Washington State Cougars Blow by Cal, Take First Place
By Ben Renner
The Washington State Cougars buried the Cal Bears Saturday 56-21 to take first place in the Pac-12 North division.
The Washington State Cougars, thanks to the Washington Huskies’ slip-up against the USC Trojans on Saturday, find themselves in first place in the Pac-12 North with a 7-0 conference record. Now ranked 20th in the country, the Cougars eviscerated the Bears’ terrible defense, wracking up 654 offensive yards, and adding a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown by Kaleb Fossum for good measure.
Cougars’ quarterback Luke Falk completed 36 of 50 passing attempts for 373 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. Receiver Gabe Marks snagged seven balls for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Washington State Cougars’ running backs trampled Cal for 248 yards rushing on only 29 carries.
The Washington State Cougars allowed 425 yards passing to Cal’s talented quarterback Davis Webb, but they held an offense averaging just under 40 points per game down by keeping the Bears to only five third down conversions out of 17 tries. Cougs’ linebacker Nate Derider intercepted Webb in the endzone to end one drive.
More from Washington State Cougars
- Washington State Football: What you need to know for 2018 Alamo Bowl
- Washington State Football: 6 takeaways from 28-15 Apple Cup loss
- Washington State Football: What you need to know for UW 11/23
- Apple Cup: History leading up to the 2018 edition
- PAC-12 Football Power Rankings week of 11/21 – Emerald City Swagger
WSU receiver River Cracraft caught three touchdowns but tore his ACL. He’ll be out for the year in another disappointing twist to his injury-plagued career.
The Cougars hung another huge score on another Pac-12 opponent and can clinch the Pac-12 North Division next week in Colorado.
After the Buffaloes’ 49-24 win over Arizona this weekend, the 12th-ranked Buffaloes will be prepared to take on the Cougars in Boulder. This will be the marquee matchup of the Pac-12 weekend when these two teams face each other. If both the Cougars and Huskies win next week, it will set up one of the most compelling Apple Cups ever. Even if the WSU doesn’t win on the road in Colorado, the Apple Cup will still be a pivotal game in the national championship scene and in the Pac-12. Both games are important for the Cougs and Huskies next week.