San Diego State Aztecs vs Washington State Cougars Football Preview

Who knew that this would be one of the more attractive and interesting matchups in week three of the college football season? Who in their right mind ever could have foreseen the small but still very real renaissance taking place on the campus of Washington State University and a football program that’s not accepting its place at the bottom of the sport’s totem pole?

Yes, things look a little different in Pullman two weeks into this season, compared to recent years. Washington State is averaging 600 yards of offense per game and is leading the nation in points per game at an astronomical 61.5 per outing. The Cougars are sporting a 2-0 record. Those numbers are dimmed when considering the competition—Idaho State and UNLV—but at least the Cougars can say they have done what any good team would do in those games. The fact that Washington State could hammer any team from the Football Bowl Subdivision by 52 points (it took UNLV to the woodshed, 59-7) is a testament to this team’s growth and development. Because Wazzu just crushed an opponent from the Mountain West Conference, the Cougars will be able to measure themselves even more when they face an upper-division club from the very same Mountain West realm. Indeed, Washington State will face its first test this week on the road against San Diego State. This game had “rout” written all over it when the season started, but now it’s a genuinely intriguing encounter that will take the pulse of both sides but especially the visitors from Eastern Washington.

The good news for the Cougars is that the offense has churned despite losing starting quarterback Jeff Tuel part-way through game one. Backup Marshall Lobbestael hasn’t missed a beat against the lesser opponents, completing 75 percent of his passes for 591 yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions.

The Aztecs, meanwhile, have enjoyed consistency in their backfield with seasoned signal-caller Ryan Lindley and phenom Ronnie Hillman. Lindley has started his senior season well despite limited pass attempts. Lindley has thrown no interceptions and the offensive line has kept him off his back as he has only been sacked once. Hillman has rushed to an early 153 yards-per-game average with four touchdowns. Hillman’s 6.8 yards-per-carry average will test Washington State’s defense, a unit that has only faced impotent run games thus far. The Cougars will also need to account for Aztec sophomore Colin Lockett who has become an early big-play threat. Lockett’s 8 receptions have netted 195 yards, a 24.4-yard-per-catch average.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer