MIAMI vs. WASHINGTON STATE
11 a.m. (PT), Saturday, Dec. 26 • CBS
Sun Bowl Stadium (51,500) • El Paso, Texas
WASHINGTON STATE FACES MIAMI IN 82ND SUN BOWL
Washington State (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12) makes its second bowl appearance in the last three seasons, heading to the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas to face the University of Miami (8-4, 5-3 ACC), Saturday, Dec. 26 at 11 a.m. (PT) on CBS.
SUN BOWL HISTORY
The Cougars will be making their second appearance in the Sun Bowl, beating Purdue 33-27 in the 2001 matchup. Safety Lamont Thompson earned MVP honors after recording two interceptions and 10 tackles while quarterback Jason Gesser threw one touchdown pass and ran for another, and kicker Drew Dunning connected on four field goals.
COUGAR QUICK HITS
TEAM
• WSU’s 8-4 record is its best mark since the 2003 team went 10-3
• WSU will be making its 12th bowl appearance and second Sun Bowl appearance (2001)
• WSU is making its second bowl appearance under coach Mike Leach (New Mexico Bowl in 2013)
• 23 players have made their Cougar debuts this season, and eight players have made their first career start
• WSU has five players who list Florida as their home state (Bender, Harrington, Martin Jr., Priester, Taylor)
• WSU leads the country in passing offense (397.0) and red zone offense (94.3%)
• WSU was the only team from a Power 5 Conference with three players on the Biletnikoff Watch List
• WSU is second in the Pac-12 in tackles-for-loss per game at 7.9, seventh-most in the country
• WSU leads the country in 4th-down conversions (25) and is second in the most attempts (36), 69%
• WSU recorded its first three-game conference winning streak (at Oregon, Oregon State, at Arizona) since 2003
• WSU’s win at Oregon was the first win over the Ducks since 2006 and first in Eugene since 2003
• WSU’s win at Rutgers was the first win against a Big Ten school since defeating Purdue in the 2001 Sun Bowl
• WSU rushed for 149 yards in the win over Colorado, the fifth 100-yard game of season, ninth under coach Leach
• WSU recorded two sellouts of Martin Stadium in 2015, now owns seven sellouts since coach Mike Leach arrived at WSU in 2012, only one sellout in the five seasons prior
INDIVIDUAL
• WSU’s win over Oregon State gave Mike Leach career win No. 100, he now owns a career 104-72 record
• QB Luke Falk leads the Pac-12 in passing yards (387.8 ypg) and total offense (377.5 ypg), second in TDs (36)
• Falk is the FBS active leader in passing yards-per-game (360.3) and second in career total offense (349.5)
• WR Dom Williams is 2nd in WSU history with 30 career TD catches, trails Jason Hill’s record of 32
• Williams sits second in school history with 2,846 career receiving yards, 11th among active FBS players
• WR Gabe Marks owns the WSU record for career receptions (222), broke Michael Bumpus’ record (195)
• Marks ranks 11th among all active FBS receivers in career receptions
• Marks leads the Pac-12 in catches (99), TDs (14), catches per game (8.2) and second in receiving yards (1,125)
• Marks owns six career games with 10+ receptions, the most in WSU history
• Marks owns 99 receptions, 57 of those have resulted in a WSU first down (58%)
• Cougar RBs combine to average 148.8 all-purpose yards-per-game, 6.1 yds-per-carry and have scored 11 TDs
• RB Gerard Wicks recorded a career high 123 rushing yards against Colorado, first 100-yard rusher since 2010
• RUSH LB Kache Palacio owns 16 career sacks, good for 10th all-time in WSU history
LEACH NAMED PAC-12 COACH OF THE YEAR, GEORGE MUNGER COACH OF THE YEAR SEMIFINALIST
Head Coach Mike Leach was named a semifinalist for the George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award and Pac-12 Conference Co-Coach of the Year. Leach shared the honor with Stanford’s David Shaw. Leach guided the Cougars to an 8-4 record this season, 6-3 in Pac-12 play, both marks the best at WSU since the 2003 season when WSU went 10-3 and 6-2, respectively. The Cougars, selected fifth in the Pac-12 North Division’s preseason media poll, have posted road victories over Rutgers, Oregon, Arizona and No. 18 UCLA. The win at Oregon was the first over the Ducks since the 2006 season while the Cougars hadn’t defeated UCLA since 2007. Additionally, the Cougars achieved a top 20 national ranking following the win over Colorado, the first top 20 ranking since the 2003 season for WSU. Leach was one of 18 coaches named a semifinalist for the George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award. He has guided a Cougar program that leads the nation in passing offense at 397.0 yards per game, and also leads the nation in red zone offense, converting on 94.3 percent of their opportunities inside the 20-yard line. Previously, Leach has been named the George Munger National Coach of the Year in 2008, while also receiving the Woody Hayes Award, Howie Long/Fieldturf National Coach of the Year, and Big 12 Coach of the Year in that same season. Leach is the first Cougar coach to receive Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors since Bill Doba in 2003. In all five WSU coaches have received the honor, the others being Jim Walden (1981, 1983), Dennis Erickson (1988), Mike Price (1997, 2001) and Doba.
