Washington State opens the season with its first loss to a team from the Big Sky Conference since 1947 as Portland State beats the Cougars, 24-17. Junior quarterback Alex Kuresa rushed for 92 yards as Portland State improved to 1-14 all-time versus Pac-12 schools.Sophomore quarterback Luke Falk passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns for Washington State but had to leave the game with 1:18 remaining due to a possible shoulder injury. Washington State is the third team to fall to non-Power 5 opposition this weekend.
Redshirt freshman running back Keith Harrington gave WSU its first touchdown of the season when he caught a screen pass and completed a 24-yard play to extend the Cougs’ lead to 10-0.
Free football tickets are available from Washington State University Athletics to firefighters, relief workers and families affected by recent wildfires and to others who donate food, water or cash to assist fire-damaged communities.
The Cougars had a freakish drive on their second possession, moving forward and back over 90 yards because of penalties, and converting three fourth-down plays, before Powell’s 22-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Aaron Sibley.
The Cougars outgained Portland State 274 yards to 66 yards in the first half and led 10-0 at the break.
Washington State turned the ball over on downs on its next possession, with Portland State taking over on its own 28. A fumbled punt return set up the Vikings on the Washington State 11 for the game-winning touchdown.
Then Kuresa led Portland State on a 14-play, 69-yard drive that consumed almost 7 minutes, with Long scoring from the 1-yard line to lift Portland State to a 24-17 lead with 2:19 left.
Sibley intercepted a pass from WSU’s Peyton Bender with 42 seconds left to seal the win.
But thereafter, WSU let the Vikings back in the game.
Worse for the Cougars, the Vikings picked up a $525,000 check for coming to Pullman. Leach will be relying on QB Luck Falk who played well in his limited action last season as he threw for 1859 yds and 13 TD. Portland State will be relying on Senior QB Kieran McDonagh (51.2 comp %, 1472 yds, 12 TD, 13 Int) and RB Steven Long (605 yds, 6.9 yds/carry, 2 TD).