Photo Credit: Spokesman Review

From Pullman – In a game that saw Luke Falk benched, and BSU quarterback Brett Rypien taken out early after a violent hit, the No. 20 Washington State offense was largely ineffective for three quarters against the Broncos defense on Saturday.  But under backup Tyler Hilinski under center, and with a two defensive touchdowns, the Cougars pulled off an insane 47-44 come from behind victory.

Running back Jamal Morrow was wide open in the flat and Hilinski did not miss his running back with the pass. Morrow ran 22-yards towards the end zone, diving for the pylon and sailing getting the ball over it still in bounds to complete the Cougars’ 21-point come from behind history over the Broncos. The students rushed the field to celebrate the incredible come from behind victory.

Gerard Wicks scored the go ahead touchdown in the second overtime to give WSU the 41-34 lead. Hilinski had found Martin Jr. and Johnson-Mack to pick up a pair of first downs on the drive to get the ball on the one yard line before Wicks punched it in.

On BSU’s ensuing possession, Marcellus Pippins lost his assignment and the Broncos scored from the 17 on a deeper slant pattern; which tied the game up at 41.

Boise State was unable to score a touchdown in its overtime possession, and they settled for the field goal. The Coug’s allowed one first down but the defense stepped up after that to completely shut down Cozart’s lanes at the edges of the pocket while not leaving anyone open near the end zone.

The Cougs followed that by getting the ball to within six inches of the goal line on two runs, and then an incomplete pass into the corner of the end zone. Kicker Eric Powell took two delay of game penalties, one of which was declined by the Broncos, to give himself a. Street angle at the game typing kick…which sailed through the uprights to force the second overtime.

Washington State’s punt on 4th and 20 with three minutes left in the game bounced off (No.27) back and the Cougars jumped all over it to get the offense the ball back at Boise State’s 24-yard line. Three plays later, Hilinski hit Jamal Morrow for the game tying touchdown.

BSU and WSU buckled down defensively in the remaining regulation time, shutting down both offenses. The game went to overtime tied at 31.

Peyton Pelleur picked off a tipped pass when Montell Cozart attempted to get rid of the ball as he scrambled out of the pocket and it was tipped. The third generation Coug took it back to the barn to get WSU within a touchdown about six minutes left in the game. The pick came after Tyler Hilinski guided WSU down the field, with some hick-ups, to score a touchdown and make the game somewhat with in reach.

The game  when Hilinski was intercepted trying to force a shovel pass through a collapsed pocket and it was tipped by a defensive tackle before being picked off. Boise State’s back-up quarterback Montell Cozart quickly hit a wide open _____ on a post route that saw Marcellus Pippins get torched.

Falk would get picked off three plays into the next series as he shifted around in the pocket and lost the ball when he was trying to dump it off. _______ took the ball to the house, out racing offensive tackle Cole Madison to the end zone.

Washington State’s defense came to play as they hammered Rypien during two of his three drives, including a fumble return for a TD that was the Cougs’ first score of the game — Rypien left the game after the hit that forced the fumble. Boise State’s offensive line struggled to protect the junior quarterback and it brought in the graduate transfer far sooner than anyone expected heading into the game.

Neither offense was able to execute in the first half, as both defense’s were effective at getting into the pocket and disrupting the other team’s offense. Falk looked particularly flustered at times as he rarel  had time to progress through his reads and  to the check down routes; as the game went on, the Broncos became more aggressive and the redshirt senior failed to take advantage of the windows that did pop up in the middle of the defense. That’s why he was benched by Mike Leach in the third quarter.

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