Washington State at James Madison
Coming into the game with a record of 5-5 and needing just one more win to become bowl eligible I kept my fingers crossed that the Cougars could get it done. But having recorded just one road win all year long I didn’t expect it to happen against a James Madison that came in at 9-1—and it didn’t. And although it was close, 24-to-20, it’s hard to win any game when you’re averaging less than 21 points a game and giving up more than 21 points a game. That said, Washington State took an early 3-0 lead after the Dukes Junior QB Alonza Barnett had his pass intercepted on the second play of their first possession. Starting just six yards outside the James Madison red zone the closest the Cougars could get had them 4th and goal at the 11 yard line when Freshman Place Kicker Jack Stevens was sent in and converted a 29 yard field goal to give them the lead. Seven plays and less than three minutes later the Dukes would tie it up with a 45 yard field goal of their own by Senior Place Kicker Morgan Suarez. With both teams punting on their next possessions there wouldn’t be any more scoring in the 1st Qtr.
The Cougars had the ball to start the 2nd Qtr but just four plays in Senior QB Zevi Eckhaus would throw an interception at their own 37 yard line that was returned for a TD by Junior CB Justin Eaglin to give James Madison a 10-3 lead. After holding the Dukes to a three-and-out and starting at midfield, on their second play from scrimmage Eckhaus would hit Junior WR Tony Freeman with a 48 TD pass to tie it up at ten a piece. Holding James Madison once again to a three-and-out on their next possession, Washington State would find their way into the end zone again at the end of an 11 play 67 yard drive and 4 yard quarterback keeper by Eckhaus to take the lead back at 17-10 with less than a minute left in the half which the Dukes exhausted with their third consecutive three-and-out.
James Madison started the second half by at least hanging onto the ball a while—14 plays and 8+ minutes—before they had to turn it back over after being unable to convert a 4th and 1 at the Washington State 7 yard line. The Cougars took over but in about half the number of plays and half the time they too had to give it back. This time the Dukes didn’t waste any time as Barnett connected with Junior WR Braeden Wisloski for a 68 yard TD to tie the score 17-17 after three. Thirteen plays and 46 yards later and sitting 4th and 16 at the James Madison 18 yard line, Stevens came in and kicked his second field goal of the game—this one from 36 yards out to put the Washington State back on top 20-17 with nine plus minutes left in the game. James Madison wasted very little time regaining the advantage on the back of an 18 yard pass and 58 yard TD run by their Junior RB Wayne Knight to give them a 24-20 lead with well over six minutes left in the game. The Cougars took about half of that time off the clock with eight plays of short passes, ineffective runs, and incompletions—turning the ball back over to the Dukes after being unable to convert a 4th and 5 at their own 45 yard line. James Madison was able to eat up the remaining time on the clock to preserve the victory.
For Washington State, Senior QB Zevi Eckhaus was 19-of-31 for 171 yards, 1 TD to Junior WR Tony Freeman, and 1 interception while also running the ball 7 times for 26 yards and the team’s only rushing TD. On the ground, Sophomore RB Kirby Vorhees and Freshman RB Maxwell Woods combined for 104 of the team’s 130 yard total on 29 carries. For James Madison, Junior QB Alonza Barnett III was 9-of-18 for 144 yards, 1 TD to Junior WR Braeden Wislowski and one interception while also rushing 7 times for 32 yards. On the ground, Junior RB Wayne Knight led the team with 126 of the team’s 175 yards on just 15 carries in addition to picking up their only rushing TD. Washington State had five more first downs, only 18 less total yards of offense, matched the Dukes third down conversion percentage and make two-of-three fourth down attempts compared to none for James Madison. They had the ball longer with fewer penalty yards but the interception returned for a TD and the failure of the secondary on the late third quarter 68 yard TD pass ended up losing a game they could have won. With a record of 5-6, the Cougars have one more chance to become bowl eligible and it will be at home this next Saturday against the other orphaned PAC-12 team—the 2-9 Oregon State Beavers in their last scheduled regular season game.