Grasu’s FG gives WSU 30-27 OT win over SMU

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS, Associated Press Writer Sep 19, 9:16 pm EDT

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PULLMAN, Wash. (AP)—Nico Grasu kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime as Washington State came back to beat Southern Methodist 30-27 on Saturday for their first win of the season.

The Mustangs (2-1) had the first drive of overtime. But Bo Levi Mitchell threw deep into the end zone on the first play and was picked off by Chima Nwachukwu. It was Washington State’s fourth interception of the game.

The Cougars (1-2) took over on the 25 and gained just three yards on three plays before Grasu’s game winner. Earlier in the game he missed a 39-yard field goal.

It was the first time Washington State had led all season.

Southern Methodist led 24-7 in the third quarter and seemed to be cruising to victory.

Then the WSU defense took control.

Linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis picked off Mitchell at midfield and ran the ball back 52 yards for a touchdown late in the third. But the snap for the conversion was fumbled, and the Cougars trailed 24-13. That missed extra point would end up costing them a chance to win in regulation.

Matt Szymanski kicked a field goal early in the fourth for SMU.

Linebacker Myron Beck picked off a scrambling Mitchell and outran the Mustangs for a 67-yard touchdown that cut SMU’s lead to 27-20 with 10:07 left.

Mitchell led SMU deep into WSU territory on the next drive but was picked off by Brandon Jones. The Cougars’ offense went 3-and-out, but SMU did the same and Washington State got the ball back on its 20 for one last drive.

The Cougars benefited from a key pass interference call on fourth down against Sterling Moore on receiver Jared Karstetter that gave them first down on SMU’s 34. Quarterback Marshall Lobbestael completed two passes to give them first down on the SMU 7 with 36 seconds left.

On the second play, Lobbestael hit a diving Karstetter in the end zone with 28 seconds left. Grasu kicked the extra point to tie the game at 27-27.

The loss ruined a career day for Mitchell, who completed 40 of 57 passes for 424 yards and two touchdowns, but also four interceptions. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders caught a school record 18 passes for 178 yards, while Terrance Wilkerson caught two touchdown passes.

The Mustangs had 504 yards of offense, compared to 276 for WSU.

Lobbestael, who replaced Kevin Lopina at starting quarterback this game, completed 24 of 52 passes for 239 yards and was picked off twice. Karstetter finished with five catches for 63 yards.

Updated Sep 19, 9:16 pm EDT
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Head to Head - Week 3

Team Total Yds Pass Yds Rush Yds First Downs 3rdD% Pen./Yds Turnovers Time of Poss.
Southern Methodist 504 424 80 28 43.8% 6/54 5 39:40
Washington State 276 239 37 17 20.0% 4/45 3 20:20
NCAAF

19 Comments

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  1. dgr
    19. Posted by dgr Sun Sep 20 4:13pm EDT

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    stii, jj has the ponies headed in the right direction
  2. Danica Signed My Moobs
    18. Posted by Danica Signed My Moobs Sun Sep 20 3:14pm EDT

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    Lots of UW envy on this board. It's not healthy to aspire to what you can never be.
  3. Danica Signed My Moobs
    17. Posted by Danica Signed My Moobs Sun Sep 20 3:00pm EDT

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    Puck the Fussies
  4. Danica Signed My Moobs
    15. Posted by Danica Signed My Moobs Sun Sep 20 2:55pm EDT

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    #8 - You are doing some serious drugs if you think WSU has even a ghost of a chance in the Apple Cup. The @#$% are by far the worst team in D1,and possibly D1A. Lucky wins don't make a good program.
  5. <i>krbickle</i>
    14. Posted by krbickle Sun Sep 20 9:49am EDT

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    cougs, I fell asleep at halftime, and missed a great second half. Go COUGS
  6. sdmyhome
    13. Posted by sdmyhome Sun Sep 20 6:23am EDT

