Lewiston Tribune Online - 10/22/03

WSU notes: Cougs, Beavs ready to test each other

PULLMAN -- Quality matchups and lots of rule-breaking -- that's what the stats predict for the Cougars' game against Oregon State this week.

When Washington State has the ball Saturday at Martin Stadium, the game will pit the No. 1 passing offense in the Pac-10 Conference against the No. 1 pass defense.

When Oregon State has possession, it will be the league's No. 1 rushing offense versus the top rushing defense.

"It should be a nothing-to-nothing ballgame, I'd guess from that," Cougars coach Bill Doba said.

A safer bet would be this: lots of flags. These are by far the most heavily penalized teams in the conference, with the Cougars committing 86 infractions for an average of 105 yards per game, and the Beavers 81 for 116.

The Cougars continue to specialize in illegal-procedure calls. In their win at Stanford last week, they added four false starts to their hefty collection and also diversified a bit, with five alignment errors on defense.

On at least two of those plays, Stanford's offensive tackles were taking their stance somewhat behind the line of scrimmage, "and our kids were lining up on the person and not on the ball," Doba said. "This late in the season, we cannot tolerate that."

Of the 30 team statistical categories recognized by the Pac-10, the Cougars are ranked first in eight: scoring defense, rushing defense, total defense, passing offense, turnover margin, third-down defense, field goals and time of possession. It should be remembered that midseason statistics are somewhat skewed by teams' disparate nonconference schedules.

Doba seems especially proud of the third-down defense stats. The Cougars allowed zero third-down conversions in the first and fourth quarters against Stanford, after holding Arizona 0-for-13 in that category in their previous game.

OUT OF NOWHERE -- The Cougars threw many for a loop when they pushed 6-foot-7, 294-pound Charles Harris onto the field at Stanford as an injury replacement for offensive tackle Sam Lightbody.

The second-year freshman from Mead High near Spokane had appeared nowhere on the depth chart this season before suddenly taking the field in the third quarter Saturday.

But he performed well enough to be named WSU's offensive lineman of the week.

"A week and a half ago, he was on the scout team," Doba said. "He came to all the meetings, paid attention, he took notes, and when his number was called he stepped in and did a nice job."

With Lightbody still listed as questionable with a pinched nerve, Harris may start against OSU. Also questionable, with sore ribs, is tailback Jermaine Green.

STILL ON THE BRINK -- WSU quarterback Matt Kegel is expected to start, but his recent shoulder injuries bring up a possible depth issue. If both Kegel and backup Josh Swogger are knocked out of action, the Cougars would activate true freshman Alex Brink.

Doba said he would rather burn Brink's redshirt status than activate sophomore Dayton Dennison, whose practice has been limited to scout-team work. Brink has been working with the No. 1 offense.

DISAPPOINTED BEAVS -- Oregon State is coming off a 38-17 loss to Washington that resuscitated the Huskies' hopes for a conference title and left both teams 2-1 in league play. The Cougars share the lead at 3-0 with UCLA.

Beavers coach Mike Riley balked at suggestions that his team had viewed that game as less important than the Huskies did.

"Our team wanted to win in the worst way," he said, perhaps literally. "Our intentions were good. Obviously our procedure wasn't very good. When we got to the ballgame, we lost some focus on what was really important. The game hung in the balance a long time, and we didn't respond well."

Doba would rather have seen the Beavers win -- "and not just because they were playing the Huskies.

"I'd rather see them come in here fat and sassy," the coach said.

Lewiston Tribune Online - 10/23/03

No family affair in Corvallis; Seemingly ideal situation at Oregon State unravels, leaving father and son at opposite ends of Pac-10

PULLMAN -- The most difficult thing, according to Trent Bray, was walking into Bill Doba's office. Here was one of his father's closest friends, a man who had taught him much of what he knew about being a linebacker. Somehow, Bray had to break the news to the Washington State assistant coach that he had rescinded his commitment to the Cougars and was following his father to Oregon State.

Other difficult moments would follow, not only for Trent Bray but for his father Craig, an assistant whose new loyalties at Oregon State would place a strain on his valued friendships with Doba and Mike Price.

The Brays believed it was worth riding out these difficulties in order to keep their family together.

And did they do that? For two years. Now Trent Bray is starting at outside linebacker for the Beavers, and his father is 1,200 miles away in Tucson, Ariz., wondering what on earth he's doing in the coaching profession.

Trent Bray returns to Pullman this week for a richly anticipated game between Oregon State (5-2) and Washington State (6-1) at sold-out Martin Stadium. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Four years ago, he would not have imagined playing in such a game for anyone but the Cougars. The sons of college football coaches often lead nomadic lives, but Trent had lived in Pullman since the age of 3, while his father held assistant's jobs at WSU and the University of Idaho, and his mother Kaprice served as head volleyball coach for the Cougars in 1985.

He and his brother Josh spent much of their boyhood on the practice fields at the two Palouse schools, and Trent became especially close to his father's buddy, Doba, the linebackers coach who had joined Price's staff at WSU in 1989.

"He loved Mike, he loved Bill and he loved Cougar football," Craig Bray recalled by phone Wednesday from Tucson. "Bill really felt Trenton was part of his family."

So it seemed perfectly natural for Trent, now a high-school junior and a superb football player, to disappoint Oregon State and other schools by giving an oral commitment to the Cougars in the spring of 2000. It seemed natural, in fact, despite the decision his father had just made.

