Happy Ending For Cougs
Senior quarterback Jeff Tuel went 33 for 53 with 350 yards and erased and 18 point deficit with less than 11 minutes to go to give the Cougs the huge Apple Cup win over the no. 25 ranked Huskies 31-28 in overtime, a game that will go down in Cougar history as one of the greatest.
The Apple Cup, the game the Cougs like to look to every year as their signature win. It is one thing we have to look forward to. Even if the Huskies are awful, you can always turn the season around with an Apple Cup win. While the rest of the country is tuning out, this is always the biggest game for Coug fans so we don’t have to hear how the Huskies are always better.
The Cougs defensively started out right where they wanted, with 2 consecutive stops including a three and out on the Huskies first possession. On their second offensive possession, senior quarterback Jeff Tuel led a 14 play 75 yard drive where we saw the Cougs run and pass the ball well. But what has plagued Jeff Tuel so far this season is getting a touchdown once they get in the red zone. The Cougs settle for a field goal and took the early lead 3-0 late in the first.
Early in the second on another Cougar offensive possession, Tuel’s pass to his intended receiver Brett Bartolone was bobbled and intercepted by Husky back Justin Glen. That turned in to a Husky touchdown from junior quarterback Keith Price to tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins on third down for an 11 yard husky touchdown to give them the lead 7-3.
The next Cougar possession, Jeff Tuel found freshman receiver Dominque Williams for a 61 yard connection to the UW 12 yard line which led to a 1 yard touchdown run by Carl Winston to put the Cougs back in front 10-7. The Cougs had a couple more defensive stops and went into the half with that lead.
On the huskies first drive of the 2nd half, the Huskies were able to find cracks in the defense and methodically drive 89 yards in 14 plays capped by a 15 yard Price pass to Prosser native Cody Bruns to put the huskies up 14-10 early in the 3rd. That was followed by another Husky drive following a Jeff Tuel fumble at the Washington State 20 to set up a Bishop Sankey 3 yard run to put Huskies up 21-10 midway through the 3rd. The Huskies continued to capitalize on the Cougars 3rd turnover of the 3rd period when sophomore receiver Bobby Ratliff fumbled and Husky corner Shaq Thompson returned it to the Cougar 7 setting up another Bishop Sankey touchdown run to stretch the lead to 28-10.
The Cougars M/O all year has been to fold when pressure and adversity arise. They get down and out and don’t believe in themselves, but this was the Huskies in the Apple Cup. The Cougs got the ball back and with the help of some penalties on the Huskies, the Senior Carl Winston punched it in from two yards out to pull within 11 with 10:41 to go. The Cougs defense held the Husky offense to a three and out and Senior Jeff Tuel in his last game as a Coug came out throwing again. He drove the troops down again and Carl Winston punched in his third touchdown of the day. After another Husky three and out, the Cougs had a chance to take the lead but instead settled for and Andrew Furney 45 yard field goal to tie it with just over 2 minutes to go.
The Huskies drove the ball all the way down to the Cougs 17 yard line and tried a game winning field goal as time expired but Travis Coons pushed it right. It was very reminiscent of John Wales kick in the ‘96 Apple Cup.
In the first play of overtime for the Huskies, Keith price was intercepted by the tackle Kalafitone Pole and returned all the way to the Husky five and nearly ended it there. Instead Jeff Tuel completed a couple more passes and set up Andrew Furney for the game winner from 27 yards out. Furney’s kick was good and the Cougs get their first Apple Cup win since 2008. Furney after the game said that he had talked about the game winning field goal with his dad and also joked around with teammates about it. Furney said this was his first game winning kick in high school or college. He grew up a Husky fan and has been to 5 or 6 Apple Cups he said, so he knows the tradition and legacy that he has entered in Cougar Nation.
Tuel’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. After the two interceptions he had in the third, Tuel said, “It’s the last game, you’re not going to hang your head and say the games over, we got a ball game to win.” Tuel mentioned the crowd was a great help for them throughout the game. The poise that this senior showed this game is something he will be remembered for. Tuel is trying to get a medical red shirt for last season and is awaiting word back from the NCAA, so we may see him again next year.
Leach after the game said that he what Tuel was capable of, and knew he had this type of performance in him. Leach is one of those coaches that people may hate and despise. He doesn’t filter himself for the media, and the most I have ever seen out of him is maybe a half smile when somebody tells him a joke. It is hard to tell if he is happy to be here or that’s just the way he is, and looking back at his days at Texas Tech, that’s just the way he is. He is the type of coach that isn’t going to be satisfied with a win or a season unless it’s for the National Championship. That drives him game in and game out to improve which is just what the Cougs need. The losing mentality has lasted far too long, 9 seasons without a bowl game. That will be the current longest in division I football, which is impressive seeing that 70 teams of the 124 make a bowl game every season. The program under Paul Wulff had no discipline and didn’t make players accountable for their actions and in turn had a program often in disarray. If Leach actually sticks around, the Cougs could have some very special seasons ahead of them.
This is a game that many people would like to start the Mike Leach era. The Cougs now go from a team in the dumps to a team with a ton of optimism going into next season. Wins over the Huskies tend to do that. This is definitely a start, and as the team is getting even more in tune next season with the Leach system, we will anticipate the 2013 start.
