News for CougGroup 4/21/2018

FOOTBALL:
Washington State’s Rodrick Fisher catches three passes, touchdown in Joe Albi Homecoming

UPDATED: Sat., April 21, 2018, 6:31 p.m.

By Theo Lawson Spokane S-R

Rodrick Fisher’s football-playing career in Spokane didn’t technically end last November when his East Valley Knights cruised past North Central 34-17 in a nonleague game at Joe Albi Stadium.

That may have signaled the culmination of Fisher’s standout prep career, but the former East Valley wideout returned to a familiar setting – and played in front of some familiar faces – Saturday afternoon at Washington State’s Crimson and Gray game.

At Joe Albi Stadium, Fisher, a true freshman and early enrollee for the Cougars, caught two passes from quarterback Trey Tinsley during the third series of the scrimmage. The first went for 7 yards and nearly took Fisher into the end zone, but he stumbled out of bounds at the 1-yard line.

After a negative rushing play that set the offense back 2 yards, Tinsley looked Fisher’s way again and found him over the middle for a 3-yard touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Fisher caught his third pass of the scrimmage, a big-gainer from fellow early enrollee Cammon Cooper. Fisher broke past a defender near the left sideline, hauled in a pass from Cooper and ran until he was pushed out of bounds for a 26-yard reception.

Fisher was targeted once more during the scrimmage, but an intermediate pass from Tinsley skimmed across his fingertips and fell incomplete.

“I think Rodrick’s progressively getting better,” WSU coach Mike Leach said. “He’s caught the ball pretty well since he’s been here. Trying to refine his routes a little bit, but he came out here today ready to play and sometimes freshmen will be nervous or unsettled, but he didn’t seem to be.”

He’d finish with three catches for 37 yards and one TD. In his last game at Joe Albi Stadium, Fisher had seven catches for 92 yards and reeled in a 17-yard touchdown against North Central.

An “X” (outside) receiver for WSU, Fisher has backed up sophomore Tay Martin this spring and could contribute to the Cougars during his rookie season. Fisher, who caught 98 passes and scored 16 touchdowns in his final two seasons at EV, has reeled in a TD during each of the Cougars’ three scrimmages this spring.

“Spokane guy, local guy and I’m sure he had a great day in his hometown catching a touchdown,” fellow receiver Kyle Sweet said. “He’s been working pretty hard.”

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Fireworks kick off early in WSU's Crimson and Gray game

QB Trey Tinsley was razor sharp day and his favorite target was Kyle Sweet

By Dylan Haugh, Cougfan.com

SPOKANE - There were early fireworks in Washington State's spring game on Saturday. Senior Kyle Sweet didn't waste any time, hauling in four catches for 53 yards on the opening drive.

Sweet, playing for the Crimson squad, piled up 112 yards on six receptions almost before fans could find their seats. Sweet finished with a team-highs in receptions (8) and receiving yards (138) in the Crimson's 34-24 win over the Gray.

Sweet and quarterback Trey Tinsley were in sync from the opening play. Tinsley was razor sharp throughout, completing 19 of 24 passes for 213 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

A poised Tinsley moved the offense with pace and efficiency. He was also extremely effective in the red zone, picking apart the Cougar defense with two TD passes on slants to Renard Bell and Rodrick Fisher.

Mike Leach said Tinsley and Anthony Gordon stood out among the QBs (as they have all spring) Gordon finished his afternoon 15 of 21 for 174 yards with one touchdown pass. Gordon didn’t turn the ball over either and his best throw of the day was the TD strike to Dezmon Patmon.

On the TD, Gordon went through his progressions without finding an open receiver against coverage tight downfield. So Gordon bought time -- from a hardworking o-line mostly made of second teamers -- and found Patmon break free in the back of the end zone. Gordon showed off his arm by zipping a rifle of a throw on the TD.

Patmon enjoyed a productive day and really put his added strength on display, bouncing off would-be tacklers. Patmon finished second on the team in receptions (7) and receiving yards (91).

COUGAR QB Cammon Cooper was also on target, going 12 of 18 for 120 yards. Cooper had one TD pass, a beautifully placed 23-yard strike down the middle to Kainoa Wilson.

Fellow early enrollees Max Borghi and Rodrick Fisher had quieter days but both showed flashes of what made them each top recruits for WSU.