Craig Bray, who had coached the secondary at WSU, was moving up to a defensive coordinator's job at Oregon State for another longtime colleague, Dennis Erickson.

And Erickson wanted Trent Bray. Not only was he a diligent and aggressive linebacker, but he was perhaps a stake in Erickson's friendly but intense rivalry with his childhood pal, Price.

"Dennis and Mike have that little competitive thing between them," Craig Bray said. "The day Trenton committed to Washington State, Mike called Dennis up at home to tell him, like it's a big deal -- 'Hey, guess who just committed to us.' "

The next morning, according to Craig Bray, Erickson approached him and said, ''We've got to recruit Trenton.''

"Coach, he committed to Washington State, and that's a great situation," Bray replied.

''Well, that doesn't mean anything.''

So Bray began the awkward process of recruiting his son. "From March to December, I had to go through that," he said. "I left the door open for Trenton to close it. I kept saying, 'Now, you really want us to recruit you?' He said, 'Yeah, yeah.' "

Oral commitments from recruits have never been binding by NCAA rules, though they once signaled other schools to back off.

"We all used to honor that, and now nobody does," Craig Bray said. "Mike (Price) did the same thing. Once somebody would commit he would call them to make sure. Everybody does that. You'll call a guy and say, 'I heard you committed to Washington State. What was the reason? Are you solid?' If the answer is, 'Hey, I'm definite,' I wish them luck and go on."

Part of the allure of Oregon State for Craig Bray was the amazing turnaround Erickson was directing in this long-suffering program. The Beavers in 1999 had just managed their first winning season since 1970.

Now, with Craig Bray overseeing an excellent defense, the Beavers were fashioning one of the finest seasons in school history. They found new leverage in their pursuit of Trent Bray, just finishing his senior season. While Washington State was agonizing through a 4-7 season, the Beavers were going 10-1.

That winter, Trent accompanied his father to Tempe, Ariz., for the Fiesta Bowl matchup between Oregon State and Notre Dame. For 11 days, he mingled with OSU players and thousands of their joyous fans. The day before the game, he told his father he had changed his mind; he wanted to be a Beaver. And Oregon State's 41-9 victory did nothing to budge him from that stance.

When he returned to Pullman, Trent made a point of following his father's instructions and informing Price and Doba of his decision face-to-face, not over the phone. And then he had to explain to everyone else.

"Really, there were two things I wanted to do," he said this week from Corvallis, Ore. "One was play football for my dad. Two was be a Cougar. It was just a matter of which was more important to me. And playing for my dad was more important."

The decision pleased his father, too, but Craig Bray paid for it by watching his friendships with Doba and Price go into a deep-freeze.

"It was awful," he said. "What had been a great relationship became almost -- well, I didn't talk to Bill Doba until this spring. He wouldn't return my calls. He wouldn't return mail."

Since then, Price has left Washington State, Doba has become head coach, the Cougars have made back-to-back bowl appearances, and bygones are becoming bygones.

"Bill and I are back on good terms," Craig Bray said. "I've seen Mike a few times, and he seemed all right. I think there's always a little bit of, you know, 'You were disloyal because you took the kid from me.'"

Doba this week said he noticed Trent Bray's talent from the time he attended WSU football camps as a child. "We really wanted him badly, and were sorry to see him go to Oregon State," he said. "His dad was there and I guess that's understandable."

Craig Bray knows his son has made new friends and his football career is prospering at Corvallis. But his father must watch all this from afar.

In February, Erickson suddenly left Oregon State to become head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. He understood immediately when Craig Bray said he couldn't join him -- that he must stay and see his son through college. It was speculated that Oregon State would promote Gregg Smith to head coach, and in any case Bray believed his job was secure.

Alas, the Beavers hired Mike Riley, who decided he had no room for Bray on his staff. It was late in the hiring season and other openings were few. Bray took a job coaching linebackers in a clearly unstable situation, at the University of Arizona. He packed only two pieces of luggage, knowing head coach John Mackovic could be fired at any moment.

Three weeks ago, Arizona did unload Mackovic, promoting Mike Hankwitz to interim head coach and announcing plans to make a permanent hire after the season. So Craig Bray's prospects are hazy to say the least.

He stopped short of expressing resentment toward Riley, but mentioned "a lack of compassion for the situation I was in. ... It just goes to show you, it's not the people, it's the profession that's so screwed up," he said.

The snub, in fact, may prove a final blow in his mounting dissatisfaction with the coaching profession. At the end of the season, he may consider other options, perhaps in personnel work in professional football.

These days, Kaprice Bray teaches at a private elementary school in Corvallis, Josh Bray is a senior at Oregon State, and Trent is a 6-foot-1, 230-pound sophomore who ranks fourth on the Oregon State team in tackles.

And Dad has a decision to make.

"Maybe I'll open up a doughnut shop," he said. "They don't have Krispy Kremes in Corvallis."

Lewiston Tribune Online - 10/24/03

Containing Jackson will be Cougs' priority

PULLMAN -- The Washington State defense is fast, aggressive and tricky. But it's not especially large. So the Cougars are bracing for a fresh challenge this week in Oregon State's gifted 230-pound junior tailback, Steven Jackson.

He was a first-team All-American last year, he ranks third in the country in rushing this season, yet the Cougars don't fully know what to expect from him.

Their game Saturday at sold-out Martin Stadium, presumed to be pivotal in the Pac-10 Conference race, will be their first against the Beavers since 2001, when Jackson was playing behind Ken Simonton as a true freshman.

