WSU sophomore 1uarterback John Mateer rushed for 197 yards breaking the WSU QB record, as the Cougs roll past Texas Tech 37-16 in Pullman.
The Cougs were coming off a 70-30 win over Portland State, but this was going to be their first real test against a Big 12 team in the Red Raiders. Texax Tech won an overtime game against Abilene Christian where they gave up over 500 yards through the air,
The gameplan for the start was that the Red Raiders were going to drop 8 and only rush 3. The Cougs second play saw Mateer throw into that coverage deep into the hands of Texas Tech Safety Chapman Lewis. After that, the Cougs used a hard dose of ground and pound and found success early.
On the Next drive, Mateer ran it up the middle from 4 yards out to give the Cougs an early 7-0 lead. Wayshawn Parker added a 43-yard touchdown run in the opening minute of the second quarter to put the Cougs up 14-3.
The Cougar defense stepped up with a fumble and interception in the second quarter, both leading to Cougar touchdowns to give the Cougs a 27-10 lead at half.
Mateer powered a 68 yard run to 1-yard line where he carried multiple defenders with him. “They kept dropping eight on us so we just ran the ball and it was working,” Mateer said.
“We’re our own worst enemy right now,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “You don’t have a chance to win a game when you’re doing the things we’re doing, playing the way we’re playing.”
Mateer contributed one touchdown through the air with 115 yards. The Cougs as a team rushed for over 300 yards for the first time in over 20 years.
Mateer added one TD pass, but it was his legs that made the difference and he set a school record for yards rushing by a quarterback. Washington State finished with 301 yards rushing as a team, just the sixth time since 2000 the Cougars topped 300 yards on the ground and first since 2022.
The Cougs face the 2-0 Huskies on Saturday in an early dose of the 2024 Apple Cup at Lumen Field. Going to be a different style of game, so the Cougs will have to adjust.