DAHL NAMED TO USA TODAY ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM
Left tackle Joe Dahl was named to the USA Today All-America Second Team. Dahl anchored the left side of the Cougar offensive line for the first eight games of the 2015 season, helping protect the nation’s top-ranked passing team for the second-straight season. He is the first Cougar offensive lineman to earn All-America honors since Derrick Roche was named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association in 2002.
HERCULES MATA’AFA NAMED FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN
Defensive lineman Hercules Mata’afa was named to the Freshman All-America Team by USA Today. Mata’afa, a redshirt-freshman from Lahaina, Hawaii, has posted 10 tackles-for-loss while tying for the team lead with six sacks. He posted 3.5 TFLs and two sacks at Cal and has a TFL in four of the last five Cougar games. He ranks tied for sixth in sacks and tied for 13th in TFL’s in the Pac-12.
DAHL, FALK, MARKS LEAD COUGARS ON ALL-PAC-12 TEAMS
Offensive lineman Joe Dahl, quarterback Luke Falk and wide receiver Gabe Marks were named to the All-Pac-12 Conference First Team, highlighting 11 Cougars to earn all-conference recognition. In addition to the three first-team members, defensive linemen Darryl Paulo and Destiny Vaeao were named to the second team while safety Shalom Luani, offensive linemen Cole Madison and Riley Sorenson, defensive lineman Hercules Mata’afa, linebacker Peyton Pelluer and wide receiver Dom Williams each received honorable mention accolades. The 2015 season marks the most all-conference selections for the Cougars since the 2003 season when WSU had 17 selections. It is also the most first-team picks since 2003, when the Cougars placed five on the first team.
PELLUER NAMED TO PAC-12 ALL-ACADEMIC SECOND TEAM
Peyton Pelluer was named to the Pac-12 Conference All-Academic Second Team, highlighting five Cougars who received all-academic honors. Pelluer, a redshirt-sophomore, owns a 3.57 grade point average while pursuing a degree in history. WSU four additional student-athletes earn All-Academic recognition as offensive lineman Joe Dahl, safety Isaac Dotson, quarterback Luke Falk and center Sam Flor each garnered honorable mention accolades. Pelluer and Flor received their second career All-Academic honor while Dahl, Dotson and Falk were named for the first time. Washington State has had at least five players earn All-Academic accolades in each of head coach Mike Leach’s four seasons with the Cougars. Dahl holds a 3.13 GPA in marketing, Dotson owns a 3.10 GPA while majoring in marketing, Falk carries a 3.24 GPA with an undeclared major and Flor has a 3.24 cumulative GPA while majoring in construction management. To be eligible for selection to the academic team, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 overall grade-point average and appear in at least 50 percent of their team’s games.
COUGARS APPEAR IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
Washington State appeared in Associated Press Top-25 and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top-25 Poll for two straight weeks late in the regular season. The Cougars appeared at No. 24 in the AP poll following the win at UCLA, its first national ranking (AP) since earning a No. 25 ranking in week 10 of the 2006 season. Following the win over Colorado the following week, WSU was ranked No. 20 in the AP poll, the program’s highest ranking since finishing the 2003 season ninth.
YOUNG COUGS TAKE THE FIELD
Washington State has seen 23 players make their Cougar debuts this season and six players who have made their first career start in 2015. Fourteen freshmen have contributed including seven true freshmen. Seventeen newcomers appear in the depth chart against Washington with a total of 12 freshman listed including six true freshmen. The players who have made their Cougar debuts this season are: Treshon Broughton (DB), Zach Charme (P), Reggie Coates (DL), Hunter Dale (DB), Nate DeRider (LB), Kaleb Fossum (WR), Lucas Gravelle (LS), Keith Harrington (RB), Alijah Lee (RB), Chandler Leniu (LB), Shalom Luani (S), Tavares Martin Jr. (WR), Hercules Mata’afa (DL), Jeremiah Mitchell (DL), Darrien Molton (CB), Cody O’Connell (OL), Kirkland Parker (DB), Aaron Porter (LB), Kyrin Priester (WR), Kyle Sweet (WR), Logan Tago (LB), Ngalu Tapa (DL), Andre Dillard (LT).