Senior quarterback Jeff Tuel went 33 for 53 with 350 yards and erased and 18 point deficit with less than 11 minutes to go to give the Cougs the huge Apple Cup win over the 25th rated Huskies 31-28 in overtime, a game that will go down in Cougar history as one of the greats.
The Apple Cup…. The game the Cougs like to look to every year as their signature win. It is one thing we have to look forward to. Even if the Huskies are awful, you can always turn the season around with an Apple Cup win. While the rest of the country is tuning out, this is always the biggest game for Coug fans so we don’t have to hear how the Huskies are always better.
The Cougs defensively started out right where they wanted, with 2 consecutive stops including a three and out on the Huskies first possession. On their second offensive possession, senior quarterback Jeff Tuel led a 14 play 75 yard drive where we saw the Cougs run and pass the ball well. But what has plagued Jeff Tuel so far this season is getting a touchdown once they get in the red zone. The Cougs settle for a field goal and took the early lead 3-0 late in the first.
Early in the second on another Cougar offensive possession, Tuel’s pass to his intended receiver Brett Bartolone was bobbled and intercepted by Husky back Justin Glen. That turned in to a Husky touchdown from junior quarterback Keith Price to tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins on third down for an 11 yard husky touchdown to give them the lead 7-3.
The next Cougar possession, Jeff Tuel found freshman receiver Dominque Williams for a 61 yard connection to the UW 12 yard line which led to a 1 yard touchdown run by Carl Winston to put the Cougs back in front 10-7. The Cougs had a couple more defensive stops and went into the half with that lead.
On the huskies first drive of the 2nd half, the Huskies were able to find cracks in the defense and methodically drive 89 yards in 14 plays capped by a 15 yard Price pass to Prosser native Cody Bruns to put the huskies up 14-10 early in the 3rd. That was followed by another Husky drive following a Jeff Tuel fumble at the Washington State 20 to set up a Bishop Sankey 3 yard run to put Huskies up 21-10 midway through the 3rd. The Huskies continued to capitalize on the Cougars 3rd turnover of the 3rd period when sophomore receiver Bobby Ratliff fumbled and Husky corner Shaq Thompson returned it to the Cougar 7 setting up another Bishop Sankey touchdown run to stretch the lead to 28-10.
The Cougars M/O all year has been to fold when pressure and adversity arise. They get down and out and don’t believe in themselves, but this was the Huskies in the Apple Cup. The Cougs got the ball back and with the help of some penalties on the Huskies, the Senior Carl Winston punched it in from two yards out to pull within 11 with 10:41 to go. The Cougs defense held the Husky offense to a three and out and Senior Jeff Tuel in his last game as a Coug came out throwing again. He drove the troops down again and Carl Winston punched in his third touchdown of the day. After another Husky three and out, the Cougs had a chance to take the lead but instead settled for and Andrew Furney 45 yard field goal to tie it with just over 2 minutes to go.
The Huskies drove the ball all the way down to the Cougs 17 yard line and tried a game winning field goal as time expired but Travis Coons pushed it right. It was very reminiscent of John Wales kick in the ‘96 Apple Cup.
In the first play of overtime for the Huskies, Keith price was intercepted by the tackle Kalafitone Pole and returned all the way to the Husky five and nearly ended it there. Instead Jeff Tuel completed a couple more passes and set up Andrew Furney for the game winner from 27 yards out. Furney’s kick was good and the Cougs get their first Apple Cup win since 2008. Furney after the game said that he had talked about the game winning field goal with his dad and also joked around with teammates about it. Furney said this was his first game winning kick in high school or college. He grew up a Husky fan and has been to 5 or 6 Apple Cups he said, so he knows the tradition and legacy that he has entered in Cougar Nation.
Tuel’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. After the two interceptions he had in the third, Tuel said, “It’s the last game, you’re not going to hang your head and say the games over, we got a ball game to win.” Tuel mentioned the crowd was a great help for them throughout the game. The poise that this senior showed this game is something he will be remembered for. Tuel is trying to get a medical red shirt for last season and is awaiting word back from the NCAA, so we may see him again next year.
Leach after the game said that he what Tuel was capable of, and knew he had this type of performance in him. Leach is one of those coaches that people may hate and despise. He doesn’t filter himself for the media, and the most I have ever seen out of him is maybe a half smile when somebody tells him a joke. It is hard to tell if he is happy to be here or that’s just the way he is, and looking back at his days at Texas Tech, that’s just the way he is. He is the type of coach that isn’t going to be satisfied with a win or a season unless it’s for the National Championship. That drives him game in and game out to improve which is just what the Cougs need. The losing mentality has lasted far too long, 9 seasons without a bowl game. That will be the current longest in division I football, which is impressive seeing that 70 teams of the 124 make a bowl game every season. The program under Paul Wulff had no discipline and didn’t make players accountable for their actions and in turn had a program often in disarray. If Leach actually sticks around, the Cougs could have some very special seasons ahead of them.
This is a game that many people would like to start the Mike Leach era. The Cougs now go from a team in the dumps to a team with a ton of optimism going into next season. Wins over the Huskies tend to do that. This is definitely a start, and as the team is getting even more in tune next season with the Leach system, we will anticipate the 2013 start.
