PULLMAN, Wash. — Quarterback John Mateer ran for 197 yards and a touchdown, Wayshawn Parker sprinted 43 yards for a TD in 16 seconds as part of a 14-point blitz in the second quarter and Washington State swept past Texas Tech 37-16 on Saturday night.
Djouvensky Schlenbaker scored two short touchdowns as the Cougars (2-0) dominated their most significant opponent in Pullman in this transitional season for Washington State. Texas Tech (1-1) was one of two Power Four opponents on the Cougars’ schedule.
Mateer contributed a touchdown pass, but it was his legs that made the difference, and he set a school record for most rushing yards by a quarterback.
The meeting between the two schools once coached by the late Mike Leach came the weekend Leach was inducted into the Washington State Athletics Hall of Fame. The schools each wore pirate stickers on the back of their helmets, and Leach was honored with the other inductees at halftime.
Leach would have been happy with the points, even though it wasn’t exactly a game of offensive efficiency. In the first half alone, there were interceptions by both teams’ quarterbacks, and Texas Tech lost the ball twice in its own territory and had a crucial fumble.
Texas Tech QB Behren Morton threw for 323 yards and a touchdown on 58 attempts but was intercepted twice. Texas Tech played a week without star running back Tahj Brooks after he ran for 153 yards and a touchdown in the Red Raiders’ season-opening win over Abilene Christian.
The Red Raiders had a 20-yard double pass touchdown from Coy Eakin to Cam’Ron Valdez in the second quarter.
Washington State took a 14-3 lead midway through the second quarter when Parker streaked down the sideline for his long touchdown run, one play after Tech’s Jalin Conyers was stopped on fourth-and-1.
On Tech’s next offensive play, Kelly was stripped of the ball by Buddah Al-Uqdah and returned the fumble to the 2. Schlenbaker immediately scored and Washington State led 21-3.
The Cougars extended their lead in the final seconds of the first half after Morton was intercepted. Kyle Williams caught a deflected pass in the corner of the end zone to give Washington State a 27-10 lead at halftime.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders were too sloppy for the caliber of their opponents. It started with the opening kickoff, which the Cougars knocked short on a modified onside attempt and then recovered. If you add in the two turnovers, the Red Raiders lost the ball five times in the first half.
Washington State: Mateer was great on the ground, but his passing game will need to improve to have a chance next week. Mateer completed 9 of 19 passes for 115 yards.
Texas Tech: Hosts North Texas next Saturday.
Washington State: Apple Cup against rival Washington next Saturday at Lumen Field in Seattle.
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