Dreadlocked a la Ricky Williams, this son of a Las Vegas casino manager is only 74 rushing yards shy of the 1,000-yard plateau, after grinding out 1,690 yards last year.

So WSU defenders, whose unit ranks sixth nationally against the run, have studied video of the 6-foot-3 Jackson with particular interest this week.

They believe it's critical to stop this train before it picks up speed. They would rather the duties fall to a 320-pound tackle than a 180-pound defensive back. And their fast, small ends may be facing their biggest test of the season.

"He's a very powerful runner," WSU middle linebacker Don Jackson said. "But looking at film, it's the offensive line too. It's not like he makes his own holes. He can create only so much. It's just that, when he gets out in the open, he's so explosive. At 6-3 and 230, it's hard for the DB's to tackle him. He's no doubt the best back we're going to face this year."

The Beavers (5-2, 2-1) don't place quite all their chips on Jackson. They rank second in passing offense in the Pac-10 behind the Cougars, who had recruited OSU's 6-foot-6 junior quarterback from the Portland area, Derek Anderson.

But Anderson has thrown 14 interceptions, and his arm is OSU's weapon of choice only when needed for comebacks.

"If we're throwing the ball 48 times a ballgame, then we're probably not doing very well," Beavers coach Mike Riley said.

In recent years, Washington State's defenses have been small, shallow, fast and stellar. They are unquestionably a collegiate team, not professional. The way to subdue them is to exhaust them, preferably by giving the ball repeatedly to a durable tailback destined for the National Football League.

Oregon did that in 2001 when Onterrio Smith romped for 285 yards, and Ohio State did it last year with 230 yards by Maurice Clarett.

Jackson is that type of back -- he's averaging almost 30 carries a game -- and Washington State coach Bill Doba foresees big things for him: "I'd like to take stock in him," he said. "I think he'll be worth a lot of money."

Doba just wants to delay that bright future a few more days.

NOTES -- Cougars center Mike Shelford, sidelined for four games with a bruised nerve in the shoulder area, has seen recent improvement in his condition and may see action. At tailback, Jermaine Green (ribs) is now probable and Jonathan Smith seems to have recovered from his twisted ankle and is scheduled to start. Offensive tackle Sam Lightbody remains doubtful with his pinched nerve. ... Offensive lineman Josh Parrish became a father Wednesday night when his wife gave birth, by Caeserian section, to a 9 pound, 2-ounce boy. They have named him Dakota.

Lewiston Tribune Online - 10/25/03

Cougs try to live up to their billing; Beating unranked Beavers a must if WSU intends to keep its spot in BCS picture

PULLMAN -- Beating Oregon State won't prove the Washington State Cougars deserve their No. 6 ranking. But losing would prove they don't deserve it.

The Cougars aren't accustomed to that sort of reverse motivation, but such is life for back-to-back bowl participants with 15 seniors in their starting lineup.

For once, the Cougars are getting the benefit of the doubt -- but only from their flesh-and-blood judges.

The computers that help decide the Bowl Championship Series rankings don't care about a team's recent bowl history or how many seniors it has. They want to see hard, cold results, against quality opponents.

That's why the BCS ranks the Cougs No. 9 and is poised to punish them severely if they lose today to the unranked Beavers.

Kickoff is 3:30 p.m., the promotion is Dad's Day, and tickets have been sold out for weeks.

The Cougars are deemed overrated in some quarters because their once-strong opponents are drifting earthward behind them like wilted poppies.

Washington State hasn't played anyone in this week's Top 25, and its six victims own a combined record of 17-30.

And a win over Oregon State (5-2) won't boost the Cougars' stock a great deal, since the Beavers have their own credibility issues, namely losses to Fresno State (3-4) and Washington (4-3).

So the Cougars have no choice but to keep winning and be content with their No. 6 position in the media and coaches' polls.

"You can't argue with the BCS," coach Bill Doba said. "How do you argue with a computer?"

For all that, Oregon State might be the Cougars' toughest opponent to date.

Line play seems a key. The Beavers have a tailback, Steven Jackson, who is rugged enough to test the Cougars' highly regarded defensive line.

And the Beavs' own defensive front seven, led by all-conference linebacker Richard Seigler, is capable of further confusing WSU's inconsistent offense.

The Cougars would like to continue whatever magic has allowed them to outscore their opponents 75-8 in the first quarter.

An early lead would force Oregon State to throw, and the Cougars' snappy pass-rushers would love to get a crack at 6-foot-6 Derek Anderson, whose 10 touchdown passes are tarnished by his 14 interceptions.

When the Beavs do throw, Cougar cornerbacks Jason David and Karl Paymah must keep close tabs on receiver James Newson, who has caught 42 passes for an 18-yard average, and WSU linebackers must keep an eye on the tailback, Jackson, who boasts hands as well as size and speed.

"They dump the ball off to him, and now he has a running start," Doba said. "If you just load up in the box and try to stop Jackson, they can still hurt you with the pass. But definitely you have to stop Jackson."

The Cougars' injury concerns have lightened a bit. Tailback Jermaine Green and center Mike Shelford may be available, and quarterback Matt Kegel seems to be coping with his shoulder follies -- the recent partial dislocation of the right one and the full dislocation of the other.

"He has practiced as well as he has all year," Doba said. "If I'd known this, I'd have dislocated that shoulder a long time ago."

Still, staying power is an issue. Despite questionable depth, the Cougars more or less fiddled around with outmatched New Mexico, Arizona and Stanford, then mustered enough punch to win in the fourth quarter each time.

