6 Takeaways From Washington State Cougars 52-14 Win Over Stanford

Originally posted on Pacific Northwest Sports
By Lamarr Fields | Last updated 11/6/22

Forcing turnovers and scoring touchdowns was the order of the day as the Washington State Cougars blew out Stanford 52-14. Here are our 6 takeaways.

The Washington State Cougars ended their three-game losing streak with a dominating 52-14 win over the Stanford Cardinal. Washington State scored touchdowns on their first three possessions.

WSU scored two more touchdowns in the final two minutes before halftime. At the half, they led Stanford 42-7, pretty much game over. With 10 more points in the second half, Washington State cruised to the victory.

Running Game Takes The Lead

The Cougars rushed for 306 yards on Saturday. That’s almost five times more than their combined total in the two previous games.

Nakia Watson led the way with 166 yards on 16 carries. His longest rush was 65 yards which came on the second play from scrimmage. It wasn’t just Watson, John Mateer ran for 58 yards, and Javan Robinson added 50 more.

How About That O-Line?

When your offense rushes for over 300 yards, the offensive line played a heck of a game. Washington State’s offensive line pushed around Stanford’s defensive front and opened up holes all game long for Watson and company.

Not only did the O-Line run block well, but they also gave up no sacks.

Take It Away

Washington State got four fumble recoveries against Standford. Jaden Hicks recovered one of them for a 17-yard scoop-six touchdown. Winning the turnover battle four to zero was a big reason why WSU ran away with the game.

Light Duty for Cameron Ward

Because the Washington State Cougars ran the ball successfully, quarterback Cameron Ward didn’t need to air it out very often. He threw for 176 yards and 2 touchdown passes.

Even better, Ward didn’t turn the ball over. All he had to do was manage the game and not make mistakes, which he did on Saturday.

Defense Played Well

Washington State’s defense held the Cardinal to 71 yards rushing on 28 carries. Their defensive front was just as physical as their offensive line. They put up a pair of sacks and pressured Stanford’s QBs three more times.

Then there were the forced fumbles which were key to the Cougs jumping out to a big early lead. In coverage, Wazzu defensive backs defended half-a-dozen passes.

Bowl Eligible?

If the Cougars can win one of their next three games, they will be bowl eligible. With Arizona State, Arizona, and Washington left to play; they have a chance to win all three.