3/4/2023 0 Comments Gone home sam locker![]() The Cougars (2-0) dialed up hidden pressure packages and received laudable effort from their defensive line and linebackers early in the game, containing Wisconsin’s superpowered rushing attack. ![]() “It was just about strain, start to finish.” “We just knew it was going to be whoever did their job the longest, and we did that today,” Stone said. Yet WSU’s defense limited big plays, and the Cougs’ offense made just enough of them to clip the Badgers (1-1) on the scoreboard. The Badgers dominated the Cougars in several stat categories, including time of possession (38:02 to 21:58), first downs (23 to 10), third-down conversions (8 for 15 against 2 for 11), total plays (75 to 50) and total yardage (401 to 253). That’s what it takes to win football games on the road.” I’m so damn proud of them and how they played and kept fighting. (Wisconsin) is going to win a lot of football games, and they’re going to do it by wearing people out. “We played a gritty 60 minutes of football,” Dickert said. WSU gained 22 of its 53 total rushing yards on its final series. WSU’s offense hadn’t been able to sustain much success throughout the day, but the Cougars’ Air Raid found a rhythm late and worked its longest drive of the day, a 10-play series that killed the clock and sealed the important victory. Defensive tackle Christian Mejia came down with an interception but promptly coughed the ball up, right back into Wisconsin’s possession. Two plays earlier, the Badgers had committed a would-be turnover when quarterback Graham Mertz was popped in the backfield by WSU edge rusher Ron Stone Jr., whose hit caused the pass to dangle in the air. On the 17th play of the Badgers’ final drive – and just the fourth passing play of the series – WSU edge rusher Quinn Roff poked the ball free from Wisconsin tight end Clay Cundiff’s grasp, and Coug safety Sam Lockett pounced on it. The Cougars’ defense – a unit that has become known for forcing turnovers, playing with tenacity and bending but not breaking – collected a red-zone takeaway with about five minutes remaining, recording the final blow in a hard-fought contest that featured constant momentum changes. “We can beat anybody if we don’t beat ourselves.” It shows us what we can do, what we are capable of. “We’re going to celebrate this one, but there is so much more to do. ![]() He shed tears of joy as loved ones greeted him with long embraces outside the Cougs’ locker room. “It’s hard to put it into words,” Dickert said when asked about his initial reaction to the final whistle, when his players swarmed him in a congratulatory mosh. They used a resilient effort to stun the 19th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers, grinding out a 17-14 decision in front of 80,000 fans at Camp Randall Stadium. The Cougars, who entered the matchup as considerable underdogs, proved themselves on a national stage in an immensely challenging environment. “I just know each and every one of them is proud of me and they’re proud of this program, and I’m proud to wear Dickert on my back, because I represent them,” he said. Clearly, this was the most significant individual accomplishment of his career so far. Hundreds of his friends and family members were in attendance. In his first season as WSU’s head coach, Dickert returned to his home state and guided an upset win over the team he grew up idolizing. He had just led an incredibly memorable victory – certainly a win he will always cherish, and a win that will probably go down as one of the most celebrated triumphs in WSU program history, considering the storylines surrounding Saturday’s game. The Washington State coach’s feelings were more than warranted. His voice was heavy with emotion throughout his postgame news conference on Saturday evening. – Jake Dickert choked up when he spoke about the support of his family and the spirit of his team.
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