend the Cougars’ lead.