When’s the last time a Mike Leach-coached team played an entire half of football without scoring or allowing a touchdown? Whatever it was before tonight, the answer is now the 2016 Holiday Bowl as Leach’s Cougars hold a 6-3 edge at the break in San Diego.
Washington State opened the scoring by moving 76 yards in 17 plays on its opening drive, turning a first-and-goal into a 26-yard Erik Powell field goal.
After four consecutive punts, a short punt from Washington State’s own territory set Minnesota up with the ball at the Wazzu 40 at the 10:19 mark of the second quarter. The Gophers moved 14 yards in six snaps as Emmit Carpenter knocked in a 43-yard equalizer to get Minnesota on the board.
The Cougars kicked their way back in front when Powell made a 41-yard field goal with 33 seconds remaining before halftime. The field goal was a disappointment for Washington State as Luke Falk was ruled to have completed a 23-yard strike to C.J. Dimry to the Minnesota 1-yard line on a 3rd-and-22 only to have the completion overturned upon review, necessitating the field goal.
As the score indicates, neither team has had success moving the ball. Mitch Leidner has completed 2-of-9 passes for 26 yards while the Gophers have totaled 84 yards on 22 rushes. Falk hit 16-of-25 passes for 117 yards — a pedestrian 4.7 yards per attempt — while the Cougars have mustered just 17 yards on 10 rushes.
