Arizona Runs Over the Cougs

After Travis Cobb returned the opening kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown for the Wildcats, many WSU fans couldn't help but be reminded of last year's horrendous season. When Arizona went on to score 24 points in the first quarter alone, Coug fans may have sighed a familiar sigh.

When Jeff Tuel left the game with a knee injury, Wazzu fans probably shed a tear or two, fearing that any chance WSU had at a Pac-10 victory was lost.

This game, like almost every other game in the last two seasons, was out of reach after the first quarter. The Cougs have been outscored 136-3 in the first quarter this season, and they've failed to put up any kind of fight until the second half after it's too late. Arizona had such a comfortable lead in the first half that they put in backup quarterback Matt Scott in the second quarter. Scott rushed for 91 yards, averaging 9.1 yards per carry, while WSU as a team only managed 185 yards.

The only bright spot among many dark ones was Jared Karstetter's one-handed catch for a 64-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that prevented the Cougs from being shut out. The final score was 48-7, pushing Arizona to within half a game of first place in the conference.

Many fans believe UCLA and UW to be the only chances the Cougs have at a conference victory this season, but with Tuel questionable, and many others injured, WSU may end the season worse than last year.