Washington State University Athletics

An Apple Cup victory would be a fitting graduation gift.

November 16, 1998

FOOTBALL: Apple Cup Says It All This Week
WHO: WSU Cougars (3-7-0, 0-7-0) vs. Washington Huskies (5-5-0, 3-4-0)
WHAT: Pacific-10 Conference Football
WHEN: Saturday, November 21; Kickoff 12:30 p.m. PST
WHERE: Martin Stadium (37,600 Omni-Turf), Pullman, Wash.
TV: Live in-state TV; Fox Sports Northwest will replay the game Sunday, starting at 4:00 p.m. PST

WSU THIS WEEK: WASHINGTON 
Record: 5-5-0, 3-4-0
9/5 @ Arizona State (42-38)
9/12    Bye
9/19    BYU (20-10)
9/26    @ Nebraska (7-55)
10/3    Arizona (28-31)
10/10   Utah State (53-12)
10/17   California (21-13)
10/24   Oregon State (35-34)
10/31   @ USC (10-33)
11/7    @ Oregon (22-27)
11/14   UCLA (24-36)
11/21   @ Washington State

PRICE PICKS UP 100TH WIN: Washington State's Mike Price picked up his 100th win in WSU's 20-13 victory over Illinois Sept. 5.

WSU VS. WASHINGTON: The Cougars and Huskies will be meeting for the 91st time...the first game between the two teams was in 1900 and ended in a 5-5 tie...overall Washington has won 57, WSU 27, with six ending in ties...WSU's last win over the Huskies in Pullman was 23-6 in 1994, while two years ago Washington won 31-24 in overtime in Pullman...last year WSU won 41-35 in Seattle...since 1982 when the Apple Cup (first so named in 1962) returned to Pullman, each team has won four times in Martin Stadium.

WSU'S HOME WIN STREAK SNAPPED: Washington State's eight-game win streak at home (6-0 last year, 2-0 to start this year), was snapped by Oregon when the Ducks notched a 51-29 victory...this year WSU is 2-3 at home.

WSU ON TV: This year's Apple Cup between WSU and Washington game will be televised live in the state by ABC affiliates in Spokane (KXLY), Seattle (KOMO), Tri-Cities (KVEW) and Yakima (KAPP)...school officials also hope the game will be picked up on the West Side...the Cougars have made four regional or national TV appearances this season, twice on FOX Sports Net (Illinois, USC) and twice on ABC (Cal, UCLA).

FOX SPORTS NORTHWEST TV: Fox Sports Northwest will show the WSU-Washington game Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

COUG LINE GETS BIGGER: WSU's starting offensive line is the biggest in school history...the starters weigh a collective 1,508 pounds, an average of 301.6 pounds...Mike Sage is the largest at 323 poundsOenew center Lincoln Walden-Schulz, at 274, is the smallest...before this season WSU had never started an offensive line averaging over 300 pounds...earlier this year, when Mickey Long, 305, started at center, the average was 307.8 pounds...here are the regular Coug starters this week:

    LT Rob Rainville, 315, senior
    LG Ryan Tujague, 294, junior
    C Lincoln Walden-Schulz, 274, junior
    RG Mike Sage, 323, senior
    RT Reed Raymond, 302, sophomore

TRUE FROSH ON DL: First year freshman Joey Hollenbeck from Enumclaw, Wash, started for senior Gary Holmes (out with an ankle sprain) at California, becoming the first true freshman to start on the defensive line since Ken Collins started in 1978.

HOW OPPONENTS SCORE: WSU's opponents have scored 333 points in 10 games (33.3 per game)...they have rushed for 22 touchdowns (153 points), passed for 13 touchdowns (90 points)...opponent special teams have scored 90 points (42 points on interception returns, seven on punt returns, 14 points on fumble returns, 27 on field goals)

COUGS IN PAC-10: Dee Moronkola (kickoff returns, 1st, 34.1), Kevin Brown (rushing, 1st, 96.10), Lamont Thompson (interceptions, 4th, 0.40; punt returns, 7th, 8.57), Chris Martin (interceptions, 9th, 0.30), Kareem Anderson (net punting, 5th, 40.02), Rian Lindell (field goals, 8th, .80), James Price (tackles, 8th, 7.9), Nian Taylor (receiving yards, 5th, 88.56), Steve Birnbaum (total offense, 9th, 158.67), DeJuan Gilmore (kickoff returns, 17.14, 9th)

COUGS NATIONALLY: Several Cougars are ranked high nationally, including: Dee Moronkola KO returns, 34.1 yards/game, 1st), Lamont Thompson (interceptions, 0.40/game, 27th), Nian Taylor (receiving yards, 88.56, 31st), Kevin Brown (rushing, 96.10, 27th).