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    Huck the Fuskies! Go Cougs!
  7. sdmyhome
    12. Posted by sdmyhome Sun Sep 20 6:22am EDT

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    Huck the Fuskies! Go Cougs!
  8. Melvin
    11. Posted by Melvin Sun Sep 20 4:46am EDT

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    As a football alumni from the 2000 season @ WSU (#55) I want to congratulate the guys on this win. I know it's been tough, but take this one and build on it. We still believe in you. Anything is possible if you work hard, and play every play like it's your last. GO COUGS!!!
  9. KennethJ
    10. Posted by KennethJ Sun Sep 20 2:15am EDT

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    There is only one thing to say.....GO COUGS
  10. david g
    9. Posted by david g Sun Sep 20 12:57am EDT

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    Congrats to WSU...been a SMU Fan since The Early 80's when they were The Best Team in The Nation...especially during The Dickerson & James Era. June Jones has Southern Methodist headed in the Right Direction even with this tough loss that should have been a win.
  11. mgb
    8. Posted by mgb Sun Sep 20 12:50am EDT

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    Nah #4 they've got a shot at two more if (big if) the offense dramatically improves. Those being ASU and the Apple Cup. Yes that would be the Apple Cup, against a Husky squad that will be very much overhyped the next couple months because of a win over a very one dimensional SC (who quite frankly might lose three or four games this year) squad.

    Lobbestahl's still got plenty of question marks, but he at least showed great comeback poise if nothing else. Still not enough to make me not want to see Tuel at some point. I mean who else is there? Lopina's already failed and failed again.

    There's a lot of reason to be excited about Tuel if you pay attention to recent history with Wulff and Cali QBs (granted the Pac 10 is a Mt Rushmore bump up from the Big Sky). Erik Meyer won the Payton Award a few years ago and Matt Nichols is in the mix for this year's.

    But other than those jack@$$es in the student section WHO WERE YELLING FOR THE F@!KING HUSKIES! (in the good old days they'd have been battered into oblivion for doing that), I can't stand to watch Lobbestahl put it up 52 times, thank god SMU has similar problems.
  12. Ballz
    7. Posted by Ballz Sun Sep 20 12:41am EDT

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    I hope this momentum carries into next week's game. USC might not recuperate from todays loss with WU.
  13. Justin
    6. Posted by Justin Sun Sep 20 12:04am EDT

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    toke
  14. Brendan
    5. Posted by Brendan Sat Sep 19 11:59pm EDT

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    I thought SMU had this one in the bag
  15. <i>asaroso</i>
    4. Posted by asaroso Sat Sep 19 11:56pm EDT

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    Go Cougs! This might be the only game we win this year!!! Let go celebrate now!!
  16. BIC
    3. Posted by BIC Sat Sep 19 11:08pm EDT

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    The Cougars offense better get in gear. They cannot depend on the defense for 13 points every game.
  17. TEXAZ REB
    2. Posted by TEXAZ REB Sat Sep 19 9:15pm EDT

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    Way to GO WSU! This is just what this program needed to turn around the neg trend thang. Now the players will start to really believe that they CAN WIN! WSU just needs the right moment to knock off a PAC 10 opponent. Maybe two! Then next year.....well lets just see how the Cougs. do against ol upset UW! Keep Up the Great Work Cougs! Can't wait for the ASU Game!
  18. dgr
    1. Posted by dgr Sat Sep 19 8:57pm EDT

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    Looks like my stangs came up short., oh well! this is qb Mitchell's second year starting. Maybe one day it will click in his head "to live for the next play". He needs to throw to the players' that wear the same color jersey he does, and not the player with the opposing color jersey.
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 SMU
T. Wilkerson T. Wilkerson, WR
7 Rec, 113 yds
2 TDs
 Washington St.
M. Lobbestael M. Lobbestael, QB
24-52, 239 yds
2 TDs, 2 INTs

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