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Facing uncertain future, Washington State upsets No. 19 Wisconsin 31-22
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) Cameron Ward passed for 212 yards and two touchdowns and added another 43 yards rushing, Nakia Watson scored on a 1-yard run with 5:30 remaining and Washington State upset No. 19 Wisconsin 31-22 on Saturday night.
Ward scrambled for runs of 23 yards and 14 yards during a pivotal fourth-quarter drive to help the Cougars avoid a second-half meltdown and beat the Badgers for the second straight season. Watson capped the drive with his 1-yard plunge.
Washington State (2-0) hosted its first Power Five nonconference opponent since 1998 and played its first home game since the collapse of the Pac-12 this summer. Facing an uncertain future as a Power Five program, Washington State put on a show in the first half to race to a 24-6 lead.
“In this moment, it's everything. We belong in the Power Five,” Washington State coach Jake Dickert said on the field as it was flooded by celebrating fans after the upset. “These kids have worked their (tails) off. I'm so damn proud of them.”
Wisconsin (1-1) scored 16 straight points and was driving in the fourth quarter with a chance to take the lead before running back Chez Mellusi fumbled near midfield.
The Badgers lost three fumbles and had little go right in the first half. Nathanial Vakos made three field goals in the first half, but Wisconsin didn't find the end zone until Mellusi's 2-yard run midway through the third quarter that cut Washington State's lead to 24-16.
Mordecai hit Skyler Bell on a 16-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to pull Wisconsin to 24-22, but the two-point conversion attempt failed.
Mordecai was 25 of 40 for 278 yards and fumbled twice, both on sacks by Ron Stone Jr. One of the fumbles was recovered by Brennan Jackson for a touchdown in the first half.
Washington State held the Badgers’ potent running back duo of Mellusi and Braelon Allen to 69 yards on 19 carries.
“The reality is, we have enough talent to win,” first-year Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said.
The Cougars punted on their first four second-half possessions and totaled just 119 yards after halftime. But they got a much-needed jolt when safety Jaden Hicks forced the Mellusi fumble and cornerback Jackson Lataimua recovered.
“We didn’t have the second half we wanted as an offense.” Ward said. “But we didn’t flinch.”
STATEMENT WIN
Dickert was proud of how his team responded in “gut-check time” of a nationally televised game and in front of 33,024 fans at Martin Stadium.
“This is a crux point for Washington State and Washington State football,” Dickert said. “We’re carrying the flag for all the transition, and this is a pivotal moment for where we want to go. Wherever we end up, we’ve got to commit to being great. And I think that’s what this statement (win) means is that we are here. We’re fighting, and even as college football is changing, we’re still getting pretty good results.”
LEACH HONORED
Black pirate flags and shirts were all over Martin Stadium in honor of Mike Leach, the former Washington State coach who died in December.
The Cougars burst through the tunnel before the game with eight players waving pirate flags. A handful of former players then raised a large black flag with the Cougars logo and crossing swords in the southeast corner of the stadium. Most Washington State coaches also wore black pirate shirts in honor of the coach who led the Cougars to six bowl games from 2012-2019.
KLAY THOMPSON IN THE HOUSE
Former Washington State basketball star Klay Thompson was on the sideline for the big matchup and presented the Washington State women’s basketball team with the Pac-12 conference championship trophy during a timeout in the first quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Washington State may not have a future as a Power Five conference, but it showed it belonged – for the second straight year – against the Badgers of the Big Ten. Wisconsin, meanwhile, faces plenty of questions two games into Luke Fickell’s tenure.
UP NEXT
Wisconsin: Host Georgia Southern on Saturday.
Washington State: Host Northern Colorado on Saturday.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
T. Mordecai
8 QB 278 PaYds, PaTD, 21 RuYds |
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C. Ward
1 QB 212 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, 43 RuYds |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 20 | 17 |
Rushing | 7 | 8 |
Passing | 13 | 9 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 6-14 | 8-17 |
4th Down Conv | 0-1 | 1-1 |
Total Net Yards | 368 | 332 |
Total Plays | 69 | 68 |
Avg Gain | 5.3 | 4.9 |
Net Yards Rushing | 90 | 81 |
Rush Attempts | 29 | 35 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.1 | 2.3 |
Yards Passing | 278 | 251 |
Comp. - Att. | 25-40 | 21-33 |
Yards Per Pass | 6.0 | 6.1 |
Penalties - Yards | 4-30 | 8-52 |
Touchdowns | 2 | 3 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 1 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 2 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 3-3 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 3-41.0 | 6-43.0 |
Return Yards | 23 | 0 |
Punts - Returns | 2-23 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
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Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
T. Mordecai
8 QB
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T. Mordecai | 25/40 | 278 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Mellusi
1 RB
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C. Mellusi | 12 | 49 | 1 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Mordecai
8 QB
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T. Mordecai | 10 | 21 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Allen
0 RB
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B. Allen | 7 | 20 | 0 | 6 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
W. Pauling
19 WR
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W. Pauling | 7 | 5 | 78 | 0 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Dike
13 WR
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C. Dike | 8 | 4 | 75 | 0 | 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Green
9 WR
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B. Green | 6 | 2 | 54 | 0 | 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Bell
11 WR
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S. Bell | 5 | 5 | 44 | 1 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Allen
0 RB
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B. Allen | 7 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Williams
4 WR
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C. Williams | 4 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
H. Rucci
87 TE
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H. Rucci | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
V. Anthony II
86 WR
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V. Anthony II | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Ashcraft
38 TE
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T. Ashcraft | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
H. Wohler
24 S
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H. Wohler | 10-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Njongmeta
55 LB
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M. Njongmeta | 6-4 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Chaney
36 LB
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J. Chaney | 5-1 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Hallman
2 CB
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R. Hallman | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Thompson Jr.
90 DE
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J. Thompson Jr. | 3-2 | 1.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Peterson
17 LB
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D. Peterson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Zachman
14 S
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P. Zachman | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Maitre
23 CB
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J. Maitre | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Smith
11 CB
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A. Smith | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Pietrowski Jr.
44 LB
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J. Pietrowski Jr. | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Barten
68 DE
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B. Barten | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Goetz
98 LB
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C. Goetz | 1-2 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Turner
54 LB
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J. Turner | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Latu
13 S
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K. Latu | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. McDonald
96 DE
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C. McDonald | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
A. Bertrams
49 P
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A. Bertrams | 3 | 41.0 | 2 | 41 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
C. Dike
13 WR
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C. Dike | 1 | 31.0 | 31 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
C. Dike 13 WR
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C. Dike | 2 | 11.5 | 12 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Ward
1 QB
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C. Ward | 17 | 43 | 0 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Watson
25 RB
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N. Watson | 11 | 26 | 1 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jenkins
29 RB
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J. Jenkins | 2 | 10 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mateer
10 QB
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J. Mateer | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Sheffield
0 WR
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D. Sheffield | 1 | -3 | 0 | -3 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
L. Victor
5 WR
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L. Victor | 10 | 7 | 55 | 1 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Williams
2 WR
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K. Williams | 4 | 3 | 48 | 1 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Mathers
24 TE
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C. Mathers | 2 | 1 | 39 | 0 | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jenkins
29 RB
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J. Jenkins | 3 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Watson
25 RB
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N. Watson | 2 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Riviere III
42 TE
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B. Riviere III | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Dollar
87 TE
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A. Dollar | 1 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Hernandez
8 WR
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C. Hernandez | 3 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Sheffield
0 WR
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D. Sheffield | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Kelly
3 WR
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J. Kelly | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Hamilton
9 WR
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I. Hamilton | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
S. Lockett III
0 DB
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S. Lockett III | 8-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Hicks
25 DB
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J. Hicks | 6-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Jackson
80 LB
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B. Jackson | 3-4 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Lampkin
3 DB
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