AIR RAID HEATED UP IN PAC-12 PLAY
The Washington State Air Raid offense took off to new levels over the final eight games (6-2), averaging 496.5 yards in total offense, 410.9 yards passing while converting 42 percent on third downs, 75 percent on fourth down and scored in all 37 trips inside the red zone (26 TD). The Cougars averaged 34.5 ppg during that same stretch which included its first three-game conference winning streak since 2003 and scored 40+ points in three straight for the first time since 2001. Also during that span, Luke Falk threw for 2,807 yards with 26 touchdowns, six interceptions, averaged 401.0 passing yards-per-game and completed 69.7 percent of his passes while wideout Gabe Marks caught 11 touchdowns and receiver Dom Williams made seven TD grabs. WSU enters the Sun Bowl leading the FBS in passing (397.0) and red zone offense (94.3%) and have rushed for 100+ yards as a team five times this season after reaching the marks just four times in the previous three seasons combined.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR LUKE
Luke Falk was named a Davey O’Brien Quarterback Award Semifinalist, one of 15 “Players to Watch” for The Walter Camp Football Foundation 2015 Player of the Year award and was one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation’s top player who started his career as a walk-on. The Walter Camp Player of the Year award is the fourth-oldest college football award in the nation. The Davey O’Brien Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. Falk was one of 17 semifinalists and earned a spot on the Davey O’Brien Award “Great 8” Performance of the Week five times this season. Falk enters the Sun Bowl leading the FBS in passing yards-per-game (387.8), third in total offense (377.5), and fourth in passing touchdowns (36) and passing yards (4,266). In Pac-12 play, Falk averaged 399.5 passing yards-per-game, completed 69.9 percent of his passes and threw 28 touchdowns against seven interceptions and also rushed for two scores. Earlier this season, Falk was named the Walter Camp National FBS Player of the Week (the first Cougar to receive the honor since the 2004 season), the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week three times and the Maxwell Award Player of the Week.
FALK STAYS HOT
Redshirt-sophomore Luke Falk’s impressive 2015 campaign continued in the wins over Arizona State and No. 18 UCLA, throwing for 497 yards and five touchdowns against ASU before leading WSU to a fourth 4th-quarter comeback victory at UCLA, his fourth comeback win of the season. Falk threw for 514 yards and five touchdowns in the win at Arizona after posting 407 yards and tying a school-record with six touchdown passes (all in the first half) in the win over Oregon State the week prior. Falk enters the Sun Bowl with nine 300-yard games and five 400-yard games including a 478-yard effort in a road win over Rutgers and a 505-yard performance in the win at Oregon. In the win over the Ducks, Falk threw for five touchdowns while rushing for another in WSU’s first victory in Eugene since 2003. In just 17 career games including 14 starts, Falk owns 13 career 300-yard games, second-most in WSU history, 49 touchdowns, sixth-most in WSU history and 6,125 passing yards, good for seventh all-time.
FALK TALLIES THREE PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK ACCOLADES
Luke Falk was named Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week three times this season, the most by any player. Falk picked up his most recent award after throwing for 497 yards, completing 36-of-55 passes and five touchdowns to four different receivers with one interception in the come-from-behind, 38-24 win over Arizona State. After a slow first half, he completed 20-of-27 passes for 349 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in the second half. All four touchdown drives in the second half went for more than 70 yards. In the fourth quarter alone, Falk threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Cougars to their third come-from-behind win of the season as they trailed 21-17 entering the final quarter. Falk’s passing yardage was the third-highest of a Pac-12 quarterback this season, and he owns the top two marks as well. Earlier this season, Falk earned the accolade after leading the comeback victory at Rutgers and throwing for a season-high 514 yards and five touchdowns in the win at Arizona. Falk now owns four career player of the week awards, the most in WSU history since the conference started the award in 1991.
FALK’S RECORD BOOK WATCH (Pages 24-30)
• Falk’s 4,266 passing yards this season rank second in WSU single season history, he needs 332 yards to break Connor Halliday’s 2013 record of 4,597
• The Pac-12 record for passing yards in a season is 4,662 set by Sean Mannion (OSU) in 2013
• Falk’s 36 TD are the most in WSU single-season history, breaking the record of 34 shared by Ryan Leaf (1997) and Connor Halliday (2013)
• The Pac-12 record for TD passes in a season is 42 set by Marcus Mariota (ORE) last season
• Falk owns 49 career TD passes, sixth in WSU history, four behind Jack Thompson for fifth with 53
• Falk owns 6,125 career passing yards, seventh in WSU history, trails Drew Bledsoe for sixth (7,373)
• Falk owns three career 500-yard games, trails only Connor Halliday’s WSU record of five
FALK’S FOURTH-QUARTER COMEBACKS
Luke Falk hasn’t been a stranger to fourth-quarter comebacks despite playing in just 17 games including 14 starts but he has already led the Cougars to five fourth-quarter comebacks in his career including four this season. Last season at Oregon State, WSU trailed early in the fourth and Falk led a pair of scoring drives for a 39-32 victory. Earlier this season, trailing by four with 1:31 remaining at Rutgers, Falk leading WSU on a 10-play, 90-yard drive capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass to River Cracraft with 13 seconds remaining. In the win at Oregon, Falk led WSU on a pair of scoring drives late in the fourth quarter that erased a 10-point deficit and sent the game into overtime after an eight-yard touchdown pass to Dom Williams with one second remaining. In overtime, Falk rushed for a touchdown and then threw for another before the Cougar defense picked off a pass in the second overtime to clinch the win. Against Arizona State, trailing 24-17 to start the fourth quarter, Falk led the Cougars on three touchdown drives (73, 99 and 75 yards) in the quarter, capping each one with touchdown throws to post a 38-24 victory. His most recent one came at No. 18 UCLA, trailing by three with 1:09 remaining, Falk led the Cougars on a seven-play 75-yard drive, capped by a 21-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Marks with three seconds remaining to knock off the Bruins.
