Fourth quarter implosion sends WSU to 1-7 in 31-10 loss to No. 21 Boise State

Enterting the final 15 minutes, the one-win Washington State Cougars were tied with the No. 21 Boise State Broncos. Before a critical 4th and 2 for the Bronco offense, most of the WSU team was dancing along to the music blaring over the speakers and the crimson LED lights flashing above. When WSU implemented these gameday changes, these were the moments they had in mind. A Gesa Field crowd feeding off the energy created by these new features against a newly found Pac-12 rival, looking for a big play. Sure, the record is nowhere near what they, or really anyone else, thought it would be. But, in these few minutes between the third and fourth quarters, that’s not what’s on the mind of these players.

That big play never came for the Cougars. Instead, the Broncos scored just a few plays later, then rattled off two more touchdowns as the Cougars crumbled and watched their once realistic upset bid fade away in a hurry. And with their upset bid, also their slim bowl eligibility hopes.

After dancing and trying to hold the momentum to begin the quarter, it ended with heads hung low as the new scoreboard read 31-10 Boise State.

WSU falls to 1-7 and 0-4 in Pac-12 play, and it marks the quickest WSU has been eliminated from bowl eligibility since 2010.

On a perfect fall day for football in Pullman, the Broncos started with the ball after WSU won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Broncos were able to quickly convert for a first down on the first two plays, but ultimately their opening drive would be stalled by a personal foul. Owen Eshelman would then take his first snaps as a starter at Gesa Field, looking to build off the success he had a week ago in his debut. His first test came on a 3rd and 2 from his own 28, and he was able to convert with a 14-yard pass to Branden Ganashamoorthy. The drive wouldn’t go much further, though, and WSU would have to punt three plays later.

WSU’s defense looked to have the Broncos stalled again on their second drive when they were facing a 3rd and 7 from their own 44. Linebacker DJ Warner was able to get around free on the left side with a lane to Broncos quarterback Maddux Madsen. But just before Warner could lay the hit on him, Madsen fired a strike to Rasean Jones to keep the drive alive. Madsen then kept it moving with another deep ball to Jones for a 33-yard gain to set Boise State up inside the WSU 10. Sire Gaines muscled his way into the end zone on the next play to put the Broncos up 7-0 early.

The second Cougar drive of the day had Eshelman and the offense overcome some third-down adversity. After a run for no gain and an incompletion, Eshelman found an open Jack Pedersen in the middle of soft coverage for a first down. Two plays later, facing 3rd and 9, Eshelman used his legs this time with a keeper up the middle for a 10-yard keeper to again move the sticks. The Cougars couldn’t make it three in a row on third downs as Eshelman’s pass to Ganashamoorthy fell incomplete. After gashing the Cougar defense on the final three plays of the last drive, it looked like the Broncos had them figured out. It was even more evident as the Broncos’ third drive saw back-to-back first down gains. Gaines first with a 20-yard run up the middle and then Madsen to Akeem Wright for 12 yards to put the Broncos at midfield. But credit to the Cougar defense, who bent but didn’t break, forcing a Bronco punt after a stop on 3rd and 6.

Neither the Cougar nor Bronco offense would do anything on their next possessions, ending in quick punts. So often early in this season, WSU would put themselves in third and long and then stall out. But today, they were able to dig themselves out of it on multiple occasions. On 3rd and 10 from their own 27 with just under six minutes to play, Eshelman found his favorite target, Ganashamoorthy, for a 12-yard gain and another first down.

What also doomed the Cougars last week was their conservative decision-making on fourth downs. Twice the Beavers made WSU pay for their conservative fourth-down calls with backbreaking touchdowns. Kirby Moore was tasked with another big call on 4th and 2 from his own 47. This time, he went aggressive and left his offense on the field. It paid off as Eshelman rolled to his right and hit Trey Leckner for four yards and a first down. Three plays later, Moore doubled down on a 4th and 1 and was rewarded as Eshelman got it done with his legs on a gain of two. The Cougars would convert another 3rd and 8, assisted by a defensive pass interference, and then Eshelman would connect with Daniel Blood on a great pass and an even better catch, down to the one-yard line. With 45 seconds to go in the half, Kirby Vorhees powered his way in for WSU’s first points of the game and tied the game at 7-7.

The ensuing kickoff would be less than ideal for WSU as it sailed out of bounds, setting Boise State up with the ball at the 35-yard line with 46 seconds and one timeout to play with. The Broncos glided their way down the field, with a stream of 11, 9, 13 and 19 yard gains all the way to the WSU 11-yard line. Time would run out on the Broncos’ chances for a touchdown, as they would have to settle for a 28-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead into half.

WSU and BSU would trade punts to open the second half, and it looked like early in WSU’s second drive of the half, they’d have to punt again, facing 3rd and 7. Instead, Eshelman linked up with Blood for a 10-yard chain mover. Eshelmen kept it rolling with another 18-yard strike to Ganashamoorthy to the Bronco 28-yard line. The good times would end there as WSU went no further, trotting Jack Stevens out for a 47-yard field goal attempt that was true. The Cougars were tied with Boies State at 10-10.

On 3rd and 6 from the Bronco 46, WSU got pressure on Madsen, but he was able to escape and scamper for 17 yards to keep the drive alive. Yet again facing a long third down, the Cougar defense couldn’t get off the field as Madsen found Wright on an out route. As the game shifted to the fourth quarter, the Broncos had time to think about a pivotal 4th and 2 at the WSU 15-yard line. They decided to go for it. Madsen rolled to his left and found an open Jones just across the marker. Three plays later, he found Cam Bates wide open on the right side for a lead-changing touchdown.

Right before the defense went out for that 4th and 2, Eshelman grabbed Kaden Beatty to give him some words of encouragement. Likely something along the lines of “Get us a stop and get us the ball back.” Well, while they weren’t able to get the stop, they got the ball back with a chance to answer. After a dicey defensive pass interference call kept the drive alive on 3rd and 9, Eshelman looked for Vorhees on a checkdown on the left side. The problem, however, was that Vorhees went right rather than left. That left nobody but linebacker Boen Phelps to intercept the ball thrown right to him. On 2nd and 10, Dylan Riley broke free on the right side and sprinted past the WSU defense for a 33-yard touchdown. Things were unraveling fast in a much too familiar way for the Cougs.

They really began to spiral after Eshelman took an 11-yard sack on 3rd and 10 from the Boise State 39-yard line. Which forced WSU to punt it away on 4th and 21. And just like the last BSU drive, it was quick and ended with a long Riley touchdown run. This time from 72 yards away from the east end zone to sink the dagger into the once-upset hopeful Cougs.

The Cougar rushing attack again just never really showed up. In their very limited attempts, running backs Leo Pulalasi and Vorhees ran 10 times for 20 yards. Eshelman had 23 attempts for 33 yards. Four of those attempts were sacks by Boise State.

Eshelman finished 21/40 with 191 passing yards and one interception.

This article will be updated after the press conference.