The Apple Cup will be spending the year in Pullman. Washington State players celebrate after the Cougars' upset of Washington. (US Presswire) |
Pac-12 Scoreboard
Washington State 31, Washington 28 OT: How do you like them apples? The Apple Cup is headed back to Pullman for the first time since 2008 thanks to the right foot of Cougar K Andrew Furney. Furney hit a 45-yard field goal with 1:59 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28. He followed that in overtime with a 27-yarder as WSU (3-9, 1-8 Pac-12) stunned the Huskies for their first and only Pac-12 win this season. The Cougars trailed 28-10 with 11 minutes left in the game. Senior QB Jeff Tuel threw for 350 yards, but it wasn't the Cougars' Air Raid that put points on the board Friday, it was their running game. RB Carl Winston scored Washington State's three touchdowns. Washington QB Keith Price made one mistake, but it was a big one. Price threw an interception on the Huskies' first play in overtime, setting up the Cougar win. Price was 20 of 34 for 194 yards and two touchdowns.
(Washington State fans storm the field after the Cougars upset Washington in the Apple Cup)
Utah 42, Colorado 35: The holidays are a season of giving and that's exactly what Colorado QB Nick Hirschman did Friday in Boulder, Colo. The Buffs' sophomore gave Utah (5-7, 3-6) threw four interceptions and the Utes turned those picks into 21 points. Colorado (1-11, 1-8) had no answer for Utah RB John White, who rushed for 168 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Freshman QB Travis Wilson wasn't fantastic, but thanks to White's performance, he didn't have to be. Wilson threw for 128 yards and a touchdown. Hirschman was 30 of 51 for 306 yards, but his INTs doomed the Buffs. Freshman WR Nelson Spruce was Hirschman's favorite target, catching 10 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Arizona State 41, Arizona 34: Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey bobbed, Arizona State's Marion Grice weaved, and they both delivered blow after blow to the respective defenses in the Territorial Cup. At one point, it seemed as if they were the only two players on the field. But it was Grice and the Sun Devils (7-5, 5-4) wrestled back momentum from the Wildcats (7-5, 4-5) to take the rivalry win. Grice had 156 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, and Carey, the nation's leading rusher, had 172 yards on 25 carries and one score. Arizona State survived 86 penalty yards and a 522-yard onslaught by the Arizona offense by intercepting Matt Scott three times. Scott also threw three touchdown passes.
Play of the weekend: If you like 100-yard kickoff returns, then make sure you catch fourth-quarter highlights of the Colorado-Utah game. After Wilson scored the go-ahead touchdown for the Utes, Colorado's Marques Mosley tied the game at 35 with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was Colorado's first non-offensive TD of the season. But wait there's more. Utah KR Reggie Dunn responded on the next play with a 100-yard kickoff return to put the Utes back on top. It was Dunn's fourth kickoff-return touchdown of the season and fifth of his career -- both NCAA records.
He said what? "I got pissed." Utah RB White on why he came out strong in the third quarter. White ran for 53 yards in the first half against Colorado but more than doubled that with 115 yards in the second half, including 85 yards in the third quarter.
RapidReports offensive star of the day: K Furney, Washington State. Making clutch kicks hasn't exactly been a strong suit for Pac-12 kickers this season, but it was for Furney on Friday. Furney hit three field goals (21, 27, 45) in the Cougars' win over Washington, including the game-winner in overtime. Furney scored 11 of Washington State's 31 points in the game.
RapidReports defensive star of the day: DB Eric Rowe, Utah. Rowe was all over the field in the win over Colorado. The sophomore recovered a fumble and picked off a pass, turnovers that led to 10 Utah points. Rowe also had five tackles.
His seat is getting uncomfortable: Jon Embree, Colorado. Ending the season on an eight-game losing streak is never good when it comes to job security. In two seasons at Colorado, Embree's overall record is 4-21.
A possible spot on the bench for: QB Hirschman, Colorado. Hirschman spent most of the season on the bench watching Jordan Webb start and he might be headed back there after his performance against Utah. He threw four interceptions that led to 21 Utah points.
Why you care about these three stat lines:
- Colorado QB Hirschman throws four interceptions: Embree has been playing quarterback musical chairs all season, trying to find a guy that could give his team some momentum. Hirshman wasn't bad -- he threw for 306 yards and completed 58.8 percent of his passes -- but his four interceptions killed the Buffs chances of winning and wasn't a great audition for starting next season.
- Washington State WR Dominique Williams hits 143 yards: The Cougars may have found their go-to receiver for next year. The freshman caught eight passes for 143 yards in WSU's upset of Washington. Williams had 498 yards receiving in WSU's final six games after having 48 in their first six.
- Arizona State RB Grice scores three touchdowns for fourth time this year: Grice has quietly put together a phenomenal season for the Sun Devils, despite little fanfare. But Friday's three-touchdown game was his fourth of the year, and he has 17 scores for the season.
Key number: 18. Washington State scored 18 points in the fourth quarter against Washington to send the Apple Cup to overtime. That's impressive, considering the Cougars failed to score 18 points in six games this season.
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