"Moore to the Story" The Next Chapter in Cougar Football

[Deuce2223]

COUGARS SHOCK TIGERS IN UPSET!!

The 1st Quarter was a Defensive battle but with 1:21 to play in the opening quarter Washington State would take the lead with as Trey Owens hits Lester Creer on a 30 yd touchdown to make it (7-0) and after that the Cougars never looked back.

WSU would extend their lead to (31-0) behind a trio of rushing touchdowns as SO RB Clint Powell continues to be a offensive spark plug with the ball in his hands as he scores twice.. Clemson would manage to break the shutout with a late score behind a 28 yd touchdown run by JR Tavares Loyd (85) to make it (31-7) at the half.

With Powell still getting back into game shape after missing 3 weeks and with starter Brevin Doll still banged up, Coach Moore turned to Senior Maxwell Woods in the 2nd half.. Woods a Special teams start the past 2 years winning the Jet Award in back to back seasons has embraced a larger role on offense this season as he scores a touchdown in both the 3rd and 4th Quarter extending the Cougars lead to (48-7) before the Clemson offense would finally wake up scoring 3 time sin the final 6 minutes including a pair of touchdown pass's from JR QB George MacIntrye (86) as the Tigers make the game look closer then it really was..

FINAL SCORE WASHINGTON STATE-51 CLEMSON-28

KEY COUGARS
QB T. Owens-32/47 (68%) 469 yds 1 TD, sacked twice
QB C. Loyd-1/1 8 yds
RB C. Powell-23 carries 86 yds 2 TD, 4 rec 31 yds
RB M. Woods-12 carries 43 yds 2 TD
RB A. Abbott-1 carry 2 yds 1 TD
WR C. Izien-8 rec 167 yds
WR C. Pabst- 9 rec 129 yds
WR L. Creer-4 rec 61 yds 1 TD
TE J. Finenganofo-5 rec 69 yds

UP NEXT
With the win Washington State will advance to the Semi-Finals and a matchup with #3 Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Ducks dominated #6 Boise State (41-7) to win the Rose Bowl.


OTHER BOWL/PLAYOFF RESULTS

#4 Tennessee defeated #5 Colorado (24-7), as the Vols rushed for 165 yds led by Doak Walker Award winner Javin Gordon who had 24 carries for 95 yds and 1 TD in the win.. Hesiman/Maxwell/Walter Camp/D. O'Brien Award winner Julian Lewis was 17/35 for 195 yds and 1 TD in the loss.


#1 Miami used a 4th Quarter comeback to defeat #9 Penn State (32-31). The Hurricanes trailed 17-10 at the half and 35-17 at the end of the 3rd Quarter. Miami only rushed for 22 yds on 23 carries in their win and instead were led by SO B Brendan Lemons (84) who threw for 355 yds with 4 TD in the win. His favorite target was fellow SO WR Ahmad Loyd (84) who had 10 rec for 170 yds and 3 TD., well SR WR Ny Carr (84) had 4 rec for 92 yds and 1 TD.

[Deuce2223]

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CAN THE COUGARS UPSET THE DUCKS??

After impressive wins over Florida State in Round 1 and now Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, the nation is starting to become believers in Coach Kirby Moore and his high powered Washington State Offense.

WSU enters the game averaging a unbelievable 55.8 PPG well Oregon comes in with the 2nd Best Defense in the nation giving up just 16.2 PPG (Only Miami is better at 14.8)

QB Trey Owens enters the game already with a NCAA/Pac-12/WSU record with 6005 yds and has already thrown a Pac-12/WSU record 56 touchdowns but the the question is how will Owens who has 15 INT on the season do against a Duck Defense that leads the nation in INT's with 22..

One thing WSU will having going for them is Oregon is without star QB Wade McKee (94 ovr) who started the season hot throwing for 1518 yds with 14 TD and 1 INT before heading to the IR list. Sophomore backup Nick Stuber (83) however has been pretty solid himself throwing for 2778 yds with 22 TD and 7 INT including 297 yds and 3 TD in the win over Boise State.

