Live updates: Washington State opens season as heavy favorite against Portland State

Second quarter

13:39 – WSU 29, PSU 10: Big-play Cougars offense comes up again. True freshman Parker breaks off a 54-yard run up the middle to extend the lead.

Mateer hit Freeman for a 19-yard completion on third down the play before. WSU averaging 12.7 yards a play, up to 280 yards in the game.

14:55 – WSU 22, PSU 10: Uribe converts a 43-yard field goal.

First quarter

0:00 – WSU 22, PSU 7: Vikings drive stalls and they will attempt a field goal from the WSU 26 when play resumes.

Cougars defensive touchdown was overturned after Vikings QB Chachere threw incomplete while taking a hit. The play was originally ruled a sack and 70-yard return by Gushiken.

3:07 – WSU 22, PSU 7: Mateer lets it fly on the first play of the drive and hits Williams in stride down the sideline for a 58-yard touchdown. Cougars receivers a big mismatch against the PSU secondary. 

Riviere runs in the 2-pt conversion.

Make that three touchdowns for first-year starting QB John Mateer in the first quarter, coming on five completions. All Cougs after the early 3-and-out.

3:11 – WSU 14, PSU 7: Second straight 3-and-out for the Vikings after the opening touchdown drive. Cougars take back over at their 42.

4:49 – WSU 14, PSU 7: Cougars receivers make another impact play. Shackelford catches a quick strike over the middle and bounces off a tackle for a 39-yard touchdown.

WSU gets its run game going on that drive. Parker started with a 20-yard carry on a draw and Shlenbaker converted a fourth down attempt with a run up the middle. WSU has 90 yards passing on four completions and eight carries for 57 yards.

7:53 – WSU 7, PSU 7: Cougars get a quick stop after a miscommunication on a third down option attempt. WSU starts at its 25.

10:06 – WSU 7, PSU 7: Cougars answer right back, Hutson hauls in a diving grab for a 30-yard touchdown pass from Mateer. Cougs QB kept the drive alive early with a 15-yard scramble on third-and-long. 

Mateer opens 2 of 7 for 46 yards. Pulalasi checked in at running back with a couple of nice runs, he has two carries for 14 yards.

12:17 – PSU 7, WSU 0: Touchdown Vikings on a 5-yard QB keeper from Chachere. Thompson set up the score with a 53-yard run up the middle on third-and-3. PSU goes 65 yards in five plays, 1:44.

14:01 – WSU 0, PSU 0: Quick 3-and-out for the Cougs. Schlenbaker loses three on a handoff, followed by back-to-back incompletions from Mateer. Janikowski, the place kicker serving as punter today, kicks it out of bounds at the PSU 35.

15:00 – WSU 0, PSU 0: Vikings win the toss and defer to the second half. Cougars get a 29-yard return from Smithson and start the season on the their own 31.

Pregame

Washington State is ready to step into the unknown.

The Cougars will kick off a new era in Pullman at noon on Saturday at Gesa Field. Third-year coach Jake Dickert and first-year quarterback John Mateer will hope for a strong start against Portland State of the Big Sky.

Washington State is a 31½-point favorite according to vegasinsider.com. The game will air on KSKN, or the CW out of the area.

Series history

Washington State has a 3-1 record against Portland State since 2008, winning the last meeting 44-24 on Sept. 11, 2021, where the Cougars bounced back from a disappointing season-opening loss to Utah State.

PSU beat the Cougs in the 2015 season-opener 24-17, the first of two successive seasons WSU lost to a Big Sky team to under Mike Leach. EWU beat WSU the next year 45-42. 

The Cougs, however, have started strong under Jake Dickert. WSU has won its first three games in consecutive seasons.

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