SENIORS TOTAL 18: WSU's Pac-10 championship team of 1997 played 23 scholarship seniors...this year just 11 members of the 18-player senior class are on scholarship...also, the list includes Nian Taylor, who is expected to return next year...he will be granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA if he graduates on time this spring.

WSU INJURIES: Here is WSU's injury report for Monday, Nov. 16, from the Cougar training staff: DT Gary Holmes (ankle sprain, possible), WR Leaford Hackett (concussion, will play), DE Jonathan Nance (ankle strain, probable), WR Adam Davis (back, doubtful)

LINDELL: Junior Rian Lindell, who booted four field goals at Boise State to tie the WSU one-game record, made seven straight to close out the 1997 season and seven straight earlier this season during a 14-for-15 string...since then Lindell has made just one of eight attempts, a 34 yarder against UCLA...two of his misses were blocked...overall, he is 8-of-16 this season...he is 8-of-12 inside 40 yards and 1-for-4 outside 40 yards.

MOST STARTS: Seniors Dee Moronkola and Rob Rainville have each started 24 games in their career...Moronkola had started 24 straight before missing the opening play at Stanford because he did not practice all week (concussion)Oehere's a list of WSU's leading starters:

    Dee Moronkola n 24 (24 consecutive string snapped at
        Stanford)
    Rob Rainville n 24 (22 consecutive)
    Rian Lindell n 22 (22 consecutive)
    Love Jefferson n 22 (22 consecutive)
    Steve Gleason n 20 (19 consecutive string snapped when he 
        missed the ASU game)
    Gary Holmes n 18 (0 consecutive)
    Lamont Thompson n 14 (14 consecutive)

TRAVELING A NEW EXPERIENCE: For half of WSU's 60-player travel squad at Stanford (WSU's last road game), making a road trip this year was a new experienceOe30 of the players on the WSU travel roster are in their first season as a member of the travel squad...in addition, 24 players are in their first year of competition for the Cougars and nine were not on campus last season.

BROWN TOPS PAC-10 RUSHERS: Kevin Brown, who has rushed for 481 yards in the last three games, has jumped to the top of the list of Pac-10 running backs...Brown has gained 961 total yards and has six games of 100+ yards, including three in a row and five in WSU's last six games:

SCORING STREAK ALIVE AT 165: The Washington State Cougars have scored in a record 165 straight games. The current streak started with a 16-14 win over Ball State in the fourth game of the 1984 season and came on the heels of a 44-0 blanking at the hands of Ohio State. The following is a breakdown of WSU scoring by game since 1980:

YR      RECORD  0   1-9 10-19   20-29   30-39   40-49   50> PT/PPG
1980    4-7-0           1       6       4                   287/26.1
1981    8-3-1           5       2       5                   297/24.8
1982    3-7-1   1   1   6       2       1                   170/15.5
1983    7-4-0       1   5       3       1       1           237/21.5
1984    6-5-0   1       1       5       2       1       1   317/28.8
1985    4-7-0       1   2       2       5               1   313/28.5
1986    3-7-1       1   4       4       2                   221/20.1
1987    3-7-1       3   5                       3           238/21.6
1988    9-3-0                   5       3       3       1   415/34.6
1989    6-5-0       1   1       3       2       3       1   351/31.9
1990    3-8-0           4       3       2       1       1   266/26.0
1991*   4-7-0       1   4       2       1       2       1   280/25.4
1992    9-3-0       1   1       4       4       1       1   337/28.1
1993    5-6-0       3   2       2       1       1       2   271/24.6
1994    8-4-0       3   3       6                           192/16.0
1995    3-8-0       1   4       3       2       1           236/21.5
1996    5-6-0           2       6       1               2   314/28.5
1997    10-2-0          1       2       5       1       3   483/40.3
1998    3-7-0       1   3       5       1                   210/21.0
     103-106-4  2   18  54      66      42      18      14  5447/25.6

* = TD RECORD: WSU scored at least one touchdown in 82 consecutive games between 1984 and 1991...the streak ended with a 44-3 loss to UCLA in 1991.