FALK ADDED TO MANNING AWARD WATCH LIST
Luke Falk was added to the Manning Award Watch List Oct. 14, one of 10 quarterbacks added to the watch list for the award given to the top quarterback in country after bowl games. Falk was one of five Pac-12 quarterbacks included on the list of 40 quarterbacks. The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. The winner will again be selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Mannings, after the bowls.
FALK NAMED A BURLSWORTH TROPHY FINALIST
Luke Falk was one of three named a Burlsworth Trophy Finalist by the Springdale Rotary Club. The award is given to the most outstanding collegiate football player who began his career as a walk-on. Falk walked on at WSU in 2013, redshirted that season before earning a scholarship prior to the 2014 season.
BENDER STEPS IN
Redshirt-freshman quarterback Peyton Bender came off the bench in relief of Luke Falk in games at UCLA and Colorado before starting the Apple Cup at Washington. Bender tossed touchdown passes in each appearance. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native entered the game at UCLA late in the first half and threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Dom Williams and later added a 50-yard completion to Keith Harrington. In the home finale against Colorado, Bender entered the game in the third quarter and threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Marks. He finished the game 13-of-22 for 133 yards with one touchdown and interception. With Falk out for the Apple Cup, Bender made his first career start and went 36-for-58 for 288 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. In five appearances this year, Bender was 53-of-91 for 498 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions.
OFFENSIVE LINE BULKED UP
Last season, the Cougar offensive line featured three first-year starters and posted the second-best pass attempts-to-sack ratio in the league at 21.4 (771/36), going the second-longest between allowing sacks while dropping back to pass the most times in Pac-12 history in addition to blocking for the nation’s leading passing offense. Not only did all five starters return in 2015 but every offensive lineman (13) returned from last year. The 2015 offensive line was the biggest (weight) it’s been since coach Mike Leach arrived, averaging nearly 310 lbs after averaging 288.6 in 2012, 288.2 in 2013 and 309.4 lbs last year.
EKLUND TALLIES THREE “BONE” AWARDS
Each week, Washington State coaches give out the “Bone” award to the offensive lineman who performs the best during the previous game. Each Cougar starting lineman owns at least one “Bone” award this season. Left guard Gunnar Eklund earned a team-best three awards this season.
Portland State: None; at Rutgers: Joe Dahl; Wyoming: Gunnar Eklund; at California: None; at Oregon: Riley Sorenson; Oregon State: Eduardo Middleton; at Arizona: Cole Madison; Stanford: None; Arizona State: Eduardo Middleton; at UCLA: Gunnar Eklund; Colorado: Gunnar Eklund; at Washington: None
EARTH, WIND AND FIRE IN THE BACKFIELD
The Cougar running back trio made up of redshirt-sophomores Jamal Morrow and Gerard Wicks, and redshirt-freshman Keith Harrington have become known as Earth, Wind and Fire by WSU running backs coach Jim Mastro. WSU has rushed for over 100 yards five games this season after recording four 100-yard efforts the previous three seasons combined. Wicks leads the way with 599 rushing yards while also owning 36 receptions. Harrington has caught 43 passes, averaged 6.6 yards-per-carry and owns five touchdowns (3 receiving, 2 rushing) while Morrow is second in rushing, averages 6.4 per-carry and owns three receiving touchdowns. Morrow rushed for a career-high 68 yards on eight carries in the win at Oregon, scored his first career touchdowns on touchdown catches in the win over Oregon State and rushed for 59 yards in the win at Arizona. Against the Ducks, the trio combined for 289 all-purpose yards, 15 receptions and averaged 9.7 yards-per-carry. Against OSU, the Cougar backs averaged 7.6 per-carry before racking up another 117 yards in the win at Arizona, its third straight 100-yard game for the first time since 2010. Both Harrington and Wicks caught touchdown passes in the win over Arizona State and Wicks rushed for another at UCLA. Against Colorado, Wicks rushed for 123 yards on 13 carries, giving WSU its first 100-yard rusher since 2010 (James Montgomery vs. Montana State). The Cougars have rushed for 959 yards this year, the most in Mike Leach’s four seasons at WSU. The three backs have combined to average 6.1 yards-per-carry, the highest by a WSU backfield since All-American Jerome Harrison and DeMaundray Woolridge combined for 8.5 per-carry in 2005.
SPREADING THE BALL AROUND
Washington State enters the week as the only team in the country with 10 players owning 20+ receptions this season and the only Power-5 Conference team with two players owning double-digit touchdown receptions. Last season, WSU was the only team in the country that had six players finish with 40+ catches and four of those players returned in 2015 (Cracraft, Morrow, Williams, Lewis). Through 12 games, the Cougars had 10+ receivers catch a pass in each game and nine players have caught a touchdown this season.
