As the 2026 college football season reaches its fourth week, the Washington State Cougars finally found their stride, dismantling the Duquesne Dukes 48-7 on Saturday afternoon at Martin Stadium in Pullman. The victory, which improves WSU to 1-2, marked the first career win for head coach Kirby Moore and provided a much-needed morale boost for a program that had endured a rocky start. According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, the Cougars' explosive second-half performance offered a glimpse of their potential as they prepare for a pivotal Pac-12 matchup against Arizona next weekend.
Early Struggles and a Resilient Response
The game began ominously for Washington State. On the very first snap, center Devin Kylany's shotgun snap sailed over quarterback Caden Pinnick's head, and on the next play, Pinnick's deep attempt was intercepted. The Cougars' defense forced a quick three-and-out, and the offense found a spark with Maxwell Woods in the Wildcat formation. Woods ripped off a 45-yard run, setting up Kirby Vorhees' 8-yard touchdown rush. However, Duquesne answered back after a roughing-the-passer penalty on DJ Warner extended a drive, allowing the Dukes to score on a tush push and tie the game at 7-7. WSU's first half was marred by penalties—two touchdowns were negated by flags—and despite gaining 234 yards, they led only 14-7 at halftime.
Second-Half Explosion
Whatever Coach Moore said in the locker room worked. The Cougars came out firing in the third quarter, scoring on back-to-back drives of 75 and 90 yards to extend the lead to 28-7. Pinnick, who finished 17-of-22 for 196 yards and two touchdowns, found Jack Pederson for a score and then connected with Branden Ganashamoorthy on a 10-yard strike. Vorhees then broke free for a 59-yard touchdown run, pushing WSU's offense to 458 yards. The Cougars piled on 21 unanswered points in the quarter, showcasing the up-tempo attack that had been missing in previous weeks.
Special Teams Shine
The fourth quarter brought even more excitement. After Duquesne's questionable decision to punt from WSU territory, the Cougars' special teams took over. Jaylen Thomas returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown—WSU's first punt return score since 2016—and moments later, Tank Hawkins returned another punt to the house. It was the first time since 1973 that Washington State returned two punts for touchdowns in a single game. Kicker Jack Stevens missed the extra point after Thomas's return, raising concerns about the kicking game. The defense, led by a dominant front seven, held Duquesne to just 180 total yards and shut them out in the second half.
Looking Ahead
While the final score was lopsided, Coach Moore acknowledged that there is still work to do. "We have to clean up the penalties," he said postgame. "If we want to beat Arizona next week, we can't afford to start slow." The Cougars finished with 512 yards of offense, including 316 on the ground, but committed 11 penalties for 96 yards. Pinnick emphasized the need for the offensive line to "get out of their own way" and play within themselves. As the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk notes, this win could be the catalyst for a turnaround. WSU will host Arizona next Saturday at 4:30 PM ET on CBS, marking their first meeting since 2023. With a confident quarterback and a defense that has shown flashes of brilliance, the Cougars are hopeful they can build on this momentum.
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