Cougars Cruise to Homecoming Victory Against Hawai'i

Saturday, October 19

Pullman, Wash.

12:30 PM

Washington State University

6-1 , 0-0

Hawai'i

2-5 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Hawaii

Washington St.

October 19, 2024 | Football

Box Score Game Highlights Jake Dickert Postgame John Mateer Postgame Buddah Al-Uqdah/Cooper Mathers Postgame Washington St. vs Hawai'i FINAL STATS WSU 24FB Postgame Notes - Hawaii Photo Gallery

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. – Redshirt-sophomore quarterback John Mateer accounted for 329 total yards and five touchdowns, and the Washington State defense forced three turnovers, as the Cougars cruised to a 42-10 Homecoming victory against the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors, Saturday at Gesa Field.

With the win, Washington State earned bowl eligibility improving its record to 6-1. Hawai'i dropped to 2-5.

"We want to be more aggressive," WSU Head Coach Jake Dickert said. "After playing San Jose State and that run and shoot, we just came away saying 'we got to go attack,' then we came away with three sacks and three takeaways and a lot of them are effort plays.

"Offense did a good job of taking those takeaways and turning them into points," Dickert added. "Great team football today."

The Cougars, in their first home game since their 54-52 overtime victory against San Jose State, Sept. 20, rolled up 444 total yards. Mateer threw for 295 yards, connecting on 23 of 27 pass attempts, and three touchdowns. In addition, Mateer rushed for 34 yards and two touchdowns.

As proficient as the Cougar offense was, the defense stymied Hawaii throughout the game, limiting the Rainbow Warriors to 300 total yards while recording three sacks and three turnovers that set up three of the Cougars' touchdowns. In addition, the WSU defense prevented Hawaii from converting a third or fourth down conversion in the game, 0-8 on third down and 0-1 on fourth.

After a Hawai'i field goal on its opening possession, the Cougar offense answered with a 32-yard TD connection from Mateer to Carlos Hernandez to take a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.

Two more Mateer touchdown passes followed in the second quarter, both set up by turnovers forced by the WSU defense.

The first turnover occurred when Jamorri Colson stripped Hawaii receiver Nick Cernacle and Kapena Gushiken recovered the fumble. A nine-yard connection from Mateer to Cooper Mathers followed, extending the Cougars' lead to 14-3.

Later in the second quarter, a Taariq Al-Uqdah interception set up the Cougars once again, and, once again, the offense took advantage when Mateer connected with Kris Hutson on a nine-yard touchdown pass to go into half with a 21-3 lead.

Hawai'i opened the second half on a seven-play 75-yard drive, capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Brayden Schager to Tylan Hines to cut the deficit to 21-10.

The Cougars erased any doubt by answering on their next possession with a 14-play, 75-yard drive, punctuated by a nine-yard touchdown run by Mateer.

On the Rainbow Warriors' next possession, Parker McKenna sacked Schager forcing a fumble recovered by Bryson Lamb.

WSU took advantage of the turnover when Mateer opened the fourth quarter with a 14-yard touchdown run and Leo Pulalasi scored on a three-yard touchdown run later in the fourth quarter to cap the game's scoring.

The Cougars return to action Saturday, Oct. 26 at San Diego State. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.