RECEIVERS MAKING THEIR WAY UP THE RECORD BOOK (pages 20, 24)
• Dom Williams owns 30 career TD catches, second in WSU history, trails Jason Hill (32)
• Williams’ 30 career TDs are tied with Mario Bailey (UW) and Mike Williams (USC) for seventh-most in Pac-12 history, Marks is tied for 24th with 23 career receiving TDs
• Williams owns nine career 100-yard games, tied for third in WSU history
• Williams is second in WSU history with 2,846 receiving yards and third with 190 career receptions
• Gabe Marks set a WSU single-game record and tied a Pac-12 record with 4 TD catches at Arizona
• Marks leads the Pac-12 with 99 receptions, second-most in WSU single-season history, trails Vince Mayle’s record of 106 set last season
• Marks’ 14 TD catches are a WSU single-season record, breaking Jason Hill’s mark of 13 (2005)
• Marks owns 1,125 receiving yards, his first 1,000-yard season, 12th in WSU history
• Marks broke Michael Bumpus’ school record for career receptions (195) during his 12-catch performance at UCLA, now owns 222 career receptions, tied for 14th in Pac-12 history
• Marks owns 23 career TD catches, tied for the third-most in school history
• Marks also sits fifth in WSU history with 2,492 career receiving yards
• River Cracraft sits ninth in WSU history with 160 career catches
• Cracraft is closing in on the WSU all-time top-10 for receiving yards (1,937) and TD catches (15)
MARKS NAMED BILETNIKOFF AWARD SEMIFINALIST, SETS WSU RECEPTIONS RECORD
Gabe Marks was named one of ten Biletnikoff Award semifinalists, the second Cougar in as many years to be named a semifinalist after Vince Mayle earned the same honor last season. Marks, along with wide out Dom Williams and River Cracraft were named to the watch list throughout the season, making WSU the only team from a power 5 conference with three players on the list and the only Pac-12 Conference team with multiple players on the list. Last season, three Cougars were named to the watch list including Cracraft, Mayle and Isiah Myers. Marks enters the postseason tied for third in the country in receptions-per-game (8.3), fourth in receptions (99), tied for fourth in touchdown receptions (14), all are Pac-12 highs while his 1,125 receiving yards are second. Marks has produced four 100-yard games this season and also owns the school record with six career games with 10+ receptions. The Venice, Calif. native caught 11 passes for 110 yards and touchdown in the win over Colorado after a record-breaking performance in the win at No. 18 UCLA, catching 12 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns including the go-ahead 21-yard score with three seconds remaining. Also during the UCLA win, Marks broke Michael Bumpus’ school record for career receptions (195) and enters the week with 222 career catches and tied for third in school history with 23 career touchdown catches. Marks has put up big numbers in WSU’s four road wins, setting a career-high with 14 catches and tied a career-high with 146 yards and a touchdown in the win at Rutgers, grabbing eight passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the win at Oregon, set a school-record with four touchdowns, also tying the Pac-12 mark in the win at Arizona before putting up the numbers at UCLA. In the win over Colorado, Marks caught 11 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, his team-best fourth 100-yard game this season.
WILLIAMS ADDED TO BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST
Dom Williams was added to the 2015 Biletnikoff Award Watch List Oct. 28. The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the outstanding receiver at any position in college football. Last season, three Cougars were named to the watch list including Cracraft, Vince Mayle and Isiah Myers. Mayle was later selected as one of the ten semifinalists. Williams enters the postseason second in the Pac-12 with 11 touchdowns, and fifth with 997 receiving yards and 73 receptions.
CRACRAFT NAMED TO PRESEASON BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior wide receiver River Cracraft was named to the 2015 Biletnikoff Award Watch List prior to the season. Cracraft finished last season seventh in the Pac-12 with eight touchdown catches, ninth with 66 receptions and tenth with 771 receiving yards in just nine games. The Trabuco Canyon, Calif. native tallied four 100-yard games and his 66 catches were tenth-most in WSU history. In 10 games this season, Cracraft owns 48 receptions for 552 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 61.3 yards-per-game, tenth-most in the Pac-12, along with two 100-yard efforts.
PELLUER NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT VIII FIRST TEAM
Peyton Pelluer was named to the 2015 Academic All-District VIII First Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Pelluer, from Sammamish, Wash., is a first-time honoree as a redshirt sophomore this season. The linebacker boasts a 3.57 GPA while majoring in history with an emphasis in secondary education. The fourth-generation Cougar, whose father, grandfather, and great grandfather all played football for the Cougars, was a Pac-12 All-Academic First Team selection last year and was named to the second team this year.
COUGAR DEFENSE MAKING STRIDES UNDER GRINCH
The Washington State defense has clamped down the hatches under first-year defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. The Cougars’ defensive unit has allowed 28.8 ppg and 423.2 ypg while forcing 21 turnovers this season. WSU has kept the explosive plays (20+ yards) to a minimum giving up 51 this season, averaging 4.2 per game. Last year, the Cougar defense allowed 6.1 explosive plays per game, a total of 73 on the season. By removing special teams touchdowns allowed, the Cougars are only allowing 24.1 ppg, a vast improvement after allowing 38.6 ppg in 2014. WSU enters the Sun Bowl having forced 21 turnovers, averaging 1.8 takeaways per game and has more than doubled the amount of turnovers from last season (8). In the 27-3 win over Colorado, WSU held an opponent without a touchdown for the first time since a 42-0 victory over Idaho in 2013 and the first time holding a conference opponent without a touchdown since Oregon State in 2006. It was also the fewest points allowed to a conference opponent since 1996 (OSU).