With Stuber at the helm Oregon has turned to a 3 headed monster at RB.. SR D. Riggs (84) has 713 yds and 9 TD to lead the Ducks but Freshmen G. Sweet (302 yds 8 TD) and S. Trinidad (158 yds 4 TD) also have shown they can carry the load too.

For WSU, Brevin Doll continues to be a game time decision. Doll who rushed for 1339 yds with 23 TD has been limited to just 2 carries in the playoffs but the Cougars havn't missed a beat with the return of Clint Powell off IR and Antonio Abbott playing his allowed 4 games well still maintaining his redshirt as well as Senior Maxwell Wood.

The WR box score is also worth keeping a eye on as JR Lester Creer (106 yds 1471 yds 16 TD0 continues to add to career record books in both the Pac-12 and WSU well fellow teammate Carter Pabst looks to put his name about Creer on a a few WSU records logging 126 receptions (new record) and 1536 yds (new record) with 11 TD.

[redsox907]

big time matchup with Oregon, battle for the PNW

[Deuce2223]

COUGARS AND DUCKS BATTLE INTO OVERTIME!!

The Ducks Defense was unable to slow down the mighty Cougars offense but Oregon showed they too can score some points as the Ducks rallied late in the 4th to force Overtime giving the nation a exciting playoff matchup.

WSU jumped out to a early (14-7) lead in the 1st Quarter behind a pair of touchdown pass's by Trey Owens to Lester Creer (21 yds and 19 yds).. Oregon would tie things up early in the 2nd quarter as SO QB Nick Stuber (83) connects on his 2nd touchdown of the day., the Ducks would late take the lead on a 33 yd FG making it (17-14) before Owens would find JR TE Junior Fineanganofo on a 27 yd score to give WSU the (21-17) lead at the half.

Washington State opened up the 2nd half with the ball and the Cougars wasted little going 80 yds on 9 plays as Antonio Abbott capped the drive with a 1 yd touchdown run to extend the lead to (28-17) early in the 3rd Quarter.. Oregon would open the 4th Quarter scoring with another FG to cut the lead to (28-20), but again the Cougars respond as Clint Powell breaks free for a pair of 20+ yd runs including a 25 yd touchdown leaving 6:42 to play in the game making it (35-20)

Oregon however wasn't going down without a fight as Stuber leads the Ducks down the field on a 11 play drive to cut the lead to (35-27) leaving 4:02 to play in the game. WSU would look to answer but facing a 4th and goal, Coach Moore elects to keep the offense on the field and the Cougars come up short turning the ball over on downs. With the ball on the 4 yd line DC Trent Bray called for a all out blitz looking to stop Stuber in the endzone for the safety but the Duck QB would get the pass off to SR Troy Sutter (88) who does the rest going 96 yds to the house as Oregon cut the lead to (35-33). This time it was Oregon making a bold call as the offense stays on the field to convert the 2pt play as the game is tied (35-35) with 1:12 to play in the game.

Still armed with all 3 timeouts, WSU would work the ball into FG range with a chance to win the game in regulation but Lounsbury's 44 yd FG hits the upright as the game heads to Overtime.

WSU would win the toss and elect to start in Defense and the Ducks waste little time finding the endzone as FR George Sweet (84) gives the Ducks the lead with a 5 yd run (42-35). Washington State turns to star RB Brevin Doll who answers the challenge as he breaks free for the touchdown run to tie the game (42-42).. Washington State again would turn to Doll on who responds with a run taking the ball down inside the 5 yd line.. After a a pair of runs for limited gain, facing a 3rd and goal, Owens drops back and hits Doll on a screen pass as he goes in 4 yds for the go ahead score (48-42) Again with Doll in the backfield, WSU shows a new look as RB Clint Powell joins him on the field in the slot looking to confuse the Ducks Defense and the play worked as the D loses track of Powell as he snags the 2pt play to give WSU the (50-42) lead.