PAC-10 SCORING STREAK AT 180: In addition to having scored in 165 consecutive games, WSU also has scored in 180 straight Pac-10 Conference games, by far the longest active scoring streak in the league...the last time WSU was shut out in a Pac-10 game was Oregon State's 7-0 win in 1975 at Corvallis.

COUGS STINGY IN FIRST QUARTER: WSU's defense has allowed 286 first quarter points in the last 67 games (4.27/quarter) over the past six years...WSU allowed 41 first-quarter points in 1993, 29 in 1994, 45 in 1995, 43 in 1996, 48 first quarter points in 1997...this year, however, the Cougs have given up 80 in nine games...in the first four games WSU allowed just seven points, 49 in the next three games, none against ASU, 17 at Arizona and seven at Stanford.

PRICE THIRD IN WINS: WSU coach Mike Price is third among the current Pacific-10 coaches with 102 wins...Arizona's Dick Tomey has 145, followed by ASU's Bruce Snyder, 114...Price, in 10 years at WSU, is second in consecutive years at the same school...Tomey is in his 12th at Arizona.

COUGARS HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO: Washington State picked up three players off last year's San Francisco City College club...they are running back Kevin Brown (West Covina, Calif., sophomore), cornerback Chris Martin (Brooklyn, New York, junior) and receiver Jerry Roquemore ( Gahanna, Ohio, junior)...all three are starters.

MIKE PRICE AMONG WSU'S BEST: Only one Washington State football coach with tenure of five years or longer at WSU put together a better record than Mike Price...Price, in his 10 seasons at WSU, is 56-56-0 (.500), while his career mark is now 102-100-0...Babe Hollingbery was 93-53-14 (.625) during his 1926-42 (17 years) tenure...Price's record is the best at WSU in the last 50 years for coaches with a tenure of three or more years...Price's 56 wins at WSU ranks second to Hollingbery's 93...Jim Walden is third on the victory list at 44.

NOTHING LIKE HOME: The Washington State Cougars love to play at home and after looking at the team's home and away records during Mike Price's 10-year tenure, it's easy to see why teams don't enjoy their trips to Pullman...Price at home has a 32-20 record, including a 26-11 mark the past seven years...on the road, WSU is 24-36...WSU's 6-0 home record in 1997 is the best ever for the Cougars, who previously had never won six home games in one year:

COUGARS VS. RANKED TEAMS: This year WSU has lost to No. 4 UCLA, No. 15 Oregon and No. 10 Arizona...in 1997 WSU defeated No. 22 USC and lost to 21st ranked ASU...unranked at the start of the season when WSU won, UCLA finished the year ranked seventh...in the final game of the year, WSU lost to co-national champion Michigan......in 1996 WSU lost at No. 5 Colorado, defeated No. 25 Oregon and No. 19 California and lost to No. 12 Washington...WSU, in 1995, suffered losses to three nationally ranked teams: No. 2 Nebraska, at No. 5 USC and at No. 12 Oregon.

RED ZONE: Washington State has scored 16 times in 26 trips into the Red Zone this year (61.5%), nine touchdowns (34.6%) and seven field goals...the Cougs have missed four field goals, lost the ball on downs once, had three interceptions, fumbled the ball away once and had the game end once...opponents have had 41 opportunities in the Red Zone, scoring 29 touchdowns and four field goals (80.5%)...they have missed five field goals, suffered two interceptions and failed on downs once...last year the Cougs scored 49 times (39 TDs) in 55 Red Zone entries (89.1%), while WSU opponents converted 23 times (20 TDs) in 32 tries (71.9%).

SPECIAL TEAMS, DEFENSE SCORE: WSU's special teams and defense have scored 45 of the team's 214 points...the breakdown includes 24 points from field goals, 14 from kickoff returns and seven from a returned fumble.

