After allowing 118 points over the last two weeks, Washington State finally put things together defensively to hold the Colorado State Rams out of the end zone for a refreshing 20-3 win on the road. Heading into the 2025 season, Jimmy Rogers wanted to bring over his defensive, run-first identity to the Palouse. While WSU […]
After allowing 118 points over the last two weeks, Washington State finally put things together defensively to hold the Colorado State Rams out of the end zone for a refreshing 20-3 win on the road.
Heading into the 2025 season, Jimmy Rogers wanted to bring over his defensive, run-first identity to the Palouse. While WSU (3-2) was able to hold Idaho and San Diego State to 26 combined points in the first two weeks, their running game looked completely lost. Entering this week’s contest, WSU ranked amongst the worst in the FBS in nearly all rushing stats and offensive line success. Tonight, while still not a completely dominant running performance, WSU still achieved a season-high 158 rushing yards. Leo Pulalasi’s longest rush of 45 yards helped him lead all rushers with 50 yards on three carries. Zevi Eckhaus, in his second start of the season, gave WSU some creativity offensively with a handful of QB-designed runs, totaling 30 yards on the ground. Eckhaus also had a great game in the air, completing 16 of 28 passing attempts for 189 yards and two touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, the Cougars allowed CSU (1-3) to score a 50-yard field goal on their opening drive, but shutout the Rams after that. While the Rams were still able to have some success moving the football to the tune of 334 yards, it was a struggle to get down the field and WSU’s defense bent but didn’t break.
The scoring was all done in the first half of the game. CSU elected to receive the opening kickoff and immediately got the running game going. The Rams’ first three rushing plays totaled 37 yards, anchored by Jalen Dupree’s 27-yarder to put the Rams in WSU territory early. WSU’s defense stood tall, forcing a tackle for loss that CSU couldn’t recover from and lead to a 50-yard field goal from Isaiah Hannkins for the early 3-0 lead.
Eckhaus and company wasted no time in their response. WSU marched right down the field in five plays, with Eckhaus finding Jeremiah Noga over the top of the Rams’ defense from 35 yards out to push WSU in front 7-3.
The defense quickly forced a three-and-out to put WSU’s offense back out on the field. On their second drive, WSU used some creative running with a mix of Angel Johnson, Kirby Vorhees and some keepers from Eckhaus to get back into Ram territory. While they were able to get back into the red zone, the drive would stall out. Jack Stevens would get WSU some points with a 37-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-3.
CSU quickly got to work on a response of their own as Justin Marshall took a pass in the flats for 25 yards. A questionable pass interference call helped bring CSU even closer to the WSU 33, but the Rams would go no further. Two plays later, Kenny Worthy delivered a good hit on Marshall to pop the ball free for Caleb Francl to fall on for WSU’s first takeaway since week one.
After the teams traded punts, WSU finally got one of their most successful running drives this season. Johnson kicked things off with an 11-yard rush and followed up with another six-yard gain. Two plays later, Pulalasi exploded to the outside for a huge 45-yard run, WSU’s longest of the season, to the CSU eight-yard line. On 3rd and goal, Eckhaus delivered a great ball on a bootleg to the right to an open Josh Meredith in the end zone, but Meredith couldn’t hang on. WSU would have to settle for a field goal to go up 13-3.
CSU again benefited from a defensive pass interference call, but again couldn’t pay it off. WSU’s defense came up huge with back-to-back stops on QB keepers on 3rd and 1, and 4th and 1 to force a turnover on downs in CSU territory. WSU’s offense used the short field to get right back inside the CSU 10-yard line. On 3rd and goal from the two-yard line, Danny Freund called up a beautiful play that sprung Ademola Faleye wide open in the end zone for an easy touchdown pass from Eckhaus to give WSU a commanding 20-3 lead.
WSU tried to get the ball back before the half by calling a timeout prior to a 3rd and 8, but CSU was able to convert, kickstarting a last-chance drive in the first half. The Rams had success in their up-tempo offense, moving the ball efficiently to give their kicker a chance from 44 yards out before the half. Despite being able to easily knock home his first try from 50 yards early, Hankins pulled this one wide to the right to keep the score at 20-3 heading into the half.
Both teams combined for 418 yards on 11 possessions in the first half but only 263 on seven possessions in the second half. While CSU was able to accumulate more yards than WSU in the second half, WSU’s defense didn’t make it easy and never broke. All of the CSU second-half drives took 10+ plays, and—spoiler alert—none resulted in points. The Rams twice went for it on fourth down and were turned away both times, including on the Rams’ first second-half drive when they got all the way to the WSU eight-yard line.
CSU tried to finally break the second-half stalemate and bring the game within two possessions with a 43-yard field goal attempt. Yet again the Rams were turned away as Bryson Lamb got his big Cougar paw on the ball to block the kick.
WSU put the game away with a beautiful, methodical 7:09-long drive to milk away the entirety of the game clock and put themselves back over .500.
Not only was this a win WSU desperately needed to get back on track, but the way they dictated this game was a breath of fresh air. Outside of CSU’s first drive, a scripted drive, they shut them out. They came up with stops when they needed them most and even got a takeaway for the first time in three weeks. The running game still has work to do, but looked improved with their season high in rushing yards.
The Cougars will enjoy a much needed bye week before traveling to Ole Miss.
Category: General Sports
