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Photo Gallery: WSU football chops down Stanford, winning 34-31

Don’t look now, but the Cougars are within striking distance of first place in the division.

By Jack RM Ellis
PULLMAN, WA - OCTOBER 16: Washington State running back Max Borghi (21) flexes after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a PAC 12 conference matchup between the Stanford Cardinal and the Washington State Cougars on October 16, 2021, at Martin Stadium in Pullman, WA. Jack Ellis/CougCenter

Let’s be honest for a minute. Did anybody here REALLY expect to be reading about a WSU football team with a winning overall record and in Pac-12 play at any point after that Utah loss? If so, comment below the winning lottery numbers and I’ll take your word for it.

Don’t look now, but your Washington State Cougars (4-3 overall, 3-2 conference) are within striking distance of first place in the division after a final-minutes win against David Shaw and the Stanford Cardinal (3-4, 2-3). This marks the fifth consecutive victory over the Cardinal, dating back to 2016.

The schedule gets much tougher from here, as the Cougars’ next three opponents (BYU, at ASU, at Oregon) have all been ranked inside the top-20 at some point this season. BYU and ASU dropped out of the AP Top-25 when the Week 8 rankings were unveiled this morning, but they will still be formidable competition as WSU fights for bowl eligibility.

This week’s gold star goes to sophomore quarterback Jayden de Laura, who threw for 289 yards and three scores with no interceptions. De Laura finished the game with a passer rating of 170.8, ranking second best in the conference in Week 7. On top of grading well, the WSU quarterback possessed the qualities that don’t show up on a stat sheet: poise, passion, and an ability to move the ball when it mattered most. Regarding his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after taking the lead with 1:30 to go in the game? That’s just the cost of doing business the de Laura way.

Up next, the battle for Cougar mascot supremacy will take place when BYU comes to town on Saturday at 12:30 p.m, with the game to be televised on FS1. BYU holds a 3-1 historical series lead, but after losing two straight and falling out of the AP Top 25, this game has become all the more enticing for viewers and bettors alike.

CougCenter was at Gesa Field covering the game’s biggest moments and plays. Enjoy!

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Missed previous photo galleries? Check them out below!

9/4/21 - WSU versus Utah State

9/11/21 - WSU versus Portland State

9/18/21 - WSU versus USC

9/25/21 - WSU versus Utah

10/9/21 - WSU versus Oregon State

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