Now it was Oregon turn to respond and the Ducks do quickly as Stuber fires his 5th touchdown of the game hitting 6'6 TE Vander Ploog (85) on a 15 yd strike.. Forced to go for the 2pt play to stay alive, Stuber already with 460 yds and 5 TD on the day would make his only mistake of the game as he fires the to the corner of the endzone Tyrone Cotton III is there picking off the pass as he seals the Cougars victory and the schools first every strip to the National Championship..

KEY COUGARS
QB T. Owens-23/41 (56%) 318 yds 4 TD
RB C. Powell-13 carries 83 yds 1 TD, 2 rec 31 yds
RB B. Doll-10 carries 42 yds 1 TD, 1 1 rec 4 yds 1 TD
RB A. Abbott-3 carries 14 yds 1 TD
WR C. Izien-10 rec 134 yds
WR L. Creer-6 rec 74 yds 2 TD
WR D. Rugamba-2 rec 31 yds
TE J. Fineanganofo-3 rec 59 yds 1 TD
CB T. Cotton III-1 INT

CHASING RECORDS

With 4 touchdowns on the day QB Trey Owens now has 60 TD's on the season and is just 3 shy of beating the single season record set by Western Kentucky's Bailey Zappe in 2021.. Owens already has passed Zappe's single season yard mark with 6323 yds and has set new WSU and Pac-12 records.

JR WR Carter Pabst who leads the Cougars with 126 receptions on the season is also chasing down a record as Pabst is just 3 catches shy of breaking Oregon State's Brandin Cook's record of 128 set in 2013..

With 18 TD's now on the season Lester Creer has established a new WSU record as well as a Pac-12 record for most TD's in a sason

Creer with (1545 yds) and Pabst with (1536 yds) both have a solid chance of setting a new Pac-12 record set by Creer last year with (1588) and if either player could break free and have a huge game in the Natty could push Cook's record of 1730 yds in a season.

[Deuce2223]

HURRICANES PROVE THEIR #1 SEED AS THEY ADVANCE TO NATTY

The Hurricanes are headed back to the National stage for the first time since back to back appearances in 2001 and 2002. Miami scored 3 times and ran for 108 yds on the day limiting the Vol's opportunities on offense as they held star RB Javin Gordon to just 43 yds on 11 carries. Tennessee made a game of it in the 1st half trailing (17-14) at the half but the Miami Defense was to much as the Vol's finished with just 230 yds of Total Offense converting just 3/15 3rd downs and 2-4 4th downs as Miami pulls away with the (34-14) victory.

[Deuce2223]

POWELL LEADS COUGARS TO NATTY VICTORY!!!!

Washington State has done what many thought was not possible. Coach Kirby Moore in just his 3rd season at the helm has guided the Cougars to the schools first ever National Championship in the playoff era.. WSU as the #10 seed marched past #7 FSU in Round 1, then showed the nation they could beat anyone defeating #2 Clemson in Round 2 before battling and defeating Oregon in Overtime to set the stage against #1 Miami.

The Hurricanes would lead in the 1st Quarter (14-10) and extend the lead to (24-10) midway through the 2nd Quarter as MLB Cam Pruitt takes a "Pick 6" INT back 47 yds to the house but Trey Owens would bounce back with a screen pass to Clint Powell who would take it 52 yds for the score as WSU cuts the lead to (24-17). WSU would then tie the game (24-24) with 2:33 to play as Antonio Abbott caps off a 10 play drive with a 1 yd run..

Miami would settle for a 33 yd FG with 1:28 to play in the half giving WSU the ball back with 3 timeouts and a chance to take the lead for the first time in the game but instead Owens is picked off for a 2nd time setting up another 32 yd FG by the Hurricanes as the 1st half comes to a close (30-24).

WSU however needed just 2 plays to find the endzone to open up the 2nd half scoring as Powell goes 73 yds to the house to give WSU the (31-30) lead. Washington State would then extend that lead to (38-30) with 3:50 to play in the 3rd as Trey Owens breaks the NCAA record with his 63rd Touchdown pass of the season find Lester Creer for his 19th of the season..