RUSHING TOTALS UNDER 100: In the last six years WSU has held 30 of 67 opponents to less than 100 yards rushing...the lows include Montana State's -35 and Pacific's -6 in 1993 and Montana's -6 in 1995...in those 67 games, WSU has held opponents to 50 or less yards 12 times:

1993 - Games WSU Allowed 100 Yards Rushing - 3/11
    Michigan 179, USC 104, Washington 302.
1994 - Games WSU Allowed 100 Yards Rushing - 3/12
    Tennessee 149, Oregon State 178, Washington 102.
1995 - Games WSU Allowed 100 Yards Rushing - 5/11
    UCLA 137, Nebraska 428, California 134, Stanford 131,
    Washington 222.
1996 - Games WSU Allowed 100 Yards Rushing - 10/11
    Colorado 192, Temple 125, Oregon 118, SJSU 100, 
    Arizona 145, OSU 141, California 44, Illinois 148,
    UCLA 164, Stanford 102, Washington 213.
1997 - Games WSU Allowed 100 Yards Rushing - 8/12
    UCLA 209, USC 31, Illinois 173, Boise State 46,
    Oregon 154, Cal 109, Arizona 73, ASU 150, USL 75,
    Stanford 160, Washington 101, Michigan 128.
1998 n Games WSU Allowed 100 Yards Rushing n 8/10
    Illinois 123, Boise State 120, Idaho 100, California 79,
    UCLA 256, Oregon 247, USC 214, ASU 242,
    Arizona 361 Stanford 94.

1993 Plays Allowed 20 Yards or Longer - 8
1994 Plays Allowed 20 Yards or Longer - 7
1995 Plays Allowed 20 Yards or Longer - 12
1996 Plays Allowed 20 Yards or Longer - 6
1997 Plays Allowed 20 Yards or Longer n 7
1998 Plays Allowed 20 Yards or Longer - 16
    Idaho: Thomas 21, Dean 46.
    UCLA: Lewis 23, Foster 40, Stanley 29.
    Oregon: Droughns 50.
    USC: Papadakis 53, Soward 26.
    ASU: Paulk 70, Green 25.
    Arizona: Candidate 75-45, Smith 38-29, Northcutt 22
    Stanford: Borchard 21
1994 Plays Allowed 10-19 Yards - 15
1995 Plays Allowed 10-19 Yards - 24
1996 Plays Allowed 10-19 Yards - 33
1997 Plays Allowed 10-19 Yards n 29
1998 Plays Allowed 10-19 Yards - 35

WASHINGTON STATE SINCE '92: The Washington State Cougars have won 43 games since the start of the 1992 season, the seventh best overall mark among league teams......the Cougars' 25 conference wins also ranks seventh when totaling league victories...here's a look at the records for Pac-10 teams, 1992-98:

100-YARD RUSHERS FEW: Only 18 running backs have been able to crack the 100-yard mark in the last six years against WSU's defense...UCLA's Skip Hicks is the only back to have done so in back-to-back seasons and the Bruins are the only team to have a back go over 100 yards in three straight seasons, 1995-96-97:

1993 - Players Gaining 100+ Yards vs. WSU - 2
    Tyrone Wheatley, Michigan, 117
    Napoleon Kaufman, Washington, 181
1994 - Players Gaining 100+ Yards vs. WSU - 1
    J.J. Young, Oregon State, 100
1995 - Players Gaining 100+ Yards vs. WSU - 5
    Karim Abdul-Jabar, UCLA, 125
    Ahman Green, Nebraska, 176
    Reynard Rutherford, California, 124
    Anthony Bookman, Stanford, 123,
    Rashaan Shehee, Washington, 212
1996 - Players Gaining 100+ Yards vs. WSU - 2
    Skip Hicks, UCLA, 116
    Corey Dillon, Washington, 155
1997 - Players Gaining 100+ Yards vs. WSU - 4
    Skip Hicks, UCLA, 190; Robert Holcombe, Illinois 163;
    Michael Martin, ASU, 111; Anthony Bookman, 
    Stanford, 115
1998 - Players Gaining 100+ Yards vs. WSU - 4
    Steve Havard, Illinois, 103, Reuben Droughns, UO, 217.
    Gerald Green, ASU, 119, Trung Canidate, Arizona, 174.

