Instant Reaction: WSU cruises to win over Colorado State, moves to 3-0

A depleted offensive line for Colorado State and a fully healthy defensive front for the Cougars is the main story for how Washington State was able to apply pressure all game to the Rams on Saturday.

WSU (3-0) went on the win this game, 38-7, over Colorado State (0-3) in its most complete win of the season on all sides of the ball.

Colorado State was already missing some of its offensive linemen to injury before kickoff, but a late scratch for its starting running back, A'Jon Vivens, led to offensive struggles all game.

Throughout the first half, the WSU offense clicked, scoring in the end zone on four straight drives resulting in four passing touchdowns for quarterback Cam Ward.

Even with the offense slowing down in the third quarter, the defense for the Cougars still held the Colorado State offense to under 200 yards through three quarters and no points on the board.

It allowed WSU to pick up its most dominant win of the season and go into conference play with plenty of momentum.

First quarter

12:02, WSU: Cam Ward 17-yard pass to Donovan Ollie (Dean Janikowski PAT)

9:59, WSU: Cam Ward 13-yard pass to De’Zhaun Stribling (Dean Janikowski PAT)

3:24, WSU: Cam Ward 19-yard pass to De’Zhaun Stribling ((Dean Janikowski PAT)

Second quarter

6:10, WSU: Cam Ward 2-yard pass to Donovan Ollie (Dean Janikowski PAT)

Third quarter

13:05, WSU: Dean Janikowski 22-yard field goal

Fourth quarter

11:07, CSU: Clay Millen 14-yard pass to Justus Ross-Simmons (Michael Boyle PAT)

1:07, WSU: Kannon Katzer 1-yard run (Dean Janikowski PAT)

Ever since the first offensive slap for the Cougars, it seemed as if WSU controlled this game on both sides of the field. Ward looked more and more comfortable in the pocket as the game went on. You really can’t point to a turning point in this contest after the defense brought pressure all the time and the offense finally clicked enough to be scary going into conference play.

Offensively, Ward was near perfection throughout the first half. You couldn’t ask for a better start for Ward, along finishing with almost 300 passing yards and four touchdowns, all of them in the first half. Even though he took the pedal off the metal in the second half, he still made some good throws and big plays when they mattered. The offense finally looked better and Ward’s strong play offensively gave the Cougars the charge to really move down the field easy throughout the first half.

Once again, it’s hard to nail down one player for the defensive player of the game when the defense stepped up all game and collected a total of seven sacks on the afternoon. Daiyan Henley, Brennan Jackson, and Ron Stone Jr. once again led that defensive charge and the rotational depth of the Cougars on the edge rusher front made it a living nightmare for the Colorado State offensive line. Jaden Hicks also having a great interception in the red zone for the Cougars sparked energy in the defense to keep up the intensity despite the score.

Ward’s second passing touchdown of the game to De’Zhaun Stribling was definitely the play of the game offensively. Ward took the pressure up the middle and still made the sideline throw to Stribling, who had the perfect toe-tap in the corner of the endz one. Ward looked so much more comfortable in the pocket, making smart choices and keeping his composure when pressure is directly in his face.

WSU just simply outperformed on all sides of the ball against Colorado State. Defensively, the Cougars beat the CSU offensive line all game, getting to the quarterback many times, forcing pressure throws and several QB knockdowns. Offensively, the team really got itself together after a slow start this season, but the offense finally came together and looked like one of the best offenses throughout the first half.

The Cougars will finish the nonconference slate 3-0 and now, this team is clicking on both sides of the ball. The defense has carried them to wins throughout the first two wins of the season, but now start conference play, the real test of the season. The offense has been the real question for the first three games and after this week, it finally looked like the offense is meshing well.

The Cougars now have their first test in a home game next week when they start conference play against current-No. 25 team Oregon at home, which beat No. 12 BYU at Autzen Stadium on Saturday to move to 2-1 on the season. WSU should have a big atmosphere for this game, and this will be the test to see if WSU will compete in the conference for a potential Pac-12 championship birth.

Passing

Cam Ward: 26 of 36, 292 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT

Rushing

Nakia Watson: 8 rushes for 74 yards

Kannon Katzer: 6 rushes for 54 yards, 1 TD

Jaylen Jenkins: 8 rushes for 35 yards

Receiving

Donovan Ollie: 8 catches for 82 yards, 2 TDs

De’Zhaun Stribling: 4 catches for 69 yards, 2 TDs

Robert Ferrel: 3 catches for 64 yards

Lincoln Victor: 3 catches for 43 yards

Orion Peters: 2 catches for 9 yards

Leyton Smithson: 2 catches for 6 yards

Nakia Watson: 1 catch for 25 yards

Jaylen Jenkins: 1 catch for 4 yards