Such an approach would be risky against Oregon State, not to mention the BCS computers.

NOTES -- Lewiston High graduate Dan Haines, a sophomore tight end for the Beavers, has slipped to No. 4 on the depth chart this season and hasn't caught a pass. Nor is he playing on special teams. He watched his stock drop after tearing a knee ligament late last season and undergoing surgery. He finished that season with 10 receptions for 144 yards, being named third-team freshman All-American.

Couggan.com - Posted Oct 25, 2003

COUGS WIN! COUGS WIN!
Defense, Lunde star in wild one

By Staff of Cougfan.com

PULLMAN -- In dramatic, comeback fashion Washington State defeated Oregon State here this evening to extend its record to 7-1, but more relevant, to 4-0 in conference play and en route to the Mother of All Showdowns with USC next week. The final was 36-30.

We'll be back later tonight with insights, quotes and notes.

SCORING SUMMARY
WSU -- JONATHAN SMITH 2 YD RUN (DUNNING KICK)
WSU -- DEVARD DARLING 16 YD PASS FROM KEGEL
(DUNNING KICK)
OSU -- MITCH MEEUWSEN 45 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (YLINIEMI KICK)
OSU -- YLINIEMI 51 FG
OSU -- KYLINIEMI 35 YD FG
OSU - SAFETY
OSU -- MIKE HASS 66 YD PASS FROM ANDERSON (YLINIEMI KICK)
OSU -- YLINIEMI 41 FG
OSU -- YLINIEMI 35 FG
WSU - SCOTT LUNDE 9 YD PASS FROM KEGEL (DUNNING KICK)
WSU -- JONATHAN SMITH 22 YD RUN (DUNNING KICK)

Lewiston Tribune Online - 10/26/03

Cougs survive wild ride; Cougars rally from 11-point halftime deficit to fend off Beavers and keep Pacific-10 record unblemished

PULLMAN -- As Jason David galloped off the field after his decisive interception, you could see the devil perched on his shoulder and whispering, "Throw it, throw it." The cornerback tried to ignore it but couldn't. He hurled the football toward the Cougars' student section and it disappeared in the delirium.

Washington State accepted the celebration penalty, just as it accepted an Oregon State safety in the waning seconds.

After a game like this, the Cougars figured they deserved it.

They had overcome seven turnovers and an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat the Beavers 36-30 on Saturday to retain a share of the Pac-10 Conference lead.

The high score may suggest an interruption of WSU's long streak of stellar defensive performances. Not at all. The Cougars sacked Derek Anderson seven times, limited the Beavers to 15 rushing yards (partly because of those sacks) and forced five turnovers, including four critical ones in the second half.

It may also suggest a rejuvenation of WSU's spotty offense. That wasn't the case either, but Matt Kegel shook off five interceptions to rifle two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Scott Lunde, the second one creating a 29-28 lead with 10 minutes, 11 seconds left.

Playing an unranked opponent, the sixth-ranked Cougars (7-1, 4-0) might not have enhanced their stock in the national bowl scramble with this nerve-jangling win before a sold-out crowd of 35,117 at Martin Stadium. But they eased doubts about late-game mettle that have lingered since their loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 6.

They have won six in a row since then. Oregon State (5-3, 2-2) dropped its second straight and probably bowed out of the conference title race.

"I don't see how a team can play any worse -- we had seven turnovers," WSU defensive end Isaac Brown said. "I mean, we weren't doing a lot of things right. But we were mentally strong. We have so many seniors on this team, and we're not going to lose our shot at a Pac-10 championship like that."

Late in the first half, the Cougars unraveled in a way that few teams ever survive. After leading 14-0, they allowed 25 straight points in a 17-minute span, with Kegel throwing two interceptions, losing a fumble and getting sacked for a safety.

Beavers free safety Mitch Meeuwsen wound up with three interceptions, and his would-be fourth theft was negated by a double penalty -- roughing-the-passer and holding -- that might have been the most pivotal play of the game. Instead of having possession on the Cougars' 16-yard line, the Beavers were backed to their 22.

The next play, tailback Jonathan Smith burst through a gaping hole and pushed WSU's lead to 36-28 with 9:07 left.

Washington State coach Bill Doba lauded his players and assistants for staying calm at halftime, trailing 25-14. The coaches' emphasis, he said, was to avoid being highly critical. Offensive-line coach George Yarno told the team, "Guys, nobody remembers the first-half scores."

The Cougars' comeback was almost as abrupt as their collapse. Lunde appeared to be the catalyst, catching four passes in a 66-yard drive capped by his 9-yard TD reception, cutting the Cougars' deficit to 28-23 with 14:14 left.

Oregon State punter Carl Tobey then inexplicably fumbled a snap, and WSU's Scott Davis snatched the ball and rumbled 39 yards to the 8. The Cougs blew that opportunity on Aric Williams' end-zone interception, but Tai Tupai then forced another OSU turnover, sideswiping Anderson to cause a fumble recovered by Al Genatone on the Beaver 28.

Kegel turned to Lunde again, connecting for 16 yards and then a 12-yard go-ahead touchdown.

Then it was a matter of hanging on. The process included an intentional safety in the final seconds, with punter Kyle Basler taking the snap and striding into the Cougar end zone.

With both teams plugging into their comeback modes at various times, they combined for only 18 rushing yards, largely because of 12 sacks. The total offensive yardage, too, was modest: WSU 308, Oregon State 291.

"A 5-yard run was a big run tonight for either team," Beavers coach Mike Riley said. "We knew it was going to be this kind of game."

