Sun Sep 15 01:42:45 UTC 2024: ## Cougars Claim Apple Cup in Dramatic Fashion, Leaving Huskies with Bitter Taste of Defeat
**Seattle, WA -** In a game that lived up to its rivalry billing, the Washington State Cougars triumphed over the Washington Huskies 24-19 in the Apple Cup, leaving the Huskies with a stinging defeat in the first ever non-conference matchup.
The game was a nail-biter until the very end. With two minutes left and the Huskies trailing by five, they had four chances at the end zone to take the lead. However, a crucial fourth-and-goal play call by Huskies coach Jedd Fisch backfired, with WSU linebacker Kyle Thornton making a game-saving tackle behind the line of scrimmage.
“That’s on me. I made a bad call,” Fisch admitted. “We didn’t execute the call. We lost the game, so I’ll take that. I’m the playcaller, I’m responsible and we didn’t get it done.”
For the Cougars, quarterback John Mateer shone, rushing for 62 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, including a stunning 25-yard run on third-and-20. He also threw for 245 yards and another score.
The win was particularly meaningful for WSU coach Jake Dickert, who burst into the postgame news conference with a cigar in hand, joking that the trophy might stay in Pullman for a long time.
“It’s 1A and 1B,” Dickert said, comparing the win to the team’s victory in 2021 when he was interim coach. “Just to see these guys and the celebrations and the relationships that have been built and then go out there and do it,” he continued. “In our time here, we’re 3-0 against the Big Ten. That’s a big deal.”
The Cougars, now 3-0 against the Big Ten, will look to continue their momentum as they enter the heart of their season, while the Huskies, facing their first loss of the season, will be looking to regroup and find their footing.
First Piper 