Miami had multiple chances to try and tie the game but failed as the Cougar Defense stepped up forcing back to back punts and with 4:39 to play in the game Washington State would extend their lead to (45-30) as SR RB Maxwell Woods breaks free for a 17 yd touchdown run.

Miami running out of time and now down by 15 would manage to cut into the lead as QB Brendan Lemmons connects with Ahamad Loyd on a 6 yd pass to make it (45-37) with 1:43 to play. Still armed with 3 timeouts, Miami made the decision to kickoff vs attempt the onside kick and the planned worked as the Hurricanes for Juan Chavez to punt for a 3rd time today. But now out of timeouts, Lemmons is forced into a 2 minute offense that comes up short as Miami turns the ball over on downs as WSU holds on for the victory.

FINAL SCORE WASHINGTON STATE-45 MIAMI-37

KEY PLAYERS
QB T. Owens-34/49 (69%) 419 yds 3 TD 2 INT
RB C. Powell-15 carries 113 yds 1 TD, 9 rec 132 yds 1 TD
RB M. Wood-15 carries 74 yds 1 TD, 4 rec 34 yds
RB A. Abbott-6 carries 28 yds 1 TD
WR C. Pabst-9 rec 96 yds 1 TD
WR L. Creer-7 rec 99 yds 1 TD
WR C. Izien-2 rec 10 yds
TE J. Fineanganofo-2 rec 44 yds

QB B. Lemmons-36/51 (70%) 379 yds 2 TD, 8 carries 17 yds
RB J. Edwards-20 carries 60 yds 1 TD, 8 rec 80 yds
E. Canaday-5 carries 31 yds
WR A. Loyd-10 rec 114 yds 1 TD
WR J. Moore-5 rec 95 yds
WR N. Carr-4 rc 54 yds
TE L. Gilbert-4 rec 22 yds
MLB C. Pruitt-1 INT,, TD
SS S. Soehner-1 INT


Coach Moore

"To be completely honest I am still in shock.. I had no idea we would win a Natty this quick in my tenure at WSU..We had a amazing team this year with Trey Owens, Brevin Doll, Lester Creer as well as 9 Seniors on Defense so those guy's are going to be pretty tough to replace, but Clint Powell showed tonight he is our MVP and ready to take up the torch and carry it forward as we look to win another one

.

[Caesar]

Congrats on the natty. What's next for the team?

[Deuce2223]

Congrats on the natty. What's next for the team?

Right now the plan is to play out the 2029 season and see what's next. in 2030 I plan to revisit conference alignments. It might be time to bring the Pac-12 back to what it was in it's glory and return Oregon/USC/UCLA back.. USC and UCLA have struggled to really do much in the Big Ten only Oregon has remained a national power.. In the Big 12, Colorado, Arizona State and BYU have all found success but Utah and Arizona have struggled.

If I am going to stay with the Cougars throughout this Dynasty, then I need to make the Pac-12 more competitive because right now it's basically Stanford BSU and sometimes I get a good game vs Cal. The rest of the conference is falling so far behind. WSU despite the graduation Owen and Doll and early NFL draft entry of Creer still return alot of offensive firepower with Pabst and Powell leading the way but QB will be a big ? However as a Team Overall, I get a pretty big bump going from a 82 Overall to like a 87 Overall

I think the new QB play will limit the offense and I do plan on tweaking the sliders some more, I bumped down to 9 minutes but try and stop the 70+ PPG.. Ideally I would like to be somewhere in the high 40's I feel like with the type of Offense I run and feel like that's more realistic.

[redsox907]

grats on the Natty. Already a legend in Pullman just three years in

I concur with making the conference stronger. With WSU getting a Natty it'll bring some of the shine back to the conference and with other schools that left, now struggling, could be realistic to see them come back, Oregon being the outlier

[Deuce2223]

COUGARS SAY GOODBYE TO KEY MEMBERS AFTER HISTORIC SEASON

Coach Kirby Moore and his staff will have some big shoes to fill next season that includes the Cougars record setting QB, RB, WR1, 2 starters on the O-Line and 8 starters on the Defense.


