Coming into the game, WSU was one win shy of bowl eligibility. After losing to Oregon State 10-7 three weeks ago, the Cougar season was close to slipping away, but WSU responded with a dominant 32-8 win. It has been a tiring season for everyone, including Jimmy Rogers.

“I have never lost six games in a season in my life. Everything we went through was good to be able to get a win and be bowl eligible,” Rogers said.

The story of the game was three things: Tony Freeman, sacks and getting your get back. Freeman set a WSU single-game record with 169 punt return yards, and the defensive line generated six sacks. Quarterback Zevi Eckhaus and others mentioned OSU players chirped all last game, claiming the matchup was not a rivalry because “they always win.” This game proved otherwise.

“They had a lot of choice words for us the first time we played them. It was all talk, because you see the scoreboard,” Eckhaus said.

WSU’s offense opened aggressively, with Eckhaus targeting Freeman on the first three passes, completing two. Rogers went for it on fourth down and Eckhaus converted with a QB power run, but the drive stalled inside the 15 and ended in a Jack Stevens field goal.

The Cougar defense immediately attacked the Beaver offense, forcing a three and out before a penalty on Tucker Large extended the drive. Matthew Durrance quickly ended it by forcing a fumble on Trent Walker. WSU drove to the three yard line but failed on fourth down as an Eckhaus to Noga out route fell incomplete. Freeman finished the first quarter with five catches for 63 yards.

Red zone issues continued into the second quarter as another stalled drive led to a Stevens field goal for a 6-0 lead. The defense forced another three and out, and after a 43-yard Freeman return, Josh Meredith caught a 22-yard pass to set up a Kirby Vorhees’ touchdown run for a 13-0 lead.

OSU found a spark with some tempo, but quarterback Tristan Ti’a threw an interception to Caleb Francl while being hit. WSU did nothing with the turnover and punted despite being near field goal range. With under two minutes left, Eckhaus threw a 19-yard completion to Branden Ganashamoorthy and hit Trey Leckner on a drag route for a touchdown to go up 19-0.

Freeman continued dominating in the return game, breaking another 40-yard return before fumbling at the end of the play. OSU attempted a Hail Mary to end the half, but Buddah Peleti beat the left tackle, missed the first sack attempt, regained his balance and tracked down Ti’a.

After halftime, it was all Cougs. The defense suffocated Ti’a, and the offense marched downfield with a mix of Vorhees runs and Eckhaus plays. Eckhaus capped off the drive with a QB power touchdown and WSU attempted a Philly Special, but OSU covered the throw back to the quarterback.

Ti’a threw another interception late in the third quarter to Colby Humphrey while forcing a pass between multiple defenders down 25-0. Both teams traded possessions until the five minute mark of the fourth, when a defensive pass interference on Trillion Sorrell set up OSU inside the 10. Ti’a found Trent Walker for the Beavers’ first points, making it 25-8.

The momentum did not last. Angel Johnson broke a 50 yard run to set up WSU inside the five and scored his first touchdown of the season. WSU closed the game with a defensive stand and ran out the clock to win 32-8.

WSU honored its seniors before kickoff: Tucker Large, Angel Johnson, Colby Humphrey, Zevi Eckhaus, Jamorri Colson, Caleb Francl, Buddah Peleti, Leyton Smithson, Leon Neal Jr., Jeremiah Noga, Josh Meredith, Matt Durrance, Cale Reeder, Gavin Barthie, Colson Brunner, Parker McKenna, Raam Stevenson, Colton Peoples, Soni Finau, Christian Hilborn, Brock Dieu, AJ Viapulu, Ademola Faleye, Darrion Dalton and Ryan Harris.

WSU is now bowl eligible for the ninth time in 10 years. After a strange season for Cougar football, making a bowl game is the perfect ending for WSU athletics as a whole.