HTS Virtual Predictions

With WSU’s season opener just around the corner, HomeTeam Sports wanted to peer into the future and see just what was in store for the Cougars. Thanks to the wonderful technology of the PS3, EA Sports’ NCAA Football ‘09 and two of the biggest college football fans this side of the SEC, that became a possibility.

The Spokane Indians Director of Sponsorships Matt Almond and former EWU punter Ryan Donckers manned the PS3 controllers for the Oklahoma State-Wazzu matchup and the results were very entertaining. Expect touchdowns and lots of them.

Almond, an alumnus of the crimson and gray, took the reins of the Cougars while Donckers headed up the Cowboys. Both teams had similar ratings in the game that is slated to be played at Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash. However, since they didn’t have the digital version of Qwest, we made a compromise of Martin Stadium because most of the fans there will probably be members of the Coug faithful.

And those faithful will be tested early on in the game, according to the PS3, as two picks by WSU quarterback Gary Rogers will lead to a 14-0 Oklahoma State lead in the second quarter. Although to Rogers’ credit, one of those touchdowns happened when Almond tried to user tackle a Cowboys wide receiver using the “dive” button. The results were not good.

However, WSU would come roaring back on a Dwight Tardy touchdown reception to make it 14-7. Then Markus Dawes picked off an OSU pass on the ensuing Cowboys drive and ran it back to the house to tie the game. Then with three seconds left in the half, OSU quarterback Zac Robinson threw another pick, this time to Kendrick Dunn.

That left just enough time for the Cougars to boot a 55-yard field goal and go into halftime with a 17-14 lead.

However, that wouldn’t last long as the Cowboys scored on their opening drive in the third to go up 21-17. WSU did have answers though, with Almond deciding to go for it on 4th and 1 with 3:19 left in the third quarter – a very Paul Wulff-esque call. The Cougars converted on a pass to Tardy, who then turned it into a 52-yard touchdown reception. 24-21 WSU.

The Cowboys would come back and tie it up with 42 seconds left in the third on a field goal.
In the fourth, Almond nearly lost his cool after his tight end dropped a pass – resulting in a yelling of “come-on!” that would have startled a North Korean border guard, but was comforted the next play when Tardy hauled in yet another touchdown ball to make it 31-24.

On the ensuing OSU possession, Dunn made his second interception of the game and then subsequently got lit up in a hit that was reminiscent of Dennis Quaid in “Any Given Sunday.”

“He should be dead now,” said Donckers.

Luckily, Dunn’s spine was made of pixels and not flesh and blood, meaning he got up and hopped over to the sideline.

The Cougars’ next possession proved to be disastrous, as Rogers’ feet are apparently blocks of cement when it comes to scrambling. WSU was forced to punt with 2:30 left, resulting in an ugly 25-yarder.

OSU responded by throwing yet another interception and seemingly giving away the chance to win the game.

WSU then decided to have an interception of their own, this one getting run back to the end zone to knot up the game at 31-31.

Things got really bad when the Cougars fittingly “couged it” with 54 seconds left; Rogers threw an interception as it seemed the football was switching possession faster than the child of Anna Nicole Smith.

It seemed over, all the Cowboys needed was a field goal to win and then suddenly…
FUMBLE!

The miscue by OSU with 18 seconds led to overtime, which quickly became the Tardy show.

Tardy scored on a short pass from Rogers to make it 38-31 in the first overtime. The Cowboys answered back with a touchdown pass to their tight end Bradon Pettigrew, making it 38-38 heading into double overtime.

OSU used their first possession in the second overtime to kick a field goal, which opened the game wide open for the Cougars. Tardy caught the game-winning touchdown pass and the Cowboys had to leave Pullman… errr… Seattle, as losers. 44-41 Wazzu.

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR BECAUSE THEY’RE REALLY GOOD IN THE VIDEO GAME –

Dwight Tardy – WSU – junior running back: Tardy had 12 catches for four touchdowns and 153 yards receiving. He also had an amazing 91 yards after catch.

Brandon Pettigrew – OSU – senior tight end: Pettigrew was an absolute beast for the Cowboys. He had eight catches for 84 yards, one touchdown and a 10.5 yards-per-catch average.

Story by Brandon Hansen. You can reach him at brandon@htsports.org.