PULLMAN, Wash. – In a much-anticipated season-opener with so many unknowns, one thing was for certain on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Pullman; there was no shortage of offensive production from the Washington State Cougars.
WSU took on Portland State at home and completely dominated the Vikings in their first game of the 2024 season. With a new starting quarterback in John Mateer and a roster filled with several guys who have yet to prove themselves in live situations… the Cougars silenced all the noise and let the ball talk.
The first three minutes of the game might have triggered some poor memories for a couple Coug fans who remembered when Portland State came into Pullman in 2015 and upset WSU for its season-opener. But after the Cougars went three-and-out on their first drive and PSU took the first touchdown of the game, the tempo completely shifted.
Mateer not only took control of the offense but was able to spread the wealth between his pass-catchers. Mateer threw for 352 yards and five touchdowns, including one rushing TD, and no interceptions – and that was all before the end of the third quarter when he was replaced by Bryant transfer quarterback Zevi Eckhaus.
It was Kyle Williams who, not surprisingly, took the spotlight on offense. He went for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Not far behind was Kris Hutson, a transfer from Oregon who proved all he needed to with a picture-perfect diving touchdown for the Cougs’ first six points of the season. Hutson finished with 101 yards and a touchdown.
Wayshawn Parker, a true freshman debuting in his first college football game, was also standout for the Cougs. Parker had a 54-yard rush for a touchdown and a 52-yard reception for a second touchdown before halftime. Tre Shackelford and Trey Leckner each grabbed a touchdown in their first game in the Crimson and Gray.
Defensive back Stephen Hall broke a record for longest pick-six in program history; an endzone to endzone return.
The final score was a convincing 70-30.
Cougs fans will celebrate, but know to not get ahead of themselves. Last season, Washington State came out hot winning their first four games and finding themselves ranked in the AP top-25. But their 2023 season ended in a very unprecedented way when WSU only won five games and missed a bowl game.
With Portland State being an FCS opponent, the real test for the Cougs will be the next two weeks with their only opportunities at a “Power Five” team in Texas Tech and then the Apple Cup against Washington in Seattle.
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