QB Trey Owens (SR/87) 540/799 (67%) 6742 yds 63 TD 17 INT
Owens turned his lone season in Pullman into a pair of NCAA Records as he takes over as the All-time Passing Yards and Touchdown leader.

RB Brevin Doll (SR/84) 397 carries 2020 yds 30 TD, 125 rec 1106 yds 11 TD, 46 KR 1104 yds
Doll a former Iowa/Iowa State transfer had a breakout year last season rushing for 1381 yds with a new school record 24 TD’s.

RB Antonio Abbott (JR/80) 291 carries 1192 yds 24 TD, 15 rec 140 yds
The former 4* rushed 145 times for 561 yds and 12 TD’s as a True Freshman but saw a dip in production with the addition of Doll and Powell via the Portal, and Abbott has decided to join the portal himself this off-season despite being projected to share the bulk of the carries with Powell.

RB Maxwell Woods (SR/83) 81 carries 370 yds 4 TD, 21 rec 255 yds 2 TD, 76 KR 1829 yds 1 TD, 104 PR 1187 yds 1 TD
The 2 time Jet Award winner has both a Kick and Punt return for a touchdown in his career.

WR Lester Creer (JR/93) 336 rec 4427 yds 50 TD, 26 KR 584 yds 1 TD
The former 4* posted 3 straight seasons with 1000+ yds, and despite leaving a year early for the NFL has put his name into the Pac-12 and WSU record books for most career receptions, yards and touchdowns. His 19 TD’s and 1644 yds this past season are also single season records for the Cougars.

WR Glenn Cronk (RS FR/74)
Cronk a former 4* leaves Pullman without taking a snap after redshirting last season.

OG Jaymar Tasi (SR/87)
Tasi a 3 year starter after transferring from New Mexico leaves some big shoes to fill at LG

OG Terrell Kim (SR/80)
Kim started 14 games at Center last year and all 16 games this season at RG.

OT Kaedin Massey (SR/82)
Massey a K-State transfer started all 16 games for the Cougars at RT this season

OT Robert Bourdon (SR/74)
A key reserve the past 2 seasons

FS Kayo Patu (SR/78)
A 3 year starter who has 292 career tackles with 10 TFL and 3 INT

SS Anthony Palano (SR/81)
Another 3 year starter who posted 258 Tackles with 6 TFL over his career
LB Carsten Reynolds (SR/80)
Another 3 year starter who posted 220 career tackles with 19 TFL, 3 Sacks and 1 INT

LB Gage Jones (SR/81)
Another 3 year starter who had 200 career tackles, with 25 TFL 7.0 Sacks and 3 INT

LB Tye Rubin (RS SO/81)
Rubin posted 83 tackles with 7 TFL and 2 INT this past season and was expected to be a key leader on the defense but has elected to join the Portal.

DE Malachi Wrice (SR/76)
A 3 year starter who has averaged 56 Tackles, 16 TFL and 6.5 sacks in each of his 3 seasons.

DE Fernando Lecuona (SR/75)
Another 3 year stater who has 126 career tackles with 44 TFL and 20 Sacks.

DE Michael Hughes (SR/74)
A key reserve the past 3 years

SS Trey Ridley (SR/78)
Ridley appeared in 40 games the past 3 years recording 163 Tackles with 13 TFL and 1 INT

CB Tyson Weaver (SR/75)
A key reserve he had 129 career tackles with 2 INT

CB Kenny Worthy III (SR/75)
Another key reserve the past 3 years logging 53 Tackles

COUGARS RELOAD WITH 28 PLAYERS SIGNING TOP-25 CLASS!!!