Fisher caught Tinsley’s second TD pass of the day, finishing with three catches for 36 yards.

Borghi also reached the end zone, capping off a Gordon drive with a 2-yard TD run up the gut of the Cougar defense. Borghi took four rushes for 10 yards and reeled in four balls for 16 hashes but the modest totals were deceptive -- many of those yards came after contact.

COUGAR SAFETY and Spokane native Armani Marsh out of Gonzaga Prep continued his upward spring trajectory with an interception on Saturday, the only one of the day on either side of the ball.

Marsh, a walk on, jumped a John Bledsoe pass, and posted four tackles.

Safety Skyler Thomas led the Cougar defense with seven tackles but also had a couple breakdowns on the back end which resulted in big gainers for the Cougar passing attack. Thomas wasn't alone -- although the Cougs only rushed three for virtually the entire game, WSU receiving targets found space to operate.

Dallas Hobbs, Nnamdi Oguayo, Taylor Comfort, Logan Tago and Will Rodgers all notched a sack on the day.

The defense finished with five sacks, and likely would have another five if the Cougars were allowed touch the QBs.

The first team o-line remained the same as it has the last two weeks or so -- LT Andre Dillard, LG Josh Watson, C Frederick Mauigoa, RG Robert Valencia and RT Abraham Lucas.

Second team o-line: LT Liam Ryan, LG Christian Haangana, C Noah Osur-Myers, RG Brian Greene and RT Robert Valencia. Throughout the day, several o-lineman moved between the units.

Both offensive line units raised the bar on Saturday after two shaky scrimmages prior though again, the defense was vanilla and they only had to contend with three rushers the vast majority of the day.

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WSU FOOTBALL

It's Tinsley vs. Gordon in Cougars' scrimmage

By Dale Grummert Lewiston Trib

The two front-runners in the Washington State quarterback race may have to step outside their comfort zones at times today in the Crimson and Gray game in Spokane.

For one thing, fairly windy conditions are expected for the annual intrasquad football scrimmage, set for 1 p.m. at Albi Stadium. For another, coaches who drew up the rosters didn't necessarily assign receivers to the QBs who best suit their proclivities.

Anthony Gordon, who will start for the Gray squad, has shown a penchant for throwing into tight windows over the middle. But he may want to tweak that approach to capitalize on the talents of 6-foot-4 Dezmon Patmon and 6-3 Tay Martin, the two tallest prominent wideouts on the team. Both will play for the Gray.
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Crimson quarterback Trey Tinsley, who seems more reluctant to take chances in heavy traffic, will need somehow to get the ball to inside receivers Renard Bell and Kyle Sweet, as well as sure-handed outside WR Easop Winston Jr.

Also on the Crimson is Camm Cooper, the heralded true freshman quarterback who understandably has been too mistake-prone to seriously challenge the two older players.

The stakes for the signal-callers today, as they vie for the role manned for three-plus years by Luke Falk, are more interesting than important. None of them has taken a snap at the NCAA level. Even more than most years, the critical competition will be in August, when Cooper is less of a greenhorn and graduate transfer Gardner Minshew joins the fray.

Tinsley, the self-assured walk-on who has taken a slight lead in the race, will be aided by veteran tailback James Williams, while Gordon will help initiate impressive true freshman RB Max Borghi. Perhaps more crucially, Tinsley will get protection from veteran left tackle Andre Dillard.

The Gray team boasts some of the team's most seasoned defenders, including linebacker Peyton Pelluer, cornerback Darrien Molton and safety Jalen Thompson. On the Crimson roster are linebackers Jahad Woods and Justus Rogers and defensive lineman Nnamdi Oguayo.

Prior to the game will be a Kids Skills Challenge, a varied competition free of charge. As usual for this scrimmage, players will be available for autographs afterward.

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WSU Offense Backs Pitcher Scott Sunitsch in Win Over Santa Clara

From WSU Sports Info

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State collected 13 hits including a pair of home runs in a 11-3 victory over Santa Clara at Bailey-Brayton Field Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars (12-20) saw Cal Waterman hit a two-run homer and Danny Sinatro hit a two-run inside-the-park home run to back starter Scotty Sunitsch who struck out seven in six innings to improve to 4-1. Four players recorded multiple-hit games led by three-hit performances from Andres Alvarez and Mason De La Cruz. Alvarez doubled twice and drove in two runs while De La Cruz doubled and tripled for his first career extra-base hits.

