It’s obvious that Cougar QB Cameron Ward is comfortable at home in Pullman throwing just shy of 300 yards and 4 TD’s against Colorado State, two each to Sophomore WR’s Donovan Ollie and De’Zhaun Stribling. Three in the 1st Qtr alone to go up 21-0 after the defense held Colorado State to back-to-back three-and-outs and a missed field goal. The 4th would come in the 2nd Qtr at the end of a 13 play 82 yard drive, aided by a pass interference penalty, to go up 28-0 at the break. Colorado State wouldn’t score a single point until deep in the 4th Qtr with under five minutes to play on a pass from Freshman QB Clay Millen to fellow Freshman WR Justus Ross-Simmons to make it 28-7. But by then the Cougars had put up three more on a field goal and would score another TD late in the 4th on a run by Freshman RB Kannon Katzer in a 38-7 pounding of Colorado State at home in the Palouse.
The Rams couldn’t get anything going on the ground picking up just slightly over 1 yard per carry while rushing 31 times for a mere 37 yards against 28 rushes, 143 yards, and 1 TD for the Cougars. Considering he was sacked a total of seven times in this game Millen was still able to connect on over 70% of his passes for 212 yards, the single TD and 1 interception. Regarding the sacks and the team play in general Colorado State Head Coach Jay Norvell had this to say after the game. “There’s just not enough continuity right now. Lots of young players on this team who just aren’t doing enough yet, but we’ll get there. We’re not discouraged.” Regarding the sacks, 23 so far in just three games, Norvell said this; “I hate seeing the quarterback get hit, we’re trying everything we can to keep him up. We haven’t found out how to do that to this point. We need to take better care of him.”
According to the AP Recap, “Dickert became the first Washington State head coach to start his first full season with three consecutive victories since Mike Price in 1989.” The Cougars stay at home to host No. 15 Oregon in their PAC-12 opener, a game that has a chance to elevate Washington State into the Top 25. The way they’re playing it should be a good one.