Washington State rides Eckhaus, defense to 20-3 win at Colorado State

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Zevi Eckhaus threw a pair of touchdown passes and Washington State’s defense delivered its stingiest performance in years, shutting down Colorado State in a 20-3 victory Saturday night. The Cougars (3-2) snapped a two-game skid in which they had allowed 59 points in back-to-back outings against North Texas and rival Washington. This time, first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers’ team clamped down, holding Colorado State without a touchdown at home for the first time in 85 games. It also marked Washington State’s first road win since October 2006 in which it kept an opponent out of the end zone. Colorado State (1-3) struck first when Isaiah Hankins drilled a 50-yard field goal on the opening possession for a 3-0 lead. But the Rams’ offense never found traction again. Eckhaus quickly answered, connecting with Jeremiah Noga for a 35-yard touchdown strike. Jack Stevens added a 37-yard field goal to push the Cougars ahead 10-3. Washington State extended its lead before halftime after Leo Pulalasi ripped off the Cougars’ longest run of the season, a 45-yard burst that set up Stevens’ 21-yard field goal. On the Rams’ next drive, defenders Tucker Large and Caleb Francl stuffed quarterback Tahj Bullock on fourth-and-inches near midfield. Eckhaus capitalized on the short field, hitting tight end Ademola Faleye for a 2-yard score to make it 20-3 at the break.

That proved to be more than enough for a Cougars’ defense that frustrated CSU quarterback Jackson Brousseau all night. Brousseau finished with 188 yards on 19-of-28 passing but couldn’t crack the red zone. Francl also recovered a fumble to halt another Rams drive. Eckhaus finished 16-of-28 for 189 yards, while Pulalasi rushed three times for 50 yards.

The Rams have now dropped three of their first four games, while Washington State heads into October with momentum and a defensive performance to build on.