This past year has been one of uncertainty for the Cougars losing all but two teams in the Conference they have been in since the early 1900’s. Going back and forth between being accepted and denied into a conference, then figuring out what they are going to do moving forward in all sports. Meanwhile, the Huskies left the Pac-12 for bigger and better things in the Big-10 while the Cougars and Beavers were stranded on an Island by themselves.
It is not an ideal situation for Coug or Husky fans, an Apple Cup in mid-September to start the season. But from where they were a year ago and not knowing if they would even play each other, all fans can at least rejoice in the fact that the rivalry was renewed on Saturday.
The game was played at Lumen field, home of the Hawks and definitely had a different feel to it coming in, but as the game rolled on, the rivalry was as chippy and intense as ever. Both teams coming in at 2-0, there wasn’t a good feel really to who had the edge in this one. Huskies coming in as a 5.5 point favorite, but two games against inferior competition wasn’t a good gauge to see how either team would respond in a huge rivalry game.
The Cougs came out firing early in the first possession. John Mateer drove the ball down to the Husky 8-yard line before being stuffed on a 4th and 1 on a Wayshawn Parker run up the gut. Cougars defense held strong on the Huskies opening possession, and the Cougs grabbed a 3-0 lead on a Dean Janikowski 44-yard field goal. The Huskies quickly responded when quarterback Will Rogers found Giles Jackson for a wide open 31-yard Touchdown grab to put the Huskies up 7-3 in the first quarter. The Cougs had an answer of their own on a Mateer 23-yard scamper to give the Cougs a 10-7 lead. As we saw last week with Mateer, his legs were a dangerous weapon that opened the field up and gave the Cougs the extra dimension. Mateer used his legs again before the half on 3rd and 20 with a 25-yard TD run to give the Cougs a 17-13 lead at halftime.
In the Cougs first possession in the 3rd, Mateer connected with wide out Josh Meredith from 16-yards out to put the Cougs up 24-16. That was the last scoring drive the Cougs had, as the defense made some huge stops in the second half. Will Rogers drove the Huskies down to the 1-yard line with a minute remaining. The Dawgs were a yard away from the end-zone on 4th down, and the Huskies ran a speed option that was stuffed by Cougar Linebacker Kyle Thornton who sealed the victory for the Cougs.
The Cougs beat the Huskies for only the second time since 2012 and bring the Apple Cup trophy back to Pullman. “Just to see these guys and the celebrations and the relationships that have been built and then go out there and do it,” Dickert said. “In our time here, we’re 3-0 against the Big Ten. That’s a big deal.”
Coach Jake Dickert has won both of those Apple Cups in his time with the Cougars. They go to 3-0 and have San Jose State this coming Saturday in Pullman.