GET THE BALL BACK
First-year WSU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch has emphasized the need to force turnovers and get the ball back to the Air Raid offense and the Cougars have done just that. Washington State has forced 21 turnovers in 2015, tied for sixth in the Pac-12 and more than double last season’s total of eight. The Cougars own 11 interceptions, are tied for second in the Pac-12 lead with 10 fumble recoveries and have turned the 21 turnovers into 54 points this season.
DEFENSE PUTS THE PRESSURE ON
Washington State has racked up 29 sacks and is seventh in the country with 7.9 tackles-for-loss per game (95 Total), the second-best average in the Pac-12 and the sixth-highest total in WSU history. The Cougars tallied five sacks against Wyoming, three coming from Ivan McLennan giving him the first three-sack performance since Andy Mattingly recorded four against Arizona State in 2007. All-Pac-12 second-team defensive lineman Darryl Paulo enters the postseason with a team-best 12 tackles-for-loss, tied for seventh in the Pac-12. Paulo and All-Pac-12 honorable mention defensive lineman Hercules Mata’afa share the team-lead with six sacks, tied for sixth-most in the conference while McLennan and Kache Palacio each own five sacks. Against Wyoming, WSU recorded 14 TFL’s, tied for third-most in school history and later posted 11 TFL’s at Cal, and eight more in the games against Arizona State, Colorado and Washington. WSU enters the Sun Bowl with five players owning 10+ tackles-for-loss, tied for the most in school history (2002).
LINEBACKERS LEAD THE WAY
The Cougar linebackers have filled up the stat sheet this season with All-Pac-12 honorable mention Peyton Pelluer fifth in the Pac-12 with 8.2 tackles-per game (98 total) along with 11 tackles-for-loss, tied for 11th-most in the conference. Senior Jeremiah Allison is tied for ninth in the Pac-12 averaging 7.6 tackles-per-contest (91 total) after leading the Cougars in tackles against Portland State (12) and Rutgers (11) and Arizona State (11). Pelluer tallied a career-best 14 stops against Wyoming and has shared the team-high in tackles in the wins over Oregon (8) and Oregon State (11), and led the way against Stanford (20) and UCLA (8). Both shared team-highs with 11 stops in the Apple Cup. Both backers took over as starters midway through last season and haven’t look back with Allison finishing 2014 second on the team with 78 tackles and Pelluer started the final five games and posted 39 tackles including 5.5 for loss.
YOUNG SECONDARY A YEAR OLDER, LUANI LEADS THE WAY
The Cougars went through a youth movement in the secondary last season, starting six freshmen throughout the year including four true freshmen. Senior safety Taylor Taliulu (Four-year starter) and sophomore cornerback Marcellus Pippins (2 starts last season) returned as the veterans this season and have led the way. The Cougars have received a sold contribution from true freshman Darrien Molton (36 tackles, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery) at cornerback while junior college transfer and All-Pac-12 honorable mention Shalom Luani emerged as a playmaker. Luani started all 12 games at safety, finished the regular season third on the team with 86 tackles, with two forced two fumbles and tied for fifth in the Pac-12 with three interceptions, the first sealed the double overtime win at Oregon and the next two came in the win over Oregon State, one he returned 84 yards for a touchdown. Pippins has settled as the starter at the other cornerback, recording three interceptions, nine pass breakups, one fumble recovery and 43 tackles. The secondary has combined for nine interceptions with all four starters owning at least one.
LUANI EARNED PAC-12, NATIONAL WEEKLY HONORS
Following a two-interception performance in the win over Oregon State, safety Shalom Luani was named the Jim Thorpe Player of the Week, added to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List and the Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Luani recorded a game-high 11 tackles, eight solo, with two interceptions and a pass break-up in Washington State’s 52-31 win over Oregon State. Luani’s first interception, late in the fourth quarter, was returned 84 yards for a touchdown, WSU’s only points of the second half and the first pick-six for the Cougars since the 2013 season. He added a second interception on Oregon State’s next possession to seal the victory.
SPECIAL TEAMS FULL OF NEWCOMERS
Washington State has seen a couple new faces contribute on special teams this season. Freshman punter Zach Charme owns eight punts of 50+ yards and put 12 punts inside the 20. Freshman kick returner Tavares Martin Jr. has been close to breaking a couple long returns this season. The Belle Glade, Fla. native produced returns of 29 and 34 yards in his collegiate debut against Portland State, a 40-yarder at California and a game-opening 51-yard return against Oregon State. He enters the Sun Bowl ninth in the Pac-12 averaging 22.1 yards-per-return. Although not a new face but redshirt-sophomore kicker Erik Powell posted a career day against Stanford, he tied a school record with five field goals (46, 23, 47, 28, 28), tying a career long of 47. Powell is 18-of-24 on the season, tied for the fourth-most makes in WSU single-season history.
CARDIAC KIDS REVISITED
Washington State’s 2015 season is reminding many Cougar fans of the 1965 Cardiac Kids, the Cougar squad that became known for late-game heroics en route to a 7-3 season. That season WSU had four, late-game victories, three being road wins. The same has occurred 50 years later as the 2015 Cougars has registered four, fourth-quarter comebacks, with three wins coming in the final minute or overtime, all on the road.
