Big plays highlight Cougs' first spring scrimmage

PULLMAN — The Cougar offense accounted for six touchdowns while the defense picked off four passes and had 10 sacks to highlight play during Washington State football’s first scrimmage of the spring Saturday morning at Martin Stadium.

The first score of the day game on the second offensive drive when redshirt junior quarterback Trey Tinsley found senior receiver Kyle Sweet on a 2-yard touchdown pass. The next two scores came with redshirt junior quarterback Anthony Gordon leading the offense. He found freshman receiver Roderick Fisher on a 9-yard scoring strike, followed by a 13-yard touchdown connection with Sweet.

Sweet completed the hat trick courtesy of freshman quarterback Cammon Cooper as the two hooked up for a 20-yard scoring strike. Cooper, one of five quarterbacks to see action Saturday, connected on the longest offensive play of the afternoon as his first completion went to freshman running back Max Borghi on a 51-yard shovel pass. Cooper added a 10-yard touchdown run and capped the scoring with a 14-yard strike to junior receiver Dezmon Patmon.

Sweet finished with five catches for 62 yards and three scores.

The Cougars defense had a strong day, finding itself in the backfield much of the afternoon. WSU’s defense accounted for 10 sacks and multiple drive-ending plays. Redshirt-freshman defensive back Armani Marsh stepped in front of a Cooper pass to get the first pick of the day while safety Hayden Schmidt picked quarterback Connor Neville midway through the scrimmage. Redshirt freshman linebacker Fa’avae Fa’avae joined the fun with a pick of Neville and redshirt sophomore Skyler Thomas grabbed a Cooper pass near the end zone and raced the length of the field for the pick-six.

Redshirt junior linebacker Tristan Brock and redshirt sophomore linebacker Justus Rogers led the way with four tackles each, with Brock adding a sack. The defensive line shared the wealth in the backfield accounting for eight sacks, two by redshirt freshman Dallas Hobbs.

Redshirt sophomore kicker Jack Crane was perfect on the day, hitting field goals from 34, 44, 44 and 47 yards.

The Cougars resume spring practice Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. at Rogers Field and Martin Stadium.

SCRIMMAGE STATISTICS

PASSING — Trey Tinsley 10-13-0-68, Anthony Gordon 12-17-0-98, Cammon Cooper 8-20-2-160, John bledsoe 3-7-0-26, Connor Neville 2-7-2-23.

RECEIVING — Kyle Sweet 5-62, Keith Harrington 5-45, Max Borghi 4-73, Tay Martin 4-41, Brandon Arconado 3-41, Jamire Calvin 3-19, Dezmon Patmon 2-21, Travell Harris 2-18, Easop Winston Jr. 2-12, Solomon Cooper 2-6, Kainoa Wilson 1-18, Hayden Harvey 1-10, Roderick Fisher 1-9.

RUSHING — James Williams 5-45, Cammon Cooper 1-10, Anthony Castillo 2-5, Keith Harrington 2-3, Trey Tinsley 2-3, Connor Neville 1-0.

SCORING SUMMARY

Sweet 2 pass from Tinsley

Fisher 9 pass from Gordon

Sweet 13 pass from Gordon

Sweet 20 pass from Cooper

Cooper 10 run

Patmon 14 pass from Cooper