D.D. Acholonu and Will Derting finished with three sacks apiece for the Cougars, and two of Acholonu's came back-to-back to undermine Oregon State's second-to-last possession.

The final OSU drive seemed more promising. Steven Jackson, the No. 3 rusher in the country, mustered his brightest moment of a middling 85-yard night, breaking Virgil Williams' grasp to convert on fourth-and-1 from the Washington State 42.

On the next play, however, David made a sprawling interception near the Oregon State sideline.

Josh Shavies, who had hurried Anderson on the play, raised his arms in triumph and David made his way across the field, obviously weighing the risks of an excessive-celebration penalty. Deciding the Cougars' eight-point lead was safe, he heaved his prize into the crowd.

A little breathing room never felt so good.

Oregon State                    7            18            3            2            --30
Washington State           14               0           2            20            --36

First Quarter
WSU--Jonathan Smith, 2 run (Drew Dunning kick)
WSU--Devard Darling 16 pass from Matt Kegel (Dunning kick)
OSU-- Mitch Meeuwsen 45 interception return (Kirk Yliniemi kick)

Second quarter
OSU--Yliniemi 51 field goal
OSU--Yliniemi 35 field goal
OSU--Team safety
OSU--Mike Hass 66 pass from Derek Anderson (Yliniemi kick)
OSU--Yliniemi 41 field goal

Third quarter
WSU--Team safety
OSU--Yliniemi, Kirk 35 field goal

Fourth quarter
WSU--Scott Lunde 9 pass from Kegel (Dunning kick)
WSU--Lunde 11 pass from Kegel (Pass intercepted)
WSU--Smith 22 run (Dunning kick)
OSU--Team safety

Att -- 35,117

                                        OSU        WSU

First Downs                        15            17
Rushes-Yards                  42-15         31-3
Passing Yards                   276           305
Passes Att-Comp-Int       42-16-2      40-21-5
Total Offense Plays-Yards 84-291      71-308
Punts-Avg                        9-40.9        6-43.0
Fumbles-Lost                     5-3             4-2
Penalties-Yards                9-105         13-85
Possession Time               33:03         26:57

RUSHING--OSU: Steven Jackson 28-85; Dwight Wright 1-6; Carl Tobey 1-minus 9; Team 1-minus 24; Derek Anderson 11-minus 43. Washington State--Jonathan Smith 19-36; Devard Darling 1-5; Chris Bruhn 3-5; Kyle Basler 1-minus 15; Matt Kegel 7-minus 28.

PASSING--OSU: Anderson 16-42-2-276. Washington State: Kegel 21-40-5-305.

RECEIVING--OSU: James Newson 5-87; Tim Euhus 4-26; Mike Hass 3-106; Steven Jackson 1-21; Kenny Farley 1-16; George Gillett 1-15; Cole Clasen 1-5. Washington State: Scott Lunde 8-110; Chris Jordan 3-64; Jonathan Smith 3-39; Devard Darling 2-50; Trandon Harvey 2-25; Cody Boyd 1-15; Jermaine Green 1-4; Moore, Sammy 1-minus 2.

Cougfan.com - Posted Oct 26, 2003

The Unlikely Hero
On day of big D, senior receiver stands out

By PAT MITCHELL
Cougfan.com Associate Editor

PULLMAN -- Scott Lunde, jilted of a scholarship offer by Oregon State as prep senior because he was considered too slow, took the opportunity Saturday night to show the Beavers there's more to the game than speed.

With ice-water in his veins, a pair of Downey-soft hands and some precise route running, the fifth-year senior from Vancouver's Hudsons Bay High rescued Washington State from a nightmare of offensive ineptitude with an eight-catch, 110-yard, two-touchdown effort that lifted the Cougars to a dramatic, come-from-behind 36-30 victory over the Beavs.

In doing so, WSU climbs to 7-1 on the season and 4-0 in Pac-10 play as it heads to Los Angeles next week for a showdown with USC.

To fully appreciate how big -- and improbable -- Lunde's heroics were, consider that his statistical output nearly matched the numbers he'd collected over the previous seven games combined. He was seeing greater playing time than usual because standout slotback Chris Jordan had to leave the game with an injury.

But get this: Lunde was benched for a time by offensive coordinator Mike Levenseller for expressing some frustration with a first-half play that went awry.

That almost had this 6-1, 201-pound uber-competitor in tears.

But just like his loss of playing time this season, he didn't stew. Ol' No. 35 just focused.

"I'm pretty much a team player. I just tried to come back and fight and have a good attitude," said Lunde, who walked on at WSU after OSU -- between the transition from Mike Riley to Dennis Erickson -- pulled its offer of a scholarship. After years of hard work on scout and special teams, he emerged as a solid back up for the Cougars in 2001 and then earned a full ride a year ago when he caught 35 passes for the Pac-10 champions.

Saturday, with WSU blowing a 14-0 lead and trailing 28-16 at halftime, Lunde woke the echoes of legendary WSU possession receivers of yore. Blink and you could swear it was wee Brian Kelly out there.

Or maybe even Levenseller himself. No matter. Lunde was a one-man wrecking crew. Saying he was "in the zone," he found ways to get open underneath and over the middle, snagging everything Matt Kegel -- under pressure and off target much of the day -- tossed his way.

In fact, Lunde turned the first five minutes of the fourth quarter into a personal showcase. His 9-yard scoring reception from Kegel early in the period closed OSU's lead to 28-23.

