Washington State Football: 6 takeaways from 41-38 win over Stanford

Pitching in

All season long, different Cougs have stepped up and had their moments to shine. What speaks so much to the character of this team is the little things that happen when one of the skill players doesn’t get the ball on a particular play of series. Let’s call out a few of these.

On James Williams run for Wazzu’s first touchdown, it’s Dez Patmon who gets the big block on the outside. He’s split wide in the formation when the play starts, comes back inside and seals off the left cornerback. The last Stanford player who could have stopped Williams from reaching the end zone.

Take a look at the Cougs second touchdown. On a running back screen from the Stanford five, Minshew hit Max Borghi in the flat. As the Cardinal linebacker comes from the middle of the field, he gets leveled by receiver Easop Winston on a delayed cross so Borghi goes in for a score untouched. It was a day when Winston wasn’t the go-to receiver, with only three catches for 23 yards. He still found a way to make a big contribution.

Moving forward to the last minute of the second quarter, WSU is down 28-14 with the ball on their own 32-yard line. Minshew finds sophomore Jamire Calvin across the middle. He gets blocks downfield from Patmon, Tay Martin, and Renard Bell which allows Calvin to go for 52 yards. That play set up a field goal to end the half.