BROWN GOES OVER 200: Kevin Brown rushed for 202 yards at Stanford, the seventh most rushing yards ever by a WSU player...he is the sixth Cougar to top 200 yards...the others are Rueben Mayes (357, 216, 201), Bernard Jackson (261), Tali Ena (218), Michael Black (214) and Steve Broussard (205)...only three Cougar backs have carried the ball as many times as Brown did at Stanford, 37 times, record holder Steve Broussard (41), Mayes (39) and Black (37).

SCHEDULING: Coaches often talk about whom an upcoming opponent faces the week before or the week after the two teams collide...here's a look at WSU opponents and whom they play before and after meeting the Cougars:

TOUGH PLAYING DL AT WSU: Since coming off the Rose Bowl nine months ago, WSU has lost seven defensive linemen...those anticipated to be in fall camp who are no longer members of the team include: Saeed Abdul-Malik (250 pounds, junior, JC transfer who did not receive his AA degree), James Agnew (330, RS-So., decided not to play football), Takari Blash (265. RS-Jr., attending school but not playing football), Eric Hodge (246, junior, a JC transfer who left fall camp after one week), Nate Mallory (265, RS-Fr., did not meet NCAA eligibility requirements), Delmar Morais (257, RS-Sr., injuries), Taeao Salausa (284, Sr., transferred)...adding to the woes is the loss of senior Gary Holmes following a severe ankle sprain in the Idaho game.

TURNOVERS: The Cougs are -17 in turnovers after 10 gamesOethe Cougs turned the ball over six times at Cal, and six against USC four times at UCLA, did not have turnovers against Oregon, the first zero turnover day since Temple in 1996...for the season WSU has lost 15 of 22 fumbles and thrown 24 interceptions, a total of 39 turnovers...WSU was -1 in turnovers in 1997, +9 in 1994, even in 1995 and -9 in 1996.

COUGAR ATTENDANCE: WSU's football attendance this season is on record pace, averaging 34,150 through five games (170,751 total)...adding in an expected Washington sellout of 37,600 and WSU will average more than 34,720 and draw 208,351 fans for six games, both record totals.

RECORDS: Several Cougar records have been broken or tied this season, including: Nian Taylor and Steve Birnbaum teamed up on a 97-yard pass and run play against Idaho...Taylor caught three TD passes against Idaho to tie the WSU record...Dee Moronkola returned five kickoffs a school record 211 yards against Oregon...Moronkola also has tied a WSU record with two KO returns for scores (91 at Boise State, 88 against Oregon)...Paul Mencke's six interceptions against USC tied a WSU one-game record...Rian Lindell tied a WSU record when he booted four field goals at Boise State.

PAC-10 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Kareem Anderson was named special teams player of the week for his 47.6 yard average on five punts against Illinois; Nian Taylor was offensive player of the week for his eight catch, 254 yard, three touchdown performance against Idaho.

SI TABS COUGAR QUARTERBACKS: A fall issue of Sports Illustrated tabs Washington State as the best college in the nation for quarterbacks...the weekly magazine rated every position for the past 10 years and concluded, on the strength of Cougars Timm Rosenbach, Drew Bledsoe and Ryan Leaf, WSU had done the best job of turning out top-notch quarterbacks.

THOMPSON CAN GO TO OFFENSE: Lamont Thompson, with 10 interceptions in 14 career starts, as seen limited action as a wide receiver...Thompson saw his first offensive action at California (no recpetions), then caught two passes at UCLA for 34 yards...Thompson is seventh on WSU's career interception list, just four behind record holder Richard Reed, 1966-68.

WSU NEAR THE TOP AND BOTTOM IN TURNOVERS: Washington State has forced 22 turnovers this season, 11 fumbles and 11 interceptions...that ranks the Cougars 35th nationally in taking the ball away from the opponent...however, WSU's 39 turnovers is the most in NCAA Div. I...WSU's turnover margin is n1.70 per game to rank in a tie for 111th nationally.