And just when the faithful thought all was lost after Kegel was picked off in the Beaver end zone, the defense held again and Lunde went to work, grabbing a long one over the middle that he and Kegel followed on the next play with an 11-yard scoring strike -- again, over the middle -- to put WSU up 29-28.

"I knew he was a good football player and he did a nice job reading some blitzes and making some plays," said Riley, who would have had Lunde clad in black were it not for Erickson's concerns about the kid's wheels.

So great was Lunde's mojo on this gorgeous autumn night that he also starred in a critical play in which he didn’t even touch the ball. Late in the game, with the Cougars leading by one and looking for more, Beaver Mitch Meeuwsen, who already had intercepted Kegel twice, grabbed another and returned it to the Cougar 16. But two penalties on the play against OSU -- one of them for interfering with (you guessed it Scott Lunde -- nullified the play and the Cougars retained the ball and scored on a nifty 22-yard Jonathon Smith run one play later.

On a day when the Cougar offense did seemingly everything it could to lose the game while the crimson defense was its usual remarkable self, it made no sense that the game's biggest hero would be from the O. That it was Lunde -- who in one-half of football tonight exactly doubled his entire career TD total -- is even more mind bending.

But in a game as weird you'll ever see -- a collective 12 turnovers, 12 sacks, 22 penalties, and three safeties fergawdsakes -- it's only fitting that the man of the hour be out of left field.

If the Cougar receiving corps were the Rat Pack, you've got the likes of Devard Darling as Sinatra, Jordan as Deano and Sammy as, naturally, Sammy. But Lunde? He's Joey Bishop all the way -- solid, reliable, nothing flashy.

But on this night, at least, also a headliner for the ages.

THAT DOMINANT DEFENSE
For a long time there, it looked like the only offense that was going to help the OSU effort was WSU's turnover-prone O. On their first eight possessions, the Beaver O punted seven times and fumbled once -- the fumble recovered by Isaac Brown and returned to the OSU 2-yard-line to set up WSU's first tally of the day on a Jonathon Smith run.

Hats off to Coach (Robb) Akey and that whole (defensive) staff. They had a great plan," said head coach Bill Doba of his D coordinator and stop corps.

For the entire day, the Cougar D held Oregon State to 25 plays of three yards rushing or less, with star back Steven Jackson logging just 24 hashes in the first half. And QB Derek Anderson completed just 16 of 42 of passes, was sacked seven times, threw two INTs and lost two fumbles. The Beavers also converted on only four of 20 third-down plays.

Senior safety Erik Coleman, who termed the day's proceedings "bizarre," led the Cougar defensive onslaught with 11 total tackles and a big fourth quarter INT. That was the ninth pick of Coleman's career and his fourth this season. Coleman's 11 tackles put him just one behind Will Derting for the team lead this season -- 51 to 50. Derting had another huge day, posting eight tackles, including three sacks, and pressuring Anderson all day long.

Jason David's interception to seal the game with just more than a minute on the clock was the 15th of his career, moving him past late-60s standout Rick Reed into sole possession of the No. 2 spot on WSU's career air theft chart behind Lamont Thompson.

With three sacks on the day, Cougar DE D.D. Acholonu moved into second place on the WSU career list with 23.5. The record holder is Palouse Posse All-American DeWayne Patterson. D.D. ranks No. 3 for both career sack yards (160) and tackles for loss (182)

NOTABLE NOTES:
Cougar sophomore Kyle Basler's 68-yard third quarter punt was the longest of his career. He had a monster day, and averaged 43 yards on six kicks.

For the eighth time in eight games, Kegel completed at least one pass to seven or more different receives. He also did something less notable: Throw five INTs in one game. Not since the days of Birnbaum and Mencke in 1998 have the Cougars crossed that threshold. "This was a nightmare. If we wouldn't have won this game, I probably wouldn't have left this place alive," he said. " I lived to fight another day. I won't quit. I'm a Coug true and true and this team is full of champions."

If redshirt freshman linebacker Scott Davis looked natural heading down the field with the pigskin after scooping it up on that muffed OSU punt attempt, rest assured he was more than comfortable hauling the swine. During a star-studded three-year varsity career at Kamiakin High in Kennewick he rushed for 4,457 yards and scored 61 TDs.

Senior kicker Drew Dunning continued to inch toward Jason Hanson's WSU career scoring record. He tacked on four PATs Saturday to give him 300 career points, just 28 shy of Hanson's 328.

WSU outscored OSU 20-2 in the final period, effectivley offsetting OSU's 18-0 run in the second period. And how's this for strange: In the third quarter the Beavers had a 3-2 scoring advantage. Baseball anyone?

Cougfan.com - Posted Oct 26, 2003

What they're saying, 10/26
Our weekly compilation of quips and quotes

By the Staff of Cougfan.com

RELIVE THE GLORY—bizarre as it was—of the Cougars’ 36-30 come-from-behind victory over the Oregon State Beavers with these notable quotes and notes from sportswriters across the Pacific Northwest.

