Washington State Falls to New Mexico in Disappointing 38-35 Loss
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In a tense matchup on Saturday night, No. 19 Washington State University (WSU) suffered a heartbreaking 38-35 defeat against New Mexico. Quarterback John Mateer and linebacker Kyle Thornton, who were pivotal figures during the game, shared their frustrations in the aftermath, reflecting on the Cougars’ inability to capitalize on early leads.
Despite a stellar performance where Mateer threw for 375 yards and rushed for 68, he noted shortcomings in his situational awareness. “The stats will be good, but my situational eyes and feet weren’t good,” he admitted after the team’s first loss in two months. Coach Jake Dickert acknowledged Mateer’s determination, especially given he did not practice due to injury leading up to the game.
However, the larger issues appear to stem from questionable in-game decisions. WSU’s use of analytics over instinct led them to eschew timeouts during New Mexico’s game-winning drive, leaving the Cougars with only 21 seconds to respond. Dickert later reflected, “If I could go back and do it again, I’d probably rip a timeout right there.” This inconsistency has plagued the Cougars throughout the season, particularly in the third quarter, where they have been outscored 41-10 on the road.
Defensively, WSU struggled to contain New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier, who rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Thornton noted that effective communication and execution were lacking, echoing criticism of the team’s stagnant performance.
While the loss diminishes WSU’s playoff aspirations, opportunities remain to salvage the season with bowl contention. Moving forward, the Cougars must address their tactical hesitancy and ensure playcalling aligns with game flow to prevent similar disappointments.
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