In a game that left me so happy for the Cougars, but with 14 TD’s and three field goals also speechless. Greg Woods gives you a sense of just how crazy it was in his article for the Spokesman-Review when he wrote; “Washington State’s 54-52 double-overtime win over San Jose State [was] a game so unhinged that it . . . produced the kind of script that even the cheesiest movie directors would have laughed off. The Cougars moved to 4-0 because they turned away the Spartans’ two-point try in double overtime, which came moments after quarterback John Mateer careened into the end zone for the game-winning two-point conversion, which came moments after he threw an interception, which came moments after SJSU Sophomore QB Emmett Brown threw his own pick, which came moments after WSU kicker Dean Janikowski hit a game-tying field goal, which came moments after SJSU took the lead with a touchdown pass with 26 seconds left.”
Considering that the Spartan’s defense recorded 3 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 6 QB hurries, two interceptions and six pass breakups it’s just amazing that the Cougars were able to pull this off—especially in light of their 12 penalties for over 100 yards to go along with a nation leading number of missed tackles. But after being abandoned by ten of twelve other schools from a conference that has 500 NCAA athletic championships—200 more than second place—the Cougars have concluded that the only possible way they can let the college football world know that they matter is to win—and in spite of all the mistakes they found a way. As head coach Jake Dickert said afterwards; “I take full responsibility for a lot of errors tonight. I got out-coached and our guys pulled it through. The players won this game. The players went out there made the plays. The players kept believing. They went out there and gritted it out, and I’m really proud of this football team.”
It wasn’t crazy right at the beginning, although it didn’t take long. Washington State got the ball first and took their nice sweet time going 76 yards down the field in 13 plays ending up in the end zone on a QB run to go up 7-0. But that first six minutes was just the calm before the storm. Aided by missed tackles, San Jose State would tie it up on their second play from scrimmage, a 66 yard TD run by Junior RB Floyd Chalk IV, and then surprise everyone with an onside kick to get the ball right back and take a 10-7 lead on a 19 yard Kyler Halvorsen field goal with three minutes left in the 1st Qtr. The Cougars would take the ball, just like they started the game, and burn six minutes off the clock on a 14 play 64 yard drive to take the lead back 14-10 on a John Mateer 4 yard TD pass to Senior TE Cooper Mathers and then extend it to 21-10 after holding San Jose State to a three-and-out—this time on an 8 yard TD pass from Mateer to Mathers. Washington State had another opportunity right away after a fumble by the Spartans on the kick-off return but would give the ball back on a failed fake field goal attempt. Going 76 yards in under three minutes San Jose State would close to 21-17 on a 4 yard TD pass from Emmett Brown to Junior TE Jacob Stewart. But with Mateer running or passing on 10 of the next 12 plays the Cougars would move it 56 yards in 12 plays down to the Spartans’ 19 yard line where Dean Janikowski would kick a 36 yard field goal to go up 24-17 at the break.
If you think that half was busy, think again. Holding Washington State scoreless the entire third quarter, San Jose State would tie it up and then go ahead 31-24 after picking off the Cougars’ Mateer and running it back 55 yards to the Washington State red zone. Seven plays later and aided by a Cougar pass interference penalty, giving the Spartans a first and goal at the 2 yard line, Brown would run it in two plays later. Holding Washington State to three-and-out on their next possession San Jose State would score again on a 7 play 75 yard drive ending with a Floyd Chalk 18 yard TD run to go up 38-24. Finally, 16 minutes into the 2nd half of the game, the Cougars—aided by a 36 yard run by their QB—would close within seven, 38-31, on a John Mateer 13 yard TD pass to Senior WR Kyle Williams. With a little over six minute left in the 4th Qtr and after keeping San Jose State from converting on 4th and 1 at the Cougar 35 yard line, Washington State would score again on a 36 yard pass from Mateer to Junior WR Josh Meredith. But with a missed PAT by Janikowski would still be down by one, 38-37. Three plays later Cougar Senior LB Kyle Thornton would pick off Emmett Brown at the San Jose State 32 yard line. A 31 yard pass from Mateer to Meredith and a 1 yard Dylan Paine run into the end zone would finally get Washington State back on top 43-38 after a failed two-point conversion. After back-to-back three-and-outs the Spartans would get back in the lead, this time on an Emmett Brown 20 yard TD pass to Sophomore WR Treyshun Hurry and a successful three point conversion to make it a 46-43 with just 26 seconds left.
At this point it isn’t looking good for Washington State. After the kick-off they’re at their own 35 yard line and have less than 30 seconds to go 65 yards and get into the end zone or kick a field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime at home. But with your place kicker, Dean Janikowski, only connecting 36% of the time when the target is 40 yards or more it was time for Cougar fans to invoke a greater power. But after a 32 yard pass and 8 yard run by Mateer, Janikowski would hit what one sport’s writer would call, “the kick of his life,” a 52 yard field goal to send the game to extra innings. Yeah, even in the middle of this—still thinking about Ohtani. The Cougars had a great chance right away to win the game in the 1st Overtime after Emmett Brown threw an interception on their second play—but couldn’t with Mateer throwing an interception of his own on Washington State’s second play as well. On the Cougar’s fifth play of the second overtime Junior RB Dylan Paine would run it in for his 2nd TD of the game with Mateer running in the mandatory two-point conversion afterwards to take a 54-46 lead. The Spartans’ QB Emmett Brown would connect with Nick Nash five plays later to make it 54-52. But on a blitz that would make him loose the ball, Coug Senior Edge Rusher Quinn Roff would cause the fumble that ended the game.
The numbers of this game were crazy. The QB’s Mateer and Brown both threw for within 15 total yards of each other, 390-to-375 respectively, 4 TD’s each as well as 2 picks. Washington State out-paced the Spartans in yards on the ground, 237-to-116, but both teams had three rushing TD’s including a score each by their QB’s who were also the leading ground gainers for their teams. The seemingly impossible dream of making the college football 12 team playoff continues for the Cougars this next Saturday as they hit the road to take on Boise State.