Recap and highlights: Washington State leans on running game, defense to roll past Texas Tech 37-16
PULLMAN — Early in the second half of Washington State’s second straight victory to open the season, a 37-16 shellacking of Texas Tech Saturday evening, the hosts almost lost their best running back.
True freshman Wayshawn Parker, who posted 69 yards and a touchdown, hobbled off the field. He strolled over to a bench and used a tool to roll out what looked like a cramp in his leg. He had to take a moment to gather himself.
The Cougars never wobbled again the rest of the way. In the program’s second straight home win over a power conference nonconference opponent, WSU tallied four takeaways and five touchdowns, including a 27-10 stretch to take control of the game for good.
It registered as one of the best games on the ground in some time for WSU, which totaled 301 rushing yards, including 197 from quarterback John Mateer, the most by a WSU QB in school history. He completed 9 of 19 passes for 115 yards, one touchdown and one iterception, including a scoring pass right before halftime to Kyle Williams, who returned from an injury to snatch the catch off a deflection.
But Mateer and the Cougs’ offense were at their best on the ground. They averaged 6.5 yards per rush. Power back Djouvensky Schlenbaker surged in for a pair of touchdowns, the second of which handed WSU a a 34-10 lead in the third frame, totaling 27 rushing yards on the night.
In that way, it added up to quite the encouraging night for the Cougs, whose rushing attack eluded them in a major way last season, so much so that it played a major role in the six-game losing streak that cratered their season. Defenses didn’t find their running game credible, so they committed more defenders to coverage, hampering Washington State’s passing game in turn.
This WSU season is only two games old, but it’s possible those days are in the past for the Cougs, whose offensive line opened up holes on several occasions: On Parker’s 43-yard touchdown rush, good for a 14-3 lead. On Schlenbaker’s first score, which handed the Cougars a 21-3 advantage. On the hosts’ first scoring play of the night, a four-yard rush from Mateer, which set the tone for the rest of the game.
The Cougs’ defense took care of the rest. They secured two interceptions, one from redshirt freshman Ethan O’Connor and one from nickelback Kapena Gushiken, who took advantage of the hit that edge rusher Quinn Roff provided on Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton. O’Connor also grabbed a pick on a two-point conversion later in the game.
WSU seized control of the game in the same way. On the opening kickoff, Cougar kicker Dean Janikowski pooch kicked it away from return man Drae McCrae. The Red Raider on the receiving end couldn’t hang on, WSU safety Tyson Durant pounced on the loose ball and the Cougs scored two plays later, Mateer keeping it up the middle for a short touchdown rush.
Washington State is back in action next week in Seattle, where it will take on rival new Big Ten member Washington in the first nonconference Apple Cup in series history. That one is set for 12:30 p.m. on Peacock, a streaming platform.
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First quarter
14:57 – WSU 0, TTU 0: Surprise! Cougars pooch the opening kickoff and its muffed by the Red Raiders, recovered at the TTU 38. Texas Tech won the toss and elected to receive.
14:43 – WSU 0, TTU 0: Cougars quickly give the ball back. Mateer overthrows his receiver deep down the middle of the field and its picked off. Red Raiders start on their 8.
13:23 – WSU 0, TTU 0: Cougars defense doesn’t budge. Texas Tech goes 3-and-out and boots a short punt out of bounds at their own 40.
10:03 – WSU 7, TTU 0: Mateer runs in a 4-yard touchdown to open the scoring. WSU QB picked up 32 rushing yards during that drive and picked up two 3rd down conversions.
Cougars almost lost the ball on a fumble from running back Pulalasi, but it was recovered by WSU.
9:01 – WSU 7, TTU 0: Cougars get the ball back, forcing another TTU 3-and-out. WSU starts on its 26.
WSU defense hold the Red Raiders to 16 total yards and 0 for 2 on 3rd down conversions on the first two drives.
7:08 – WSU 7, TTU 0: Cougs offense goes 3-and-out and punts to the TTU 39.
Cougars tried three straight runs with Parker, the last two were stuffed after he gained seven yards on first down.
3:26 – WSU 7, TTU 3: Red Raiders get their first substantial drive of the game and come away with a 37-yard field goal.
TTU got backed up to 3rd-and-29 after reaching the red zone. Former Coug Kelly, who transferred to TTU, has four catches for 25 yards against his old team.
0:35 – WSU 7, TTU 3: Cougs unable to convert on the ground again. Red Raiders take over on their 22.
Second quarter
13:04 – WSU 7, TTU 3: Wazzu defense stepping up in this one. The Cougars get a stop on fourth down near midfield, after Morton’s pass is broken up by Durant.
Neither offense has been able to find its flow so far. Mateer ready to come back on the field having completed 2 of 7 attempts for 13 yards.
12:03 – WSU 7, TTU 3: Back-to-back drops soil two of Mateer’s best throws of the game and the Cougars punt the ball right back. TTU starts at its 8.