Despite a in-season recruiting class that featured just 3 players (4* WR Jordin Lockett, 4* RB Cedrick Magnum and 4* DE Marquez Charles), Coach Moore, Miller and Bray put in the Overtime bringing in an additional 25 players for a total class of 28 players that comes in ranked #22 Overall and #1 in the Pac-12.. The 28 player class has 17 High School Seniors (Ranked #17, with 10-4* and 7-3*) and a total of 11 players from the Transfer portal (#8 Overall/3-4*,8-3*).

Well WSU failed to land a QB and a RB in the portal to replace Owens and Doll, Moore and Miller did manage to land 4* QB Antwan Beaver (#80 Overall/#3 KY/#6 QB) out of the high school ranks and also landed 4* RB Fredrick Anthrop (#381/#3AR/#53 RB) to team up with Mangum (#265/#4 WI/#40 RB).

Looking to replace Lester Creer and Glen Cronk at WR, OC Matt Miller landed high school recruit Marquise Bartow (#55/#2PA/#6WR) to join Lockett (#347/#7/#68) but also went hard in the portal signing Juniors Brayden Trimble (Miami OH) and Tristian Glass (Coastal Carolina) as well as SO Tashuan Dragos (Texas State) however reports are Dragos could move to RB allowing for the Cougars to potentially redshirt Mangum/Anthrop next season.

With Beaver as the only QB coming in, all eyes will be on the competition at QB1 this spring.

WR was the only position that Miller loaded up on this season.. WSU signed 3 players projected to play TE. 4* High School Recruit Tyron Jackson (#218 Overall/#31 FL/#13 TE) as well as Portal Transfers 4* JR Caleb Slye (Notre Dame/Ranked #2) and 3* FR Fetu Ursua (N. Illinois/Ranked #3).

Well WSU failed to land it's Top-5 targets on the O-Line they did manage to come away with 3 players via the portal and 1 high school recruit

3* SO RT Matt Retkofsky (Pitt, 3* JR OG Abel Hoppii (SMU) and 3* SO C Alonzo Lowell (Iowa State) as well as 3* OT Garrett Stacy (#757 Overall/#15 WR/#60 OT)

Looking to replace the teams Top-2 Pass Rushers (Wrice/Lecuona), DC Trent Bray added plenty of Depth on the D-line

4* Marquez Charles (#404 Overall/#6 CO/#30 DE) looks like a potential instant starter and likely won't redshirt. but he will be pushed by transfer portal additions 3* JR Conner Elias (A 3 year starter at Arkansas) as well as 3* JJR ospeh Mupoyi (Cal) allowing 3* DE Kai Dora (#639 Overall/#89 TX/#49 DE) and 3* DT Jimmie Jones (#529 Overall/#11 PA/#25 DT) a chance to redshirt.

With the graduation G. Jones and C. Reynolds as well as the transfer of T. Rubin, The Cougars lost their Top-3 LB's from last season but Bray a former LB himself worked hard this off-season landing 5 LB's including a Trio of 4* who all have the potential to start next season.

4* Serge Udez (#34 Overall/#5 FL/#6 LB)
4* Amari Tolbert (#82 Overall/#2 MO/#10 LB)
4* Al Boone (#107 Overall/#15 FL/#11 LB)
3* Koren John (#493 Overall/#43 GA/#34 LB)
3* Julius Peacock (#722 Overall/#84 FL/#50 LB)

Despite losing 3 starters from their secondary, Bray didn't fare that well landing DB's as the Cougars failed to land 5 of their Top-6 targets adding just 2 players (1 High School Recruit) and 1 Portal.

3* CB Rakkim Teague (#466 Overall/#69 TX/#47 DB) will likely redshirt well 3* SO Vonn Hurley (Rice) is expected to start at FS next season.

Despite landing 3* Punter J. Chavez last season WSU had a open scholarship and didn't pass up on the chance to add Gatorade POY Keenan Carr from Meridian Idaho.. Rated a 3* and #761 Overall in the Class, Carr is viewed as a potential replacement for Lounsbury at PK in 2030.