PULLMAN, Wash.- The Aztecs would strike first during their trip to Pullman with Jayden Denegal finding Jacob Bostick wide open on a 35-yard touchdown pass to cap off a two-minute, five play, 56-yard scoring drive. Unfortunately, the Cougars would respond with six unanswered scoring plays, including a safety and touchdown pass in the final 1:16 of the second half.
Washington State’s Jaxon Potter threw three touchdowns on the night to go along with 257 passing yards. The Cougars also totaled 139 yards on the ground after being limited to just three total rushing yards in week one against Idaho. Joshua Meredith led all receivers with 88 receiving yards on eight receptions.
The two teams accounted for 13 penalties, adding up to 98 yards. The biggest flag of the game came with just over four minutes remaining in the game. Trailing 13-29, Chris Johnson would block a 28-yard Washington State field goal attempt resulting in fellow cornerback Bryce Phillips running the recovered ball back for a touchdown. An offsides penalty would nullify the six-point play allowing the Cougars to keep their drive alive.
The Aztecs defense was able to force consecutive punts to start the game behind a pair of three-and-outs highlighted by pass break-ups from Owen Chambliss and Trey White.
The Cougars would respond to Bostick’s 35-yard touchdown reception with a six play, 48 yard scoring drive capped off by a three-yard receiving touchdown from Trey Leckner.
The Aztecs would get back into the scoring column with just under a minute of play in the third quarter. Thanks to a 75-yard drive that included 48 receiving yards from Jordan Napier and 22 rushing yards from Lucky Sutton, Denegal plunged into the endzone from one yard out to give the Aztecs their second touchdown of the evening.
Napier led the Aztecs in receiving with 69 yards on seven catches. Jacob Bostick hauled in three catches for 48 yards as well as recording his second receiving touchdown in as many games. Lucky Sutton was effective on the ground with 88 rushing yards to go along with a strong 5.9 yards per carry. Denegal finished the evening with 133 yards through the air as well as a touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball Tano Letuli once again led the Aztecs in total tackles with 10. Trey White was dynamic rushing off the edge with four total tackles, a quarterback hit, a pass breakup and 1.5 tackles for a loss, including a huge tackle in the backfield resulting in a turnover on downs for Washington State. In the secondary, Chris Johnson added seven tackles, a quarterback hit, and a pass break up to his resume. He also forced a fumble in the fourth quarter but the Aztecs were unable to recover.
The Aztecs move to 3-1 in the all-time series against the Cougars with Washington State winning two consecutive meetings.
A longer recap to follow shortly…