*break up these grafs – KM
As Halloween gets closer every night, WSU students gather for a fright. The ghost of Cougar football past is here to bring back memories of horror that is sure to keep you up at night.
The first tale of terror happened on Nov. 23, 2002. The Cougars had traveled to Seattle to face the University of Washington. It was the Apple Cup, and the Cougars were leading 20-10 in the fourth quarter. The scariest part came when the Huskies made a comeback, scoring a touchdown and kicking a field goal with only 20 seconds left in the game. In overtime, the Cougars secured a field goal, but unfortunately, the Huskies did the same, sending the game into a second overtime. Again, both teams made field goals, tying the game 26-26. This tale does not have a happy ending, as the Huskies secured another field goal, taking a 29-26 lead, but the worst had yet to come. Cougs quarterback Jason Gesser threw an interception, ending the game. This terrifying tale keeps WSU alumni up every night, hoping the ghost of that day will never return.
The second tale of terror brings nightmares to all. It was a beautiful day for Cougar football on Sept. 21, 2019. Gardner Minshew had come to support his former team, but unfortunately for him, all he saw was a scary sight. It was a battle at first, but by the start of the third quarter, Washington State had a 49-17 lead. There was no way that the Cougars could lose, right? Wrong. UCLA would curse this day as they overcame a 32-point deficit, to win 67-63. This day brings shivers to Washington State students across campus, as they hope such a day will never happen again.
The memories of fear will not fade away, this third tale brings Washington State students to dread whenever it is told. It was Oct. 26, 2019, and it seemed the spirit of Halloween was lingering that day. The Washington State Cougars and the Oregon Ducks met in Eugene, and both teams knew this would be no easy win. Late in the fourth quarter, the Cougars secured a touchdown to take a 35-34 lead. Unfortunately, the lingering spirit of Halloween was not on the Cougars’ side. The Ducks would secure a 26-yard field goal, winning the game 37-35.
This last tale of terror freezes Cougar fans in fear. It was Nov. 23. 2018. Snow was falling hard, and once again, the Cougars and Huskies were facing off in the Apple Cup. This tale, in particular, was terrifying and torturing for Cougar fans to watch, because while the Cougars fought hard, they never took the lead. The spirit of Washington State tried to overcome the freezing temperatures, but the Huskies secured the Apple Cup with a 28-15 win. This game chilled the spirits of Cougar fans and students.
These terrifying tales are memories of the past, haunting Cougar fans like lingering ghosts. But as Halloween approaches our focus can shift to the present. This year, the Cougars have a chance to rewrite their fate and silence the ghosts of games gone wrong. Will they conquer the nightmares of their past, or will another tale of terror be born? Only time will tell, but the ghost of Cougar football past is always watching.
