INSIDE SLANT

A year ago, the Washington State Cougars helped salvage one of their worst seasons ever with a win over rival Washington.

They’ll try to do the same again this year, though against much longer odds.

The Cougars, 1-10 overall and 0-8 in Pac-10 play, finish the regular season Saturday against Washington at Husky Stadium. They were also 1-10 last year entering this game when they beat an 0-10 Washington team, 16-13 in double overtime in Pullman.

But the location alone makes duplicating that feat more difficult this year, as does the fact that the Huskies are much more competitive in the first year under Steve Sarkisian, at 3-7.

The oddsmakers don’t see a close game, installing the Huskies as 24- to 26-point favorites.

Cougar coach Paul Wulff, however, predictably begged to differ.

“We don’t look at records or what we have done or haven’t done,” he said. “We’re going into this week to compete and win the ball game and give the best effort we are capable of. If we do that, we are going to be happy. But we want to win the game. That’s our goal.”

The Cougars apparently don’t have to win it to keep Wulff’s job.

He received a vote of confidence over the weekend from WSU AD Jim Sterk, who told the Seattle Times that he was pleased with the progress under Wulff, despite a 1-16 Pac-10 record—other than the UW win last year, the Cougars haven’t come within 13 points of winning a Pac-10 game under Wulff. Wulff also said on Monday that he had been told he and his staff would be returning next year.

WSU ranks last in the nation in total defense at 516 yards per game, and 7.1 per play, and finding a way to slow down UW’s offense will be the key to having any chance to win Saturday. The Huskies are third in the Pac-10 in passing led by quarterback Jake Locker, and will likely try to exploit a Cougar pass defense that is allowing teams to complete 67.5 percent of passes this season.

WSU had just 13 scholarship defensive players available for Saturday’s 42-10 loss to Oregon State, which is an obvious reason for the team’s struggles.

The Cougars will go with either senior Kevin Lopina or freshman Jeff Tuel at quarterback depending on whether Tuel can recover from a kneecap injury that has held him out since Nov. 7. WSU is last in rushing offense and passing offense but will likely try to take some shots at a UW pass defense that rates just slightly better than WSU’s in terms of efficiency.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Of the 10 major team statistical categories in the Pac-10 for offense and defense—rushing, passing, total scoring and pass efficiency—WSU ranks last in every one.

• The only statistical category WSU leads is a somewhat odd one—opponent penalties—as WSU’s foes have been flagged 87 times for 814 yards. Four Oregon State penalties helped spur WSU’s only TD drive Saturday.

Series History:   UW leads the all-time series 64-31-6 but the Cougars have won four of the last five, the best stretch in WSU history. That includes a 16-13 Cougar win in Pullman last season in double overtime.

Scouting The Offense:   The Cougars rank last in just about every major Pac-10 statistical category. Hope for improvement this week rests with the offensive line being together now for a third straight game, and maybe some better timing in the passing game, especially if senior Kevin Lopina gets another start at quarterback. He hadn’t started since September before getting the nod Saturday and seemed to get better as the game wore on, hitting 15-32 overall. The Cougars tried to beat Oregon State with some vertical routes last week, and given UW’s young secondary, may try that ploy again this week. Lopina, however, will only start if true frosh Jeff Tuel is unable to go. He has not played since Nov. 7 with a kneecap injury, but coach Paul Wulff said he’ll start if healthy.

Scouting The Defense:   The WSU defense put up a little bit more of a fight than it has at times this season against OSU, holding the Beavers scoreless on three straight possessions midway through the game. Of course, OSU had 21 points and a healthy lead by that time, so the fact that got anyone excited speaks to how bad a season this has been for the Cougars. But WSU coaches liked the energy the defense showed and they’ll need that this week against UW. The Huskies have been dangerous at times this season offensively and coming off a bye week that should have two of their best players—QB Jake Locker and TB Chris Polk—as healthy as they’ve been since maybe the beginning of the season. The Cougars have just 12 sacks this season but will have to try to get some pressure on Locker or else he may have a field day throwing. Injuries on the line forced WSU go to with a 3-4 against Oregon State and the Cougars are likely to stay with that look this week.

Quote To Note:   “We’ve had a long year but our players are playing really hard and we’ve overcome a lot of injuries in a lot of ways. We’re playing a lot of guys right now that haven’t played a lot of football. But they’re playing really hard. I was really proud of their effort against Oregon State. The game was a lot closer ball game than the score indicated. Our kids are battling hard. I’m very proud of their effort and their improvement.”—WSU coach Paul Wulff.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: Washington State at Washington—Cougars look to win their fifth Apple Cup in the last six years and third in a row, something they have never done.

Keys To The Game:   Don’t fall behind big early—This is a theme every week, but it remains important as the Cougars continue to get pummeled early, outscored 173-6 in the first quarter this year. The pressure is on UW to win this game, and the Huskies have just three wins in the last two calendar years. So if WSU can stay close early, the Huskies could get tight.

Keep their QB upright—Washington’s biggest weakness on either side of the ball may be its pass defense, and WSU’s receiving corps may be the strength of its team. So if WSU can give its QB sometime, receivers could get open and the Cougars could make some big plays.

Players To Watch:  

WR Jared Karstetter—The sophomore had six catches for 72 yards last week against Oregon State and at 6-4 will have a sizeable height advantage on whatever UW corner he faces.

C Kenny Alfred—The senior is playing his final game near his hometown of Gig Harbor. He may be WSU’s only senior NFL prospect this season and has earned kudos for his play this year despite the team’s struggles.

S Xavier Hicks—The senior had an interception last week against OSU QB Sean Canfield and has been one of the few steady presences in the Cougar secondary this year. UW QB Jake Locker has thrown 10 interceptions this season so Hicks may get some chances Saturday.

MLB Alex Hoffman-Ellis—The sophomore is a sure-handed tackler but doesn’t always seem to hold up physically in the middle and he’ll get another tough test this week in UW’s hard-charging TB Chris Polk.

Roster Report:  

• Starting CB Brandon Jones sat out practice early in the week to rest his sore back, which cost him all but the first series against Oregon State, and it’s unclear if he will be able to play against UW.

• The WSU secondary situation could be more muddled depending on the health of SS Chima Nwachukwu. He sat out last week with an ankle injury but practiced early in the week and may return.

• WR Johnny Forzani suffered a concussion late in the OSU game and is likely out this week. He’s a backup but had been developing as a dangerous deep threat.

• RG B.J. Guerra suffered a mild concussion against Oregon State and his status for this week is uncertain. WSU has been able to go with its preferred OL the last two weeks but that streak will end if Guerra can’t go. His backup is junior Joe Eppele.