UPDATED AT 2:56 P.M.: Cougars beat Utah State in Potato Bowl to claim first postseason win since 2018

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Dec. 22—UPDATED AT 2:56 P.M.

BOISE — The Washington State Cougars capped a unique season with a thorough mashing of the Utah State Aggies to win the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 34-21 and claim their first postseason victory since 2018.

Washington State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus returned to his high-flying offensive roots, with a Cougar career-high 44 pass attempts to total 334 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions on the blue turf Monday at Boise State's Albertsons Stadium.

WSU jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead and then poured the points on in the second half, while the WSU defense allowed just 22 first-half passing yards in front of an announced attendance of 17,031 fans.

WSU outgained USU 628-254.

Eckhaus made up for taking a sack in the first quarter with a 41-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman wide receiver Mackenzie Alleyne over the middle to put the Cougs on the board.

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Eckhaus found senior tight end Hudson Cedarland, who last year was a linebacker, for a 1-yard score in the second quarter.

After throwing his first two touchdowns, Eckhaus hit a spell where he completed 1-of-6 passes and conceded two interceptions.

Per usual, the WSU defense had his back.

Senior safety Matt Durrance, who had not snagged an interception since last December's FCS playoffs with South Dakota State, jumped a Utah State QB Bryson Barnes' pass in the end zone to snuff out a drive that started at the WSU 16-yard-line following Eckhaus' second pick.

The WSU defense pitched a shutout in the first half, with just 22 passing yards allowed. The Cougars forced seven punts overall, before Utah State tacked on three touchdowns in their final three possessions.

Eckhaus connected with freshman wide receiver Landon Wright to put the Cougs up 27-7 with 14:11 left in the fourth quarter.

Barnes, USU's QB, left the game just as he was staging a bit of a comeback. The senior starter put the Aggies on the board with a rushing touchdown and had USU moving the ball well before colliding with WSU safety Cale Reeder and leaving the game.

USU backup QB Jacob Conover threw a would-be Pick-6 that was nullified by the Cougars' penalties and then promptly found Brady Boyd to make it a 27-14 game.

WSU backup QB Julian Dugger entered the game, completed the first pass of his Cougar career and then broke loose for a 34-yard rushing touchdown, which put the Cougs up 34-14 with 4:06 left.

USU got one back with a garbage time score that cemented the 34-20 final with 1:48 to go.

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WSU interim coach/defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit will join former coach Jimmy Rogers at Iowa State this week. The Cougars' incoming coach is Kirby Moore, a Boise State alum, who returned to his old stomping grounds to support his new program on Monday.

Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2268, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.

UPDATED AT 12:37 P.M.

BOISE — The Washington State football team controlled the first half of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and went into the halftime break with a 14-0 lead over Utah State on Monday.

Quarterback Zevi Eckhaus threw for two first-half touchdowns and the Cougars' defense limited the Aggies to 50 yards and three first downs.

WSU is seeking its first bowl win since 2018. The Cougars have lost their last four bowl appearances.

WSU is being led by interim coach Jesse Bobbit, who will join former coach Jimmy Rogers at Iowa State after this game. The Cougars' incoming coach is Kirby Moore.

ORGINAL STORY

The Washington State football team tangles with Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at 11 a.m. PST today at Boise's Albertsons Stadium.

To get prepared for the game, you can read sports writer Sam Taylor's advance story and all of this season's Cougar coverage.

And here's a quick video preview Sam sent in Sunday evening:

We'll post updates from the game here throughout today.

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