“If the mark of a good team is the ability to win even when playing poorly, Washington State may be a far better team than anyone ever imagined. The Cougars' running game netted 3 yards Saturday night against Oregon State. Quarterback Matt Kegel threw five interceptions. The team also lost two fumbles. And committed 13 penalties. And yet, somehow, WSU managed a 36-30 win over Oregon State at sold-out Martin Stadium on Saturday.” Don Ruiz, Tacoma News Tribune

“Is there no statute of limitations on torment, heartbreak and misfortune for Oregon State? Listen up, football gods. The Beavers did not sell Babe Ruth to the Yankees for a "Building Bell Field" campaign. They did not refuse ticketed entrance to a billy goat, Cougar, Bear or even a Duck, for crying out loud. Yet there they were again on an otherwise postcard-perfect Saturday afternoon on the Palouse, absorbing one emotional sucker punch after another in front of a crimson sellout at Martin Stadium. Their lost-it, won-it, lost-it, won-it and ultimately lost-it 36-30 demoralizer to sixth-ranked Washington State on Saturday was unusually frustrating and exasperating, even for a program that invented the concept.” Jeff Welsch, Corvallis Gazette Times

“The game was sweet revenge for Vancouver, Wash., native Lunde, who attended Hudson's Bay High School. He was offered a scholarship by Oregon State coach Mike Riley and was on the brink of accepting when Riley left to coach the San Diego Chargers of the NFL. Incoming coach Dennis Erickson didn't offer a scholarship to Lunde, who walked on at WSU and was rewarded with a scholarship last year.” - Craig Smith, Seattle Times

“Jay Leno had a stand-up gig on campus Saturday night, yet it was hard to imagine a funnier performance than the one Washington State and Oregon State put on earlier at Martin Stadium.”- Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times

“It looked more like a fight between Shemp and Moe for most of the game, sans the eye-poking.” - Carter Strickland, Spokesman-Review.

“If every unit on the Cougars was playing like the defensive line, WSU might be getting mention as one of the team that could jostle its way toward the national-title game. But injury problems on the offensive line have put a crimp in the production of the offense, as have dings to receivers and running backs.” - Bud Withers and Craig Smith, Seattle Times

“ Billy Knotts first words were of thanks. And the Washington State offensive lineman directed them right at the Cougar defense. “- Carter Strickland Spokesman Review

“It ( Jonathan Smith’s second touchdown run) was a final nail that seemed indicative of the whole victory: Here was the Cougars' running game, flirting dangerously with negative yardage most of the game. And then, when needed most, came a brilliant 22-yard burst that covered a multitude of sins.”- Don Ruiz, Tacoma News Tribune

“As Jason David galloped off the field after his decisive interception, you could see the devil perched on his shoulder and whispering, ‘Throw it, throw it.’ The cornerback tried to ignore it but couldn't. He hurled the football toward the Cougars' student section and it disappeared in the delirium.” -Dale Grummert, Lewiston Morning Tribune

“But for the Cougars, this was not a night for bravado, it was an occasion for genuflecting and giving thanks to the gods. Somehow, they survived seven turnovers, including five interceptions by Matt Kegel, and lived to tell about it.”-Bud Withers, Seattle Times

“It's never a picnic in the Palouse. But despite losing 10 of their previous 11 games at Washington State, the Beavers deserved better than Saturday's 36-30 elbow to the throat they received before a sold-out Martin Stadium crowd of 35,117. Bob Rodman, Eugene Register Guard

“To be sure, the Cougars won this game despite Kegel -- and, strangely, because of him. That's not possible, of course, but anything became possible in this 4-hour fiasco that probably had the three bowl reps (Sun, Holiday and Fiesta) wondering if they'd stumbled onto an intramural flag football game.” Jim Meehan, Spokesman-Review

“If Washington State brings Saturday's act to Los Angeles, however, the Cougars will get whacked in the first half and the hook in the second. The only positive thing you could say about Washington State was: thank goodness for the defense.”-Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times

“Mission accomplished. But it was a rougher mission than expected. Olympia nativeAmanda Bleysucceeded in flying a WSU flag within camera range of the ESPN GameDay cameras Saturday on the Bowling Green campus. It was the third campus the flag has flown over as volunteers from the Cougfan.com Web site follow GameDay around the country until the pregame show comes to Pullman. However, after one early clear shot, some rowdy Bowling Green fans took offense at another school's flag flying on their campus and broke the flag pole.” Don Ruiz, Tacoma News Tribune

Cougfan.com - Posted Oct 26, 2003

Lots of hurt to go around
Cougs all banged up as they prep for USC

By BARRY BOLTON
Cougfan.com Associate Editor

WHEN COUGAR coach Bill Doba gave his injury report Sunday night, it may have been easier to list the players not nursing wounds. In addition, there was a bigger hurt -- fans booing Matt Kegel -- that weighed heavily on the head man's mind.

Doba was more than a little disappointed with the boos he heard thrown Matt Kegel’s way on Saturday against Oregon State, and pointed out interceptions are caused by a multitude of things. A poor throw by the quarterback is just one of those factors.

“That kid doesn’t deserve that,” Doba said sternly.  “And when the chips are down, by God, (Kegel) made some great throws.  There’s so much more to it (than meets the eye).  Reading coverages; going through progressions -- Matt just studies hard, he’s a good student of the game.”

Lewiston Tribune Online - 10/27/03

MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: DALE GRUMMERT ... Cougs' man in the middle

PULLMAN -- Talking to Scott Lunde two months ago, one suspected things were going to be different for him this season. There was a new sense of anticipation in his eyes and voice. He had spent four years trying to adapt to Washington State football, and now Washington State football was adapting to him. The mountain, it seemed, had come to Muhammad.

Well, it didn't turn out that way. Not immediately. Having finally cracked the starting lineup, the senior receiver played a mostly marginal role through the first six games of the season. And during what seemed like the longest first half in college football history, he was less than marginal -- benched, chewed out, fighting back tears.

Then, voila, he took the field in the second half Saturday night and played the starring role in the Cougars' 36-30 defeat of Oregon State, keeping them in the hunt for a second straight Pac-10 championship.

Lunde came to the Cougars in 1999 as a walk-on from Vancouver, Wash., and he whittled out a footnote for himself with his hellacious play on special teams in 2000. Eventually he won a scholarship and a spot on the depth chart, but it seemed unlikely he would ever start.

For one thing, he was a possession receiver, and the Cougars are not a possession team. They are a big-play, spread-the-field team, and Lunde is all about gritting your teeth and making a painful 8-yard catch for a first down. His habitat is the teeming middle of the field, where linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks all get a crack at you if you dare catch the ball.

But, yes, a different vibe was in the air during preseason camp.

The Cougars had lost their quarterback, two of their three leading receivers and their offensive play-caller from last season. They modified their big-play mentality and were stressing ball control -- more running plays, shorter passes. They needed fearless receivers with sure hands. Lunde, who had caught 30 passes as a backup the previous season, breezed into a starting role at slotback.

Then things went sour. Lunde injured his ribs and missed the season-opener against Idaho, the one game in which the Cougars truly did play ball-control football. He recovered quickly but the Cougars then lost to Notre Dame in a game that exposed the limitations of their new conservatism.

The Cougars, after all, are the Cougars. They have tall, lean offensive linemen who aren't built for limbo contests or run-blocking. In Matt Kegel they have a strong-armed, dropback quarterback. In Devard Darling they have a big powerful receiver who is getting better all the time at downfield catches in traffic.

Over the next four games, in short, the Cougars seemed to accept big-play football, successful or not, as their lot in life. When they did throw short, it was generally toward the sideline. And when they did throw over the middle, it was generally to a promising freshman, Chris Jordan.

Through six games, Lunde had caught only 10 passes, tied for sixth on the team.

The low point came in the first half of this key game against the Beavers before a capacity crowd at Martin Stadium. On a first-quarter motion play, Lunde lined up in the wrong spot and got jammed near the line of scrimmage, giving a pass-rusher time to sabotage the play.

On the sideline, according to Lunde, offensive coordinator Mike Levenseller served up a tongue-lashing and the receiver didn't respond well. They had "a confrontation," he said. Lunde is the only fifth-year senior in the WSU active receiver crew, and Levenseller holds him to strict standards of precision. He spent virtually the rest of the half on the bench.

Lunde has a certain credibility with reporters because he considers their questions carefully and answers fully. So nobody doubted him when he said he was on the verge of tears for much of that strange, endless first half, which saw the Cougars' 14-0 lead devolve into a 25-14 deficit.

"I had a feeling before this game that my time was coming," he said. "The first half was real rough. ... At halftime I had to check my attitude and just be a team player. After that, things started happening. The ball started coming my way."

He expressed this "feeling" in religious terms, but there were logical reasons for it as well.

Kegel had two sore shoulders. The Cougars placed an emphasis on protecting him, abandoning their five-receiver sets and sometimes using two tight ends. After two gorgeous leaping catches by Darling on first-quarter vertical routes, Oregon State deepened its safeties and Kegel started underthrowing receivers. With injuries hounding WSU's offensive tackles, the Cougars needed a dump-off receiver to beat the Beavers' ever-increasing blitzes. And Jordan had pulled a groin.

So Kegel started to look for Lunde.

At one point, five straight completions went to the senior, all on slants or crossing routes. He caught four passes in a 66-yard touchdown drive capped by his 9-yard reception, slicing the Cougars' deficit to 28-23 early in the fourth quarter.

Again, the mountain had come to Muhammad, right there in the center of the field.

"Going across the middle," Lunde said, explaining why he likes these perilous routes, "you've got to squeeze the ball, because you're going to get hit. And I've been hit so many times it doesn't even bother me anymore."

On the next possession, after a takeaway by the WSU defense, Kegel fired for Darling in the end zone. Another underthrow, and the quarterback's fifth interception. This quarter of football belonged to Lunde, it seemed, and no other receiver would do.

The Washington State defense forced another turnover, and the Cougars stared at another golden opportunity to take the lead. At the risk of being terribly predictable, Kegel fired over the middle for Lunde. Complete for 16 yards to the 11.

Evidently the sore-shouldered quarterback felt comfortable throwing hard as long as he didn't have to throw long. Tempting fate, then, he now fired a piston into the end zone, splitting defenders, toward you-know-whom.

Lunde and safety Lawrence Turner both lunged for the ball. The receiver appeared to snag it, but there was a moment of doubt when the ball disappeared and 35,000 onlookers wondered if it had struck the turf.

Then, lying supine, Lunde raised the ball aloft with his left hand. A dejected Turner rose to his feet, officials signaled touchdown, and there was Lunde's outstretched arm, like a flag planted in the end zone.

For a possession receiver, the guy definitely has flair.

NOTES -- Tight end Troy Bienemann remains questionable for the Cougars' long-awaited game at USC at 4 p.m. Saturday. Despite the bulging disc in his back, he filled his long-snapping duties against Oregon State. Also questionable is Charles Harris, the freshman offensive tackle who had made his first start Saturday before leaving with a sprained ankle in the first half. He had replaced Sam Lightbody (pinched nerve), who is expected to play at USC. Tailback Jermaine Green (ribs) saw action against the Beavers and should watch his playing time increase. Also expected to play are Kegel, Pat Bennett (biceps), Karl Paymah (hip pointer) and Cody Boyd (disclocated finger).