Washington State’s seventh win of the season came in thrilling fashion Saturday night as the Cougs overcame a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter to earn a 29-26 win over San Diego State.

John Mateer threw for two touchdowns and ran for two, marking the fourth time this season he was responsible for at least four touchdowns. The Cougar quarterback completed 19 passes on 27 attempts for 257 yards that night. He also led WSU in rushing on the night, carrying 21 times for 42 yards.

Defensive highlights included Buddha Al-Uqdah (three tackles, interception) and Ansel Din-Mbuh (three sacks).

It was a game with a lot of momentum shifts, with both teams converting less than half of their third and fourth down opportunities.

The Cougars started the game, but quickly forced an Aztec punt. WSU quickly got on the board with a flea-flicker play, with Mateer finding a wide-open Cooper Mathers for a 24-yard touchdown. A 22-yard rush on a reverse to Kyle Williams set it up.

San Diego State worked quickly to move the ball downfield, aided by a successful fake punt. That put them in position for a 46-yard field goal.

WSU reached the Aztecs’ 30-yard line but turned it over on downs when they failed to convert a fourth-and-3.

On SDSU’s next possession, Ansel Din-Mbuh sacked Aztec starting quarterback Danny O’Neil, who left the game with a shoulder injury. Running back Cam Davis made up for it a few moments later with a 38-yard rush deep into WSU territory. That drive ended in the final seconds of the first quarter with a 28-yard field goal.

Washington State started the second quarter with a drive into the red zone, aided by a pass interference penalty that wiped out a San Diego State interception. Mateer converted a fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line with a QB sneak into the end zone.

The Cougar defense then forced a turnover on downs with 4:26 left in the first half, when Keith Brown and Stephen Hall stopped Marquez Cooper in the backfield on a fourth-and-2. However, the Cougar offense had a turnover of downs of its own to give the ball back.

O’Neil returned to the game at that point and completed three passes in a six-play, 60-yard touchdown drive, capped by a seven-yard rushing touchdown from Marquez Cooper. The Aztecs would fail to convert the extra point due to a wild snap, giving WSU a two-point lead heading into halftime.

There were four kicks at the start of the second half. On the fourth, Tony Freeman couldn’t field the kick cleanly, and the Aztecs regained the ball in WSU territory. SDSU took the lead with a 27-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Jordan Napier to Nate Bennett on a trick play.

WSU’s offense was stopped again on their next possession, moving the ball only four yards in five plays. The Aztecs seized the opportunity to make another touchdown drive, this time 69 yards in 11 plays, with Cooper diving into the end zone for a one-yard rushing score. That gave SDSU a 26-14 lead in the opening moments of the fourth quarter.

Then Mateer found Carlos Hernandez for the second week in a row on a long touchdown, this time from 34 yards out. That capped an 80-yard drive that lasted just four plays as the Cougs cut the lead to five.

San Diego State looked poised to further extend their lead, but Buddha Al-Uqdah picked off O’Neil deep in WSU territory to give the Cougs the ball with 8:30 to go. Mateer drove down the field in seven plays and picked up his second rushing touchdown of the night. Mateer then caught a pass in the end zone for a successful two-point conversion.

The Cougar defense forced a third-and-long on the ensuing possession, which linebacker Kyle Thornton turned into a fourth down and another punt attempt by keeping the ball out of the San Diego State receiver’s hands. Whether or not Thornton contacted the recipient early could be a point of contention depending on who you ask.

The Cougs took a 29-26 lead with two minutes left. WSU needed two first downs to secure the win, but took just one and lined up to punt with 28 seconds left. Dean Janikowski got the kick away with no return to San Diego State. But SDSU was called for roughing the kicker, giving WSU a first down and the win.

Off to their first 7-1 start since 2018, the Cougars have a bye next week. They return to action on November 9 at home against Utah State. The kick-off time for that game has not yet been definitively determined.

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