8:18 – WSU 7, TTU 3: This WSU defense came to play, especially safety Durant, as he comes up with his second straight fourth down stop, tackling Conyers for no gain. WSU starts on the TTU 43.
8:09 – WSU 14, TTU 3: There’s the big-play ability WSU showed in Week 1. Parker takes the first play after the turnover on downs for a 43-yard touchdown. Cougs have gained 97 of their 110 yards rushing.
7:53 – WSU 21, TTU 3: Another outstanding play from the Coug defense, as Al-Uqdah rips the ball from Kelly and runs it back 16 yards to the TTU 2. That sets up an easy rushing score for Schlenbaker on the next play. All Cougs so far.
5:33 – WSU 21, TTU 10: Red Raiders get into the endzone with a double-pass. Wideout Eakin flips it 20 yards to a wide open Valdez for the score. TTU goes 75 yards in six plays.
2:00 – WSU 21, TTU 10: Cougars driving at the 2-minute timeout, have ball at the TTU 33. Mateer had a nice keeper on a four-and-1 play to extend the drive. Red Raiders got a tough break on Mateer’s run, with their safety being called for targeting on a bang-bang play.
1:32 – WSU 21, TTU 10: Janikowski pushes a field goal wide right from 47 yards. Cougars long drive comes up empty.
Mateer had an open man on third down, but he put too much on the pass and it fell incomplete. He’s completed 5 of 13 attempts for 31 yards.
0:25 – WSU 27, TTU 10: WSU finally gets something going in the air, as Williams hauls in a 21-yard touchdown that bounced off the arm of a defender. Janikowski’s PAT is no good.
Cougars got the ball back on an interception by O’Connor.
Halftime
Washington State has taken a 27-10 lead over Texas Tech into halftime.
The Cougars have leaned on a stout defense and solid running game to build their lead over the Red Raiders. John Mateer is just 6 of 14 passing for 52 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Mateer is getting it done with his legs. He has 10 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown, just ahead of Wayshawn Parker, who has seven carries for 59 yards and a score.
WSU’s defense has been the biggest contributor to its lead. The Cougars have forced two punts, two turnovers and two turnovers on downs. The two turnover on downs and one of the turnovers yielded touchdown drives.
WSU will receive the second half kickoff.
Third quarter
9:34 – WSU 27, TTU 10: Red Raiders finally get off the field after a long Cougars drive to start the half. Mateer is stopped for a gain of 1 on a fourth-and-2 run up the middle. TTU starts on its own 8.
Mateer picked up most of the Cougars yards on the ground that drive. He has 14 carries for 118 yards and a touchdown. Cougs decided to go for it there instead of a field goal, likely because Janikowski has struggled today and WSU would have stayed at a three-score lead either way.
5:58 – WSU 27, TTU 10: Red Raiders get a big play to Kelly down the left sideline, but are backed up by penalties on the next two plays. They go for it on fourth and long and turn the ball over on downs near midfield.
Third stop on fourth down for the Cougars.
3:13 – WSU 34, TTU 10: After a couple stops at the goaline Schlenbaker won’t be denied on fourth down as he powers ahead for a touchdown. One of the more impressive rushing efforts in recent memory for the Cougars today, up to 209 yards and four touchdowns as a team.
Fourth quarter
14:03 – WSU 34, TTU 10: Cougars collect their fourth turnover, an interception by Gushiken after Mortan is pressured. The excellent day for WSU’s defense continues, as the Cougs look to finish this game off.
WSU starts on its own 4.
9:21 – WSU 34, TTU 16: Morton hits Dickey for a 12-yard touchdown pass to cap a quick 1:53 scoring drive for the Red Raiders. O’Connor picks off the 2pt-try to keep the Cougars ahead by three scores.
Red Raiders recover the onside kick, so they’ll go again.
8:03 – WSU 34, TTU 16: Cougars get another fourth down stop. They start on their own 24 and can get the clock moving again.
5:57 – WSU 37, TTU 16: Janikowski hits a 25-yard field goal. Mateer broke off a 68-yard run to set up the score. He’s up to 21 carries for 197 yards and a touchdown.
2:00 – WSU 37, TTU 16: We’ve hit the 2-minute warning and the Cougs are running the clock out. We’ll be back shortly with a full recap.
Pregame
Jake Dickert is yet to lose an early-season nonconference game in his Washington State tenure.
Tonight marks another opportunity to get his Cougars off to a hot start.
WSU hosts Texas Tech for a late-night primetime game at Gesa Field in Pullman. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Fox 28.
The Cougars handled Portland State 70-30 in their opener, scoring long plays at will with first-year starter John Mateer under center. Meanwhile the Red Raiders escaped with a 52-51 overtime win over Abilene Christian.
Those results set the table for what figures to be a highlight-filled night on the Palouse. We’ll have to covered with live updates in this thread.
Series history
Washington State and Texas Tech haven’t met for a long time.
The Red Raiders hold a 2-0 lead in the all-time series, winning games in 1963 and 1964, by scores of 16-7 and 28-10, respectively. Both games were played in Lubbock, Texas.
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