WSU quarterbacks, wide receivers and the defensive line put on an impressive showing in last Saturday’s football scrimmage.

Transfer quarterback Cameron Ward went 6-10 for 59 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling.

Aside from the first few drives, a lot of second and third team players got a majority of the snaps.

Freshman quarterback Emmett Brown made a statement in carrying out a 99-yard drive, ending it off with a six-yard touchdown. WSU head coach Jake Dickert said that Brown’s performance will play a major factor in the battle for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Tsion Nunnally leaped over his defender for the touchdown. Nunally led the team with four receptions and 42 receiving yards.

Brown said that the quarterback competition has been really friendly and loves the atmosphere of the locker room.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Xavier Ward also had a great performance, going 9-10 for 117 yards with a 34-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman wide receiver Tre Horner.

“We’ve been waiting for big boy receivers, especially from the outside, and he’s one of them,” Dickert said. “He’s been one of those budding stars, and guarding him in the red zone with 5’10 corners is gonna be an issue.”

Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Orion Peters left the game early due to an ankle injury. Dickert said it was minor, and he should be good to go soon. Dickert has been continually impressed with Peters’s progress and mentality. He finished the day with three catches for 34 yards.

The Cougar defensive front had a field day, finishing the scrimmage with a total of eight sacks. Freshman edge Raam Stevenson Jr. led the way with three sacks, redshirt freshman Gabriel Lopez and sophomore Nusi Malani followed with two and redshirt junior Ahmir Crowder finishing with one.

Now going into year three, Lopez said that both the younger and older players have built a great competitive atmosphere.

“I feel like our whole edge room is stacked, and every day is a competition,” Lopez said. “It’s been just great pushing and competing with each other.”

Redshirt junior Joshua Erling came down with the only interception of the day off a pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Victor Gabalis.

Nakia Watson had a couple big runs to set up the first scoring drive of the scrimmage, along with a highlight hurdle.

“Nakia is starting to understand the style that we want to run with,” Dickert said. “I thought his physicality and presence, and obviously the leap over the guy was very impressive.”

Dickert highlighted some impressive younger players who have stepped up this year, including freshman running back Djouvensky Schlenbaker, redshirt freshman wide receiver Josh Meredith, and Adrian Shepherd and Jaden Hicks, two redshirt freshman defensive backs.

“Those are some of the guys that we need to rely on going forward in order to be successful, ” Dickert said.