WSU hails ‘Pac-12 trophy’ after topping rival UW

SEATTLE — After an on-field trophy celebration at Lumen Field following Washington State‘s 24-19 win against Washington in the Apple Cup, Cougars coach Jake Dickert burst into the postgame news conference room with a cigar in hand.

“Who’s got a lighter?” he asked.

In the rivalry game’s first nonconference version after UW’s departure for the Big Ten, it was a memorable win for the program and school left behind.

“I think we might retire this trophy. I think it is a Pac-12 trophy,” Dickert said. “I think that might stay in our place for a long time and we’ll bring a new one next year — a little Big Ten- Pac-12 on.”

Dickert’s comments appeared to come in jest, but there was no denying how meaningful the win was to him and the program.

“It’s 1A and 1B,” said Dickert, comparing it to the team’s Apple Cup win in 2021, when he was the interim coach. Dickert was made the permanent coach the next day by then-athletic director Pat Chun, who left for the same job with the Huskies in March.

“Just to see these guys and the celebrations and the relationships that have been built and then go out there and do it,” Dickert said. “In our time here, we’re 3-0 against the Big Ten. That’s a big deal.”

Dickert added: “The best thing I said to these guys after in the locker room is that now that this is Week 3, this isn’t the end of the season. Normally [after the Apple Cup], you’re getting ready for a bowl game and whatever else, but we’re just getting started, so we’re going to have to really wash this quick.”

The game’s outcome was in question until the end. Trailing 24-19, Washington moved the ball to the WSU 9-yard line with two minutes to play, setting up four chances at the end zone to take the lead.

Facing fourth-and-goal from the 1, Huskies coach Jedd Fisch initially called for a handoff to running back Jonah Coleman but didn’t like the WSU defensive front he saw and called timeout. Fisch changed the playcall to an option to the right — the short side of the field — which called for quarterback Will Rogers to pitch the ball to Coleman.

It was doomed from the start. The UW offensive line didn’t get any push and WSU linebacker Kyle Thornton had a clear shot to make a play behind the line of scrimmage to preserve the lead.

“That’s on me. I made a bad call,” Fisch said. “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.”

Fisch said they had practiced that play all week and the plan coming into the game was for it to be the “got-to-have-it call” if the Huskies needed a yard.

Instead, it will be a decision that will be second-guessed for years in a rare neutral site playing of the rivalry.

WSU quarterback John Mateer had another electric performance for the Cougars, rushing for 62 yards and two first-half touchdowns, including a 25-yard designed run on third-and 20 to give the Cougars a 17-13 lead with 21 seconds left in the first half. He completed 17 of 34 passes for 245 yards with another score.