1965 Last-Minute Victories
at Iowa (7-0) - Tom Roth passed 20 yards to Rich Sheron with 36 seconds to play;
at Minnesota (14-13) - Down 13-0, WSU came back to win with 2:12 left on the game clock when Roth scored from one yard out and Bill Gaskins kicked the extra point;
Villanova (24-14) - WSU trailed 14-10 when Roth hit Bob Simpson on a 78-yard pass play with 2:15 to play and Gaskins sealed the win a minute later with a 41-yard interception return for the final score;
at Indiana (8-7) - The Cougars rallied from a 7-0 deficit when Roth and Doug Flansburg hooked up on a five-yard pass play as time expired; Roth then hit Ammon McWashington with a two-point conversion pass.
2015 Last-Minute Victories
at UCLA (31-27) - Luke Falk’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Marks capped a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive with 0:03 seconds remaining for the come-from-behind win.
Arizona State (38-24) – Training 21-17 entering the fourth quarter, WSU outscored the Sun Devils 21-3 in the final period behind three touchdown passes from Luke Falk.
at Oregon (45-38 2OT) – Luke Falk’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Dom Williams with 0:01 remaining capped a 70-yard drive that lasted 1:58 to send the game into overtime, which WSU won in the second overtime.
at Rutgers (37-34) – Trailing 34-30 with 1:31 to play, Luke Falk engineered a 10-play, 91-yard drive capped by an 8-yard pass to River Cracraft for the game-winning score with 0:13 remaining.
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA TAKEOVER
The Cougars have tapped into the Rancho Santa Margarita High School pipeline, currently owning four players from the school in center, Riley Sorenson, tight end Nick Begg and receivers River Cracraft and Kyle Sweet. Cracraft’s older brother Skyler is also on the team but played at a different high school. In the season-opener, former Cougar and NBA Champion Klay Thompson brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy to campus and was recognized during the game. Thompson also starred at Rancho Santa Margarita HS before heading to Washington State.
POLYNESIAN PIPELINE
The Washington State roster has seen an influx in Polynesian players since Mike Leach and his coaching staff arrived in 2012. Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Line Coach Joe Salave’a, a native of Pago Pago, American Samoa and a nine-year NFL veteran, has helped bring a number of players to Pullman in his three seasons at Washington State. The 2015 roster has 15 players who are of Polynesian decent including seven who list their hometown from American Samoa.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Three Cougars share a unique bond with their dads and/or grandpa, each have worn the crimson a gray. Redshirt-freshman offensive lineman Andre Dillard’s dad, Mitch was an offensive lineman and tight end for the Cougars in the late 1980’s; redshirt-sophomore safety Isaac Dotson’s dad, Michael was an All-American wrestler for WSU from 1983-86; redshirt-sophomore linebacker Peyton Pelluer’s dad, Scott also played linebacker for the Cougs, matching Peyton’s No. 47 from 1977-80; Peyton’s grandpa, Arnie played end for WSU in the mid 1950’s and his great grandpa, Carl, played flanker in the 1920’s.
COLLEGE GAMEDAY RECORD
Dating back to the beginning of the 2004 season, ESPN’s College GameDay has had the WSU flag appear throughout the show. The streak is up to 178 after the appearance at the Army-Navy game. Two flags – Ol’ Crimson and Gray – have been flown in the background of the GameDay set by dozens of friends and alumni. The Gray flag was added last year after Whitey was retired in honor of Steve Gleason’s “No White Flags.” WSU recognized the GameDay flag wavers in a pregame ceremony prior to the Montana State game in 2010. In addition to the flags that fly, there is a traveling flag signed by the holders after each episode. The traveling flag is retired after each season, the first of which is hanging in WSU’s Alumni Center.
COUGARS SIGN PAIR TO FINANCIAL AID AGREEMENTS
WSU got a head start on the 2016 signing class by signing two players to financial aid agreements two weeks ago. QB/ATH Justus Rogers out of Bellevue High School in Bellevue, Wash. and DB Jalen Thompson out of Downey High School and Bellflower, Calif. each inked financial aid agreements, will graduate high school early in December, enroll at WSU in January, 2016 and participate in spring practices. Rogers, 6-2, 220, is rated a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com and has served as Bellevue’s team captain the past two seasons. As a junior, the dual-threat completed 60-of-92 passes for 900 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception and also rushed 49 times for 400 yards and two touchdowns while leading BHS to the 3A State title game. Rogers is rated the No. 46 athlete in the country and No. 19 athlete in the West by Scout.com and No. 15 overall prospect in Washington by ESPN.com. Thompson, 6-0, 170, is rated a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com and is rated the No. 56 cornerback in the country by ESPN.com. Thompson played his junior and senior seasons at Downey, earning All-CIF and All-San Gabriel Valley League honors as a junior after recording 57 tackles and one interception in addition to catching 22 passes for 450 yards and four touchdowns.
