It is just the third time since 2008 Washington State won the Apple Cup.
Playing at Seattle's Lumen Field was part of a five-year agreement to continue the rivalry despite no longer being in the same conference. Purple outnumbered crimson in the crowd.
Will Rogers threw for 314 yards and a touchdown for Washington (2-1) and Giles Jackson had eight catches for 162 yards, including a 31-yard TD in the first quarter. But the Huskies were forced to settle for field goals on three trips inside the Washington State 25 and that proved the difference.
Washington had one last chance after taking possession at its own 31 with 3:40 left and Rogers hit Jackson for 45 yards on the first play. The Huskies reached the Washington State 10 and on third-and-goal, Denzel Boston was forced out at the 1, setting up fourth-and-goal.
The Huskies called an option play to the short-side of the field and Jonah Coleman was stopped for a 2-yard loss. Coleman had 75 yards on 14 carries.
Grady Gross made all four of his field goal attempts, both new career highs. He hit from 44, 42, 24 and 43 yards.
The Penalties that Doomed Washington
The matchup was in peril as to whether it would continue after last year’s conference realignment. Washington State’s future solidified earlier this week when the Pac-12 landed new additions in Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State and San Diego State to join the conference in 2026.
The Cougars celebrated by taking down their biggest rivals.
The crucial sequence for Washington State came at the end of the first half when on third-and-20, Mateer weaved his way 25 yards on a designed run and sneaked into the front corner of the end zone for his second TD run of the first half. The TD capped a 91-yard TD drive that included completions of 24 and 38 yards and gave Washington State a 17-13 lead at the break.
Washington State also managed to keep Coleman from getting started after he topped 100 yards in each of the first two games of the season. Coleman had 75 yards on 14 carries.
Game Takeaways
Washington State
The Cougars will lament their fourth-quarter execution on offense. Mateer threw one interception, nearly threw another, and the Cougars threw incomplete on third-and-10 with 3:46 left. Not only did Washington State not get a first down, but the clock stopped.
Washington
After being fairly clean with penalties the first two games, Washington’s discipline was awful. The Huskies were called for 16 penalties for 135 yards. Several were critical calls that kept drives alive for the Cougars.
Up Next
Washington State
The Cougars will host San Jose State on Friday.
Washington
The Huskies open Big Ten play hosting Northwestern next Saturday.
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