Arizona Wildcats at Washington State Cougars
· NCAA - Football
Washington State bowl eligible after thumping Arizona 44-18
A season filled with drama at Washington State (6-5, 5-3 Pac-12) surrounding former head coach Nick Rolovich — fired last month for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine — will likely end with a bowl trip for the Cougars.
Borghi ran for touchdowns of 26 and 2 yards on a foggy night on the Palouse where the field at times was obscured and snow flurries fell through the air. His previous career-high of 128 yards came in the 2019 season opener against New Mexico State.
“That was classic Max Borghi,” Washington State interim coach Jake Dickert said. “Our fans will remember Max and obviously he’s gonna be a hall of famer here one day, so it was exciting to put a stamp on his career like that.”
Arizona has allowed 173 yards per game on the ground this season, but the Cougars surpassed that total with ease.
“They ran the ball extremely well on us tonight which I don’t think we expected,” Arizona coach Jedd Fisch said.
Washington State quarterback Jayden de Laura was 13 of 22 for 259 yards passing. De Laura hit Harris for an 8-yard touchdown in the second quarter and a 30-yarder in the third quarter that gave Washington State a 37-7 lead. De Laura also hit Jackson on a 43-yard TD late in the first half less than a minute after Arizona had scored to pull within 14-7. Jackson added the capper with a 78-yard TD reception from de Laura in the fourth quarter.
Harris now has nine touchdown catches on the season and has five career game with multiple receiving touchdowns.
Joey Hobert also blocked two Arizona punts, one that went out of the end zone for a safety.
“The guys took the field tonight with a passion and an energy and a focus that wasn’t going to be matched,” Dickert said.
Will Plummer threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort for the Wildcats (1-10, 1-7). Plummer hit Boobie Curry on an 11-yard TD in the second quarter that was set up by Drake Anderson’s 71-yard run. Plummer threw a 27-yard TD to Michael Wiley in the fourth quarter.
Anderson finished with 87 yards rushing.
“It started at the very beginning. I don’t think we played or coached as well as we would have liked,” Fisch said.
Washington State was explosive on offense all night long, with eight plays of more than 25 yards. Despite poor conditions, the Cougars maintained balance with 259 yards passing and 223 yards on the ground.
THE TAKEAWAY
Arizona: The Wildcats had been competitive in recent weeks, with close losses to Washington, USC, Utah and its lone victory over California. The Wildcats never got going offensively and seemed to lose any momentum they had giving up a long touchdown to Washington State late in the first half. ... Arizona lost middle linebacker Jerry Roberts to a left leg injury on the first play of the game. Roberts was taken off the field on a cart.
Washington State: The Cougars are bowl eligible for the seventh time in the past nine seasons. WSU went to five straight bowl games prior to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and its last bowl game was the 2019 Cheez-It Bowl where the Cougars lost to Air Force 31-21.
UP NEXT
Arizona: The Wildcats close the season with rival Arizona State next Saturday.
Washington State: The Cougars face rival Washington next Friday.
How To Watch
How can I watch Arizona Wildcats vs. Washington State Cougars?
- TV Channel: Wildcats at Cougars 2021 College Football, week 12, is broadcasted on PACN.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Matchup Prediction
Scoring Summary
 |
TD | 1st Period 7:11 | Max Borghi 26 Yd Run (Dean Janikowski Kick) |
|
TD | 2nd Period 4:28 | Travell Harris 8 Yd pass from Jayden de Laura (Dean Janikowski Kick) |
 |
TD | 2nd Period 2:22 | Boobie Curry 11 Yd pass from Will Plummer (Tyler Loop Kick) |
|
TD | 2nd Period 1:26 | Calvin Jackson Jr. 43 Yd pass from Jayden de Laura (Dean Janikowski Kick) |
|
TD | 3rd Period 10:07 | Max Borghi 2 Yd Run (Dean Janikowski Kick) |
|
SF | 3rd Period 8:54 | Team Safety |
|
TD | 3rd Period 7:10 | Travell Harris 31 Yd pass from Jayden de Laura (Dean Janikowski Kick) |
|
FG | 3rd Period 2:39 | Tyler Loop 42 Yd Field Goal |
|
TD | 4th Period 12:16 | Michael Wiley 27 Yd pass from Will Plummer (Will Plummer Pass to Dorian Singer for Two-Point Conversion) |
|
TD | 4th Period 8:37 | Calvin Jackson Jr. 78 Yd pass from Jayden de Laura (Dean Janikowski Kick) |
Statistics
 ARIZ |
 WSU |
|
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 1st Downs | 18 |
| 3-17 | 3rd down efficiency | 4-11 |
| 3-4 | 4th down efficiency | 0-0 |
| 374 | Total Yards | 482 |
| 206 | Passing | 259 |
| 23/42 | Comp/Att | 13/23 |
| 4.9 | Yards per pass | 11.3 |
| 168 | Rushing | 223 |
| 30 | Rushing Attempts | 36 |
| 5.6 | Yards per rush | 6.2 |
| 11-64 | Penalties | 6-55 |
| 1 | Turnovers | 0 |
| 0 | Fumbles lost | 0 |
| 1 | Interceptions thrown | 0 |
| 31:35 | Possession | 28:25 |
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