WSU ADDS 25 INTO ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
Washington State inducted 25 members into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame Sept. 18, joining the current 177 members. Members of 2015 Class: Pat Beach, Football; Larry Beck, Basketball; Steve Broussard, Football; Rex Davis, Tennis and Gymnastics Coach; Wayne Foster, Football; Jerome Harrison, Football; Scott Hatteberg, Baseball; Allan Kennedy, Football; Josh Kimeto, Track & Field; Curt Ledford, Track & Field; Erin McCleave, Swimming; Keith Millard, Football; Jay Miller, Baseball; Mary Moore, Track & Field; Doug Nordquist, Track & Field; Cassandra Overby, Basketball; Eric Perkins-Jasper, Tennis; Pam Qualls, Track & Field; Geoff Reece, Football; Rick Riley, Track & Field; Richard Stiles, Baseball; Lamont Thompson, Football; Marcus Trufant, Football; Bob Waits, Baseball; Bob Yard, Track & Field.
GRINCH, MANNING, HARRELL, MELE JOIN COUGAR COACHING STAFF
Washington State made a couple changes to its coaching staff in the offseason, bringing on first-year defensive coordinator Alex Grinch who will also work with the Cougars secondary. Grinch spent the last three seasons at Missouri where he coached the safeties, helping Missouri to a 23-5 record over the past two years including two SEC East Division titles. Roy Manning joined WSU to coach the outside linebackers after serving the past two seasons at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, coaching the cornerbacks in 2014 and the outside linebackers in 2013. Making the move from offensive analyst to outside receivers coach is Graham Harrell who is very familiar with the Air Raid offense from his record-setting days as a quarterback for coach Mike Leach at Texas Tech. Eric Mele, who served as the interim special teams coach midway through last season, had the interim tag removed during the offseason and is the Cougars special teams coach.
DAHL NAMED TO OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST
Joe Dahl was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, given annually to the nation’s top interior lineman. Dahl was one of 13 players from the Pac-12 Conference included on the 81-player list. WSU defensive tackle Rien Long won the award in 2002, also garnering first team All-America honors while leading the Cougars to the 2003 Rose Bowl. Dahl earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention last season after starting all 12 games at left tackle for the nation’s top passing offense. The Spokane, Wash. native surrendered just one sack in the Cougars’ Pac-12 record 807 pass attempts and earned the WSU “Bone” Award (given to the team’s best offensive lineman each week) a team-best six times last season. Earlier this summer, Dahl was named to the preseason All-Pac-12 first team by ESPN.com, second team by Athlon Sports and third team by Phil Steele Magazine.
ALLISON NAMED TO WUERFFEL TROPHY WATCH LIST, ALL STATE GOOD WORKS TEAM
Senior linebacker Jeremiah Allison was named to the 2015 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service.” Allison is one of 80 football student-athletes considered for the award that honors college football’s top community servant. Allison has been involved with many community service projects in and around Pullman throughout his three years at Washington State. The Los Angeles native has assisted with Habitat for Humanity, the Washington State Athletics Reading Buddies with local elementary schools, Sr. Buddies at the local retirement home and Butch’s Holiday Bash for local children. Allison also helped out with National Women In Sports Day and is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for football. He was the recent recipient of the WSU athletic community service award and also works with a local church, setting up weekly bible studies in addition to speaking with local individuals who lost their parent or parents to share words of inspiration. For the second straight season Allison was also named to the All State Good Works Team for his charitable work and community work.
NEW COUGAR FOOTBALL BROADCAST TEAM
Hall of fame announcer Bob Robertson is in his 49th season calling Cougar football games, and according to a nation-wide survey of sports information directors, is the longest tenured radio announcer in the country with the next closest being Bill Hillgrove who has announced 45 straight seasons at Pitt. Robertson began calling WSU games in 1964 and with the exception of a three-year period in 1969-71, has been calling Cougar games ever since. Robertson now hosts the Cougars pre, halftime and postgame shows, while also providing analysis during the games. Matt Chazanow will serve as the new play-by-play voice for Cougar football, men’s basketball and baseball broadcasts. Joining Chazanow and Robertson in the booth for his second season will be Cougar legend Jason Gesser who quarterbacked WSU to the 2001 Sun Bowl and 2003 Rose Bowl. Returning for her fourth season as the sideline reporter is Jessamyn McIntyre, an executive producer for 710 ESPN Seattle.
MATT CHAZANOW NAMED VOICE OF COUGARS
Matt Chazanow was named Voice of the Cougars over the summer. Chazanow replaces Bud Nameck on Cougar football and men’s basketball broadcasts. Additionally, Chazanow will serve as the voice of Cougar baseball broadcasts. Chazanow has extensive experience in broadcasting at the highest level of collegiate football, including calling national play-by-play broadcasts for ACC football, Big East and ACC postseason basketball, along with SEC and ACC postseason baseball. As a senior network manager at IMG College in Winston-Salem, N.C., Chazanow has spent the past seven years managing eight IMG college network broadcasts (Washington State, Arizona, Cal, Gonzaga, Oregon, Texas, UCLA and Washington). Cougar fans had a chance to hear Chazanow last November when he called the WSU men’s basketball broadcasts at the Great Alaska Shootout.
