PULLMAN, Wash – The Washington State Cougars don’t have much time to lick their wounds from Sunday’s Apple Cup defeat in Seattle. They have a short week to prepare for their next opponent.
The Cougs lost to the Huskies 24-10 in Sunday’s Apple Cup.
The team now heads to Manhattan, Kansas to play the Kansas State Wildcats for the first time in program history.
Kansas State won their opener Saturday, routing FCS-level Nicholls State 71-3.
“I love it because short memory,” WSU Head Coach Kirby Moore said of the quick turnaround. “We’ve got to respond in a hurry right here.”
Moore said they did some prep work over the summer to prepare for Kansas State but because the Wildcats also have a new coach, Moore said game film from last weekend’s game will be important.
“We did a nice job against the run,” said WSU Coach Kirby Moore about his defensive performance against UW. “That’s got to carry over versus Kansas State, they do a really good job running the football.”
Moore singled out the play Kansas State Quarterback Avery Johnson, a three-year starter for the Wildcats.
Johnson was 15-21 for 199 yards and three touchdowns against Nicholls State. He also rushed for 23 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
When asked about the play of his transfer quarterback Caden Pinnick, Moore hinted at the two interceptions.
Pinnick also lost a fumble in the fourth quarter, but that was overturned due to a targeting call on UW.
“From an offensive standpoint, our first goal is 100 percent ball security,” Moore said. “We did not achieve that, so we need to do a better job taking care of the football.”
Pinnick was 16-25 through the air for 142 yards. He also gained 61 yards on the ground and ran one in for a touchdown.
Pinnick was without receiver Tony Freeman for much of the game. The senior receiver went out with a leg injury in the first half.
Moore said it’s not clear yet when Freeman will be back on the field. They’re waiting for results from an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
Freeman left the game in the first half with a leg injury and did not return.
Moore said they’re waiting on imaging to determine the severity of Freeman’s injury.
Moore also expressed the need to clean things up on special teams. WSU kicker Jack Stevens was 1-3 on field goals Sunday. He missed three field goals in all of last season.
The Cougs will have to be ready early Saturday. The game kicks off at 11 am in Kansas, which will feel like 9 am for the west coast Cougs.
“The 9 am kickoff shouldn’t be an issue,” said WSU tight end Jack Pedersen. “We’re playing football, right, so we should be excited no matter what.”
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