INTERCEPTIONS GO THE OTHER WAY: Washington State quarterbacks have thrown 24 interceptions this fall, well short of the school record 36 in 1970, but the arrant passes have been costly, nonetheless...opponents have returned six of the interceptions for touchdowns...WSU does not have a record for interceptions returned for touchdowns, but this year's total could well be the most ever against the Cougars.

11 START ALL 10 GAMES: A total of 11 players have started all 10 games for WSU this year and of those 11, all but two are expected to return next year...not returning are seniors Rob Rainville and Love Jefferson...the returnees include Reed Raymod,, Rob Meier, Jesse Ratcliff, Earl Riley, Chris Martin, Lamont Thompson, Kareem Anderson and Rian Lindell...Nian Taylor is listed as a senior but is expected to return next year.

COUGAR SENIORS PREPARE FOR FINAL GAME: Washington State will send 18 players into Martin Stadium Saturday for the final game of their Cougar career...the list includes six current starters, TE Love Jefferson, CB Dee Moronkola, DE Jonathan Nance, OT Rob Rainville, OG Mike Sage and WR Nian Taylor...Taylor, however, is expected to return next year, since he can regain his freshman year of eligibility if he graduates this spring...Taylor has said he wants to return for another season...the complete list of WSU seniors follows:

BIRNBAUM, MENCKE SPLIT QB TIME: For the past five games, junior Steve Birnbaum and sophomore Paul Mencke have split playing time, occasionally changing during a series...Birnbaum started the first six games for WSU, then Mencke took over for three games before Birnbaum returned to the starting role last week...here is a look at their game-by-game performances:

ODDS AND ENDS: In the last three games WSU has generated 1,410 yards of total offense, an average of 470 yards per game...unfortunately WSU has allowed 1,405 yards in those three games...over the last six games, all league contests, opponents have averaged 478 yards in total offense...penalties were a problem for WSU early in the season, but over the last four games, WSU has averaged just 49 penalty yards...for the season WSU has 676 penalty yards and the opponents 768...only Boise State, Idaho and Oregon had more turnovers than WSU...no Cougar running back has scored more than one touchdown in any one game this year...WSU is 255 yards short of achieving 4,000 yards in total offense this season... since 1976 WSU has had over 4,000 yards in all but five seasons and more than 5,000 yards three times...teams with less than 4,000 are: 1994/3372, 1982/3593 1990/3744, 1983/3868 and 1995/3904.

ODDS AND ENDS: WSU is most efficient at converting third down plays in the first quarter, as are WSU opponents...WSU converts 32.4% of its third down plays in the first quarter and the opponents 43.2%...WSU struggles the most in the fourth quarter, making just 25.7% of its third down opportunities, while the second quarter is the lowest for opponents, 26.7%...WSU's average time of possession in the fourth quarter is 6:45, the least amount of time WSU has the ball in any of the four quarters...in the first quarter WSU averages 6:54, in the second quarter 7:57 and in the third quarter 7:01...only in the second quarter is WSU's time of possession greater than the opponent.

REVIEWING WSU'S 1998 SEASON

WSU captured its seventh straight home opener with a 20-13 win over ILLINOISOeKevin Brown led WSU offensively with 111 yards in his Cougar debut...defensive tackle Rob Meier returned a fumble 52 yards for WSU's first score after Jonathan Nance knocked the ball loose with a sackOethe win was Mike Price's 100th career victory;

The Cougars came from behind to beat BOISE STATE 33-21 at BoiseOe28 Cougars were making their first road trip and 22 of the 60 are in their first competitive season with WSUOeDee Moronkola had an 88-yard kickoff return for one score, DeJuan Gilmore broke a 79-yard TD run and Chris Martin made 14 tackles and intercepted two passes.

Lamont Thompson picked off two passes and Steve Birnbaum threw for 299 yards as WSU beat IDAHO 24-16...Nian Taylor was the receiving star, scoring all three Cougar TDs...he caught eight passes for 254 yards...James Price had 13 tackles, including two sacks...WSU had 479 yards in total offense, with 366 passing, 113 rushing.

Washington State's defense rose to the occasion against CALIFORNIA, but three costly turnovers by the offense produced three Bear touchdowns in a 24-14 setback...Lamont Thompson and Dee Moronkola each had interceptions as WSU forced three turnovers, but gave the ball up six times, including four interceptions...each team converted just two third-down opportunities...Kevin Brown rushed for 80 yards and Leaford Hackett caught four passes for 139 yards and one score...Thompson and James Price had nine tackles each and Steve Gleason two sacks.

