WSU hails ‘Pac-12 prize’ after topping rival UW

Kyle Bonagura,

• ESPN Personnel WriterSep 14, 2024, 09:34 PM ET Close Covers college football.Joined ESPN in 2014.
• Attended Washington State University.SEATTLE– After an on-field trophy celebration at Lumen Field following Washington State’s 24-19 win against Washington in the Apple Cup, Cougars coach Jake Dickert burst into the postgame news conference room with a stogie in hand.” Who’s got a lighter?”he asked.In the competition game’s first nonconference variation after UW’s departure for the Big Ten, it was a remarkable win for the program and school left behind.”I think we may retire this trophy. I think it is a Pac-12 trophy,”Dickert stated.”I think that may stay in our location for a long period of time and we’ll bring a brand-new one next year– a little Big 10 -Pac-12 on. “Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Dickert’s comments appeared to come in jest, however there was no rejecting how meaningful the win was to him and the program. “It’s 1A

and 1B,”stated Dickert, comparing it to the group’s Apple Cup win in 2021, when he was the interim coach

. Dickert was made the long-term coach the next day by then-athletic director Pat Chun, who left for the same task with the Huskies in March.”Just to see these guys and the events and the relationships that have been developed and after that head out there and do it,”Dickert said.”In our time here, we’re 3-0 against the Big 10. That’s a big offer.”Dickert included:”The very best thing I stated to these guys after in the locker room is that now that this is Week 3, this isn’t completion of the season. Generally [after the Apple Cup], you’re preparing for a bowl game and whatever else, but we’re just getting going, so we’re going to need to truly clean this fast. ” Washington State coach Jake Dickert celebrates his 2nd Apple Cup win; he was interim coach when the Cougars won the game in 2021. AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson The game’s result was in question till the end. Trailing 24-19, Washington moved the ball to the WSU 9-yard line with two minutes to play, establishing four opportunities at the end zone to take the lead.Facing fourth-and-goal from the 1, Huskies coach Jedd Fisch initially called for a handoff to running back Jonah Coleman however didn’t like the WSU protective front he saw and called timeout. Fisch changed the playcall to an option to the

right– the brief side of the field– which called for quarterback Will Rogers to pitch the ball to Coleman.It was doomed from the start. The UW offending line didn’t get any push and WSU linebacker Kyle Thornton had a clear shot to make a play behind the line of skirmish to protect the lead.”That’s on me. I made a bad call,”Fisch

stated.” We didn’t execute the call. We lost the game, so I’ll take that. I’m the playcaller, I’m accountable and we didn’t get it done.”Fisch stated they had practiced that play all week and the plan coming into the game was for it to be the” got-to-have-it call”if the Huskies required a yard.Instead, it will be a choice that will be second-guessed for years in a rare neutral site playing of the rivalry.WSU quarterback John Mateer had another electrical efficiency for the Cougars, rushing for 62 lawns and 2 first-half touchdowns, consisting of a 25-yard designed run on third-and 20 to offer the Cougars a 17-13 lead with 21 seconds left in the first half. He finished 17 of 34 passes for 245 backyards with another score.