Cougars Hold First Scrimmage of Spring Season

Photo by: Greg Davis/WSU Photo

April 01, 2023 | Football

Jake Dickert Post-Scrimmage John Mateer Post-Scrimmage Raam Stevenson Post-Scrimmage Ty Garay-Harris Post-Scrimmage Cooper Mathers Post-Scrimmage Photo Gallery

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. (April 1, 2023) -- Washington State Football held its first scrimmage of the spring, moved inside due to inclement weather, and both sides of the ball found success on the afternoon.

The offense found its way a few series in when junior Cam Ward rushed in from 11 yards out, one of three rushing touchdowns on the day. Sophomore Djouvensky Schlenbaker added a two-yard score while another redshirt freshman, Jaylen Jenkins, exploded for a 56-yard scoring burst midway through the day. In all, the Cougar offense rushed for more than 140 yards, not counting quarterback sacks.

Speaking of quarterback sacks, the Cougar defense found itself in the WSU backfield throughout the scrimmage. Nine different players collected sacks on the day, with redshirt-junior Tyler Garay-Harris and redshirt-freshman Bryson Lamb leading the way with two each. The only interception on the day came courtesy of redshirt-freshman King Williams, who collected a tip pass late in the day.

The Cougar offense also found success through the air, passing for more than 600 yards while finding the end zone five times. Redshirt-freshman John Mateer threw for three scores, stretching the field for touchdowns of 60 yards (to junior DT Sheffield) and 55 yards (to redshirt-sophomore Orion Peters), in addition to an 8-yard strike to junior Cooper Mathers. Ward got into the act with a 24-yard scoring connection to Mathers while Luke Holcomb closed out the scoring, finding redshirt-sophomore Lean Neal, Jr with a 43-yard connection.

Sheffield led the receivers with five receptions for 110 yards and the score, senior Lincoln Victor caught six passes for 65 yards, Peters added three catches for 66 yards and Mathers finished with three receptions for 46 yards and the two scores.

The Cougars resume spring practice Tuesday morning on Rogers Field.