WSU scored in four straight innings beginning in the second and cruised to a series-clinching win over Santa Clara (16-20).

The Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a Waterman two-run homer to centerfield in the second inning. In the third inning, Wyatt Segle delivered a two-run single back up the middle with the bases loaded for a 4-0 advantage. Sinatro stepped in a drove a ball the other way and just inside the left field line and by a sliding Santa Clara leftfielder allowing Sinatro to race around for a two-run inside-the-park-home run.

WSU added two runs in the fourth inning on an Alvarez ground-rule double to right field and a Collin Montez RBI-single through the right side for an 8-0 lead.

In the fifth, the Cougars pushed three more runs across on a De La Cruz RBI-single down the right field line and sacrifice flies by Alvarez and Dillon Plew.

Santa Clara used a pair of home runs to score three runs in the sixth inning. Cougar reliever Nick Strange took over for Sunitsch to start the seventh and worked three scoreless innings to record his first career save.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Andres Alvarez doubled off the left field wall in the 1st inning, extending his on-base streak to 10 games and his hitting streak to 9 games
Danny Sinatro hit an inside-the-park homerun in the 3rd inning, WSU’s first since Yale Rosen in 2013
Blake Clanton singled through the right side in the 6th inning, extending his hitting streak to 7 games
Sunitsch made his 8th career appearance, third-most in WSU history

NEXT UP
The series wraps up Sunday at 1 p.m.

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BASEBALL Blake Clanton’s record setting night at the bat leads Coug Past Santa Clara
From WSU Sports Info
PULLMAN, Wash. – Senior Blake Clanton hit a school-record four doubles to lead Washington State past Santa Clara in the series-opener 12-10 in front of a season-high 1,464 fans at Bailey-Brayton Field Friday evening.

Clanton doubled in each of his first four at-bats, breaking the previous Cougar record of three that was accomplished 15 times and most recently in 2007. Clanton’s mark also tied the Pac-12 Conference record and he became just the fifth player to double at least four times in a game among all Division I players in 2018. The senior outfielder went 4-for-5 with a career-high four RBI and three runs scored.

Washington State (11-20) collected 15 hits, receiving multiple-hit games from Collin Montez, Robert Teel, James Rudkin and Dillon Plew along with another impressive relief outing from Ryan Walker who closed the door with 2.1 scoreless innings to notch his fourth save of the season. A.J. Block earned his first win of the season after 1.2 scoreless innings for relief, striking out three along the way. Santa Clara dropped to 16-19 overall. tight homecoming

WSU used three hits to score three times in the first inning but Santa Clara answered with a three-run homer in the second. Both teams exploded for five runs in the third inning as SCU took advantage of three Cougar errors in the inning. WSU came right back in their half of the frame with five hits and one Bronco error with the big hit coming Andres Alvarez who doubled to right field that scored two runs with two outs in the inning.

The Cougars took a 9-8 lead in the fourth inning a Robert Teel sacrifice fly and Santa Clara re-took the lead with a pair of runs in the fifth inning but WSU came right back in the bottom of the frame. JJ Hancock singled in a run and one batter later, Clanton doubled in a pair of runs for a 12-10 lead.

WSU reliever A.J. Block worked a scoreless sixth inning and got the first two outs of the seventh before loading the bases. The Cougars called upon Walker who induced an inning-ending groundout to second on his first pitch and preserved the two-run lead. In the eighth, Walker stranded a pair of Broncos with a strikeout before ending the game with a 6-4-3 double play.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Andres Alvarez walked in the 1st inning, extending his on-base streak to 9 games
Alvarez doubled in the 3rd inning, extending his hitting streak to 8 games
Blake Clanton doubled in the 1st inning, extending his hitting streak to 6 games
JJ Hancock was hit by a pitch in the 3rd inning, extending his on-base streak to 18 games
Clanton recorded his 4th double of the game in the 5th inning, setting a WSU record and tied a Pac-12 record
Ryan Walker recorded his 10th career save, tied for eighth-most in WSU history

NEXT UP
The series continues Saturday at 1 p.m.

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