SEATTLE – John Mateer ran for two touchdowns and threw for one more, Washington State made a goal line stand with 1:07 remaining, and the Cougars reclaimed the Apple Cup with a 24-19 win over Washington on Saturday.
Playing in September rather than November or December, and meeting in a non-conference matchup for the first time since 1961, the Cougars relied on their dual-threat quarterback and some key defensive plays in the final moments to claim the Apple Cup for just the third time since 2008.
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Mateer ran for touchdowns of 23 and 25 yards and threw a 16-yard touchdown to Josh Meredith in the third quarter that gave the Cougars (3-0) a 24-16 lead. Mateer finished 17 of 34 passing for 245 yards and added 62 yards rushing.
Playing at Seattle’s Lumen Field was part of a five-year agreement to continue the rivalry despite no longer being in the same conference. Purple outnumbered crimson in the crowd, but it was the Cougars sticking around for the post-game celebration.
Will Rogers threw for 314 yards and a touchdown for Washington (2-1) and Giles Jackson had eight catches for 162 yards, including a 31-yard TD in the first quarter. But the Huskies were forced to settle for field goals on three trips inside the Washington State 25 and that proved the difference.
Washington had one last chance after taking possession at its own 31 with 3:40 left and Rogers hit Jackson for 45 yards on the first play. The Huskies reached the Washington State 10 and on third-and-goal, Denzel Boston was forced out at the 1, setting up fourth-and-goal.
The Huskies called an option play to the short-side of the field and Coleman had nowhere to go, getting stopped for a 2-yard loss.
The matchup was in peril as to whether it would continue after last year's conference realignment. Washington State’s future solidified earlier this week when the Pac-12 landed new additions in Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State and San Diego State to join the conference in 2026.
The Cougars celebrated by taking down their biggest rivals.
The crucial sequence for Washington State came at the end of the first half when on third-and-20, Mateer weaved his way 25 yards on a designed run and sneaked into the front corner of the end zone for his second TD run of the first half. The TD capped a 91-yard TD drive that included completions of 24 and 38 yards and gave Washington State a 17-13 lead at the break.
Washington State also managed to keep Coleman from getting started after he topped 100 yards in each of the first two games of the season. Coleman had 75 yards on 14 carries.
The takeaway
Washington State: The Cougars will lament their fourth-quarter execution on offense. Mateer threw one interception, nearly threw another, and the Cougars threw incomplete on third-and-10 with 3:46 left. Not only did Washington State not get a first down, but the clock stopped.
Washington: After being fairly clean with penalties the first two games, Washington’s discipline was awful. The Huskies were called for 16 penalties for 135 yards. Several were critical calls that kept drives alive for the Cougars.
Up next
Washington State: The Cougars will host San Jose State on Friday.
Washington: The Huskies open Big Ten play hosting Northwestern next Saturday.
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