The Cougars fell behind 28-0 and never threatened No. 4 UCLA in a 49-17 loss at the Rose Bowl...the Cougars turned the ball over on three of their first four possessions and UCLA scored each time...Kevin Brown ran for 109 yards and Steve Birnbaum quarterbacked the Cougs for all but the final series...Anthony Matthews had his first interception of the season after replacing the injured Dee Moronkola, while Rob Meiers blocked a UCLA field goal try...the Bruins blocked two WSU punts and rushed for 272 yards.

WSU fell behind to OREGON 21-0 in the first quarter and trailed 38-7 at halftime in a 51-29 loss...Oregon's 527 yards in total offense is the most allowed by WSU since 1995 against Nebraska (also 527) and the most in a league game since 1991 against UCLA (598)...Kevin Brown rushed for 100 yards and Leaford Hackett caught 11 passes (97 yards), one off the school record...sophomore Paul Mencke took over for starter Steve Birnbaum at the start of the second half and finished up for WSU, completing 11 of 20 passes for 99 yards...WSU did not have a turnover for the first time since 1996 against Temple...Dee Moronkola returned five kickoffs for a school record 211 yards, including a 91-yard TD return.

The Cougs were even with USC 14-14 in the second quarter, but the Trojans then scored 28 unanswered points to record a 42-14 win...Paul Mencke started his first collegiate game at quarterback for WSU and looked brilliant early, completing five of six passes in the first quarter and seven of eight as WSU earned a 14-14 tie...for the rest of the game he was eight of 33 with five interceptions (four in the last quarter)...WSU's rushing game produced just 126 yards, with Mencke's 39 the leader...Dee Moronkola had a 49-yard KO return and Lamont Thompson returned five punts 44 yards...Thompson led WSU on defense with eight tackles.

ASU pulled away from WSU late in the first half, then after the Cougars closed to within three points, the Sun Devils again distanced themselves from the host school in a 38-28 win before a Dads' Day crowd of 34,039 at Pullman...alternating quarterbacks Paul Mencke (starter) and Steve Birnbaum, WSU generated 482 yards in total offense, but turnovers continued to kill the Cougars...ASU scored three times after WSU turnovers, including one interception return for a score...Kevin Brown had his fourth rushing day of 100 or more yards, piling up a career high 153 yards...he scored once and Nian Taylor, who had seven catches for 168 yards, scored twice...Grady Emmerson, replacing the ailing Steve Gleason at linebacker, led the WSU defense with 13 tackles, while Jonathan Nance forced and recovered one fumble, deflected two passes and had one QB sack.

ARIZONA lived up to their lofty #10 national ranking by overcoming WSU's early 7-3 lead in a 41-7 Wildcat win...Paul Mencke and Leaford Hackett teamed up on a 35-yard pass play on WSU's second possession to stake WSU to a 7-3 lead, but the Wildcats quickly answered with Trung Canidate's 75-yard TD burst...Canidate later scored on a 45-yard run as the Wildcats scored 38 unanswered points...WSU had the offense, 377 yards, but also had the turnovers, five, including three interceptions (one for a TD) and two lost fumbles...Kevin Brown rushed for 126 yards, his second straight game of 100+ yards and fifth of the year...Steve Birnbaum completed 14 of 20 passes for 192 yards, but threw three interceptions and had no TD passes...Chris Martin forced Arizona's only fumble and Rob Meier returned it six yards...WSU, for the third straight game, did not pick off an interceptions, after forcing 11 in the first six games.

WSU put it all together for three quarters before STANFORD scored 24 unanswered fourth quarter points to pull out a 38-28win over the Cougars...early in the fourth quarter WSU had a 28-14 lead, but Stanford used two WSU interceptions, one that set up the winning score, to capture the win...the Cardinal had 169 yards of total offense in the fourth quarter...Kevin Brown rushed for 202 yards, the seventh best performance in WSU history, but five interceptions finally wore down the Cougar defense.

1998 RANKINGS FOR THE COUGARS

* = Tie

1998 TEAM STATISTICAL RANKINGS

NATIONAL LEADERS

WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS: Washington State's weekly Fox Sports Northwest award winners from the Stanford game are:

Pac-10 Offense:  Kevin Brown (West Covina, CA)
Pac-10 Defense:  None
Pac-10 Special Teams: None
Offensive Lineman: Reed Raymond (Moses Lake, WA), Lincoln Walden-Schulz (Long Beach, CA)
Offensive Back:  Kevin Brown (West Covina, CA)
Offensive Scout Team: Curtis Nettles (Culver City, CA)
Defensive Back: None
Defensive Lineman: Austin Matson (Everett, WA)
Defensive Scout Team: Brandon Pickering (Monroe, WA), Ryan Pickering (Monroe, WA)
Defensive Pursuit Player: None
Cougar Claw: None
Big Hit: None
Cougar Tackler: Lamont Thompson (Richmond, CA)
Specialist of the Week: Kareem Anderson (Phoenix, AZ), Erik Larson (Olympia, WA)
Most Disciplined Offense: None
Most Disciplined Defense: Steve Gleason (Spokane, WA)
Most Disciplined Special Teams: Adam Hawkins (Pendleton, OR)
Special Teams Big Play:None

NOTE: WSU's starting offensive lineup usually includes three wide receivers and one running back, but can include four wide receivers and no running backs, or two wide receivers and two running backs.

MIKE PRICE TV SHOWS: The "Mike Price TV Show" airs Sunday evenings at 11:30 p.m. PT on KXLY, KAPP and KVEW television stations....KXLY's Rick Lukens hosts the shows...FOX Sports Northwest's nightly (7:00 p.m.) Northwest Tonight program also gives extensive coverage to Price and Cougar football.

RICK DICKSON RADIO SHOW: "Cougar Chat with Rick Dickson" is aired each Sunday 60 minutes before the Seattle Seahawk pre-game show on Spokane's KXLY Radio (920)... veteran Cougar broadcaster Paul Sorensen hosts the weekly show with the WSU athletic director.

WEEKLY WSU PRESS CONFERENCES: WSU hosts a weekly press conference each Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. in the Media Information Conference Room, Bohler Addition 195. All in-season head coaches and selected players (when available) will be available for the phone conference and in-person interviews. Contact the WSU Media Information Office for more information. Members of the media may attend in person or participate by use of the telephone.

LISTEN TO COUGAR GAMES ANYWHERE: Cougar football fans can listen to the Voice of the Cougars Bob Robertson's broadcasts, even if a network station is not in your locale. TRZ Sports Service Inc.'s "Teamline" provides the hookup directly into the Cougar Sports Network. Call 1-800-846-4700 and punch in the Cougar access code 5938. The cost is charged to your VISA or Mastercard.

LIVE TELEVISION: November 21 the Pac-10 Conference will televise the USC at UCLA game regionally at 12:30 p.m. PT, while the Oregon at Oregon State game will be offered by Fox Sports Net nationally, at 3:30 p.m. PTOe.WSU's Apple Cup game with Washington will be shown in state by ABC affiliates in Spokane (KXLY), Seattle (KOMO), Yakima (KAPP) and Tri-Cities (KVEW).

FSNW-TV: Fox Sports Northwest will replay Washington State's game vs. Washington Nov. 22 at 4 p.m.

TICKETS: Tickets for all Cougar home and away games are available through the WSU Ticket Office, North 225 Grand, Pullman, Wash. 99164-1910, or by calling 800-GO-COUGS (available toll free from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands).

AUDIO ON INTERNET: WSU's football broadcasts are now available on the Internet through Broadcast.com...the address is: http://www.broadcast.com/schools/wsu.

WSU RADIO: Bob Robertson, Paul Sorensen, Jeff Aaron, and Bud Nameck will combine talents on the 24-station Crimson and Gray Sports Network. Robertson is in his 32nd year of broadcasting Cougar sports and Sorensen is in his 13th season with WSU. Broadcast time is 60 minutes prior to kickoff. The "Mike Price Show," produced and distributed by Broadcast Ink, airs weekly throughout the network, with Robertson as the show's host.