WSU Seeking Pacific Squall -- Cougars Hope Week Of Intense Practice Yields Feisty Result

STOCKTON, Calif. - Coach Mike Price says his Washington State Cougars have spent the past four days building up a level of intensity he hopes will generate a lopsided victory over Pacific tonight at Stagg Memorial Stadium.

The buildup began Tuesday when Price, concerned about his team's poor showing in losing 34-3 to USC a week ago, matched his No. 1 offensive and defensive units against each other in practice.

Because that hadn't happened since the season began, in part to prevent injuries, the Cougars were not ready to compete against the Trojans, Price said. USC had players far more skillful than WSU's previous two opponents (Montana State and Oregon State) and certainly better than those on the Cougar scout team, he added.

"I didn't think we had gotten better in practice," Price said.

So for 10 or 15 minutes on Tuesday and Wednesday, ones went against ones.

Fighting mad after USC loss

The results, Price said, were gratifying. Not only was the intensity high for the scrimmage, "but it created more intensity during other segments of practice."

Fights broke out.

"I liked it," Price said. "It's the way you're supposed to respond from a defeat."

Obviously, Pacific (1-2) could be in trouble if the Cougars respond tonight the way they have in practice. But that is of no concern to Tiger fullback Daryl Rogers, a senior who is looking forward to playing a Pac-10 team at home. It's been 25 years since a Pac-10 team has visited Pacific.

For thrills, it rates with Pacific's game at Washington last year, Rogers said.

"I got to go play the big guys in the big house and now we've got WSU here at home," he said.

Rogers transferred to Pacific after playing two years at Division II St. Mary's in Moraga, Calif., because he wanted to find out if he could play at the Division I level.

"I was disappointed in the size of the stadium and the amount of people who came to the games," Rogers said of St. Mary's. "We opened at San Francisco State and there were like 300 or 400 people there. In high school (Lynnbrook in San Jose), we'd have 3,000 fans at the games."

Rogers said he never will forget the experience of playing Washington in Husky Stadium.

"It was everything I've looked for," said Rogers, who played linebacker last season before switching back to fullback. ". . . I remember walking down the tunnel and hearing them (Huskies) bark behind us. Some guys were kind of scared, but to me, it was probably one of the greatest moments in college football that I've had.

"It was just incredible - playing against the best team in the nation at the time."

Washington won 31-7.

Pacific must find running game

"I think we showed we weren't just a little private school that can't play football. I think we earned the respect of a lot of their players and coaches," Rogers said.

The key to staying with Washington State, Rogers said, is to establish a running game, something the Tigers haven't done this season, averaging just 39.7 yards per game on the ground.

"They're really quick," Rogers said of the Cougars. "But this is the first team we've played that's not using an eight-man front. We haven't run much because we've seen so many eight-man fronts."

Passing has been Tigers' suit

Joining Rogers in Pacific's first-unit backfield will be quarterback Dave Henigan, who has completed 62 percent of his passes (51 of 82) for 497 yards and no interceptions, and tailback Howard Blackwell (104 yards on 34 carries). The wide receivers are Kerry Brown and Greg Weston, who collectively have caught 14 passes.

This will complete WSU's nonconference schedule. Beginning with ASU next week in Pullman, WSU will play six straight Pac-10 games.

STARTING LINEUPS

WASHINGTON STATE

Offense

Split end - Keith Reynolds, 6-0, 184, Sr.; tackles - Michael Bailey, 6-4, 275, Sr., and Clay Reis, 6-8, 290, Jr.; guards - Paul Reed, 6-2, 275, Sr., and Marc McCloskey, 6-4, 284, So.; center - Steve Wolfe, 6-4, 296, Sr.; tight end - Brett Carolan, 6-4, 245, Sr.; quarterback - Mike Pattinson, 6-1, 198, Sr.; running back - Delton Johnson, 5-7, 185, Sr.; slotback - Shane DeLaCruz, 5-8, 170, Sr., or Jay Dumas, 6-1, 169, So.; flanker - Deron Pointer, 5-11, 182, Sr.

Defense

Ends - Ray Hall, 6-4, 270, Sr., and DeWayne Patterson, 6-1, 257, Jr.; tackles - Chad Eaton, 6-5, 272, Jr., and Brian Ford, 6-3, 290, Sr.; outside linebackers - Ron Childs, 6-1, 208, Jr., and T.J. Folkers, 6-2, 224, Sr.; middle linebacker - Anthony McClanahan, 6-2, 222, Sr.; cornerbacks - Torey Hunter, 5-10, 180, Jr., and Greg Burns, 5-10, 170, Jr.; strong safety - Singor Mobley, 6-0, 182, Jr.; free safety - John Rushing, 5-10, 200, Jr.

PACIFIC

Offense

Wide receivers - Kerry Brown, 6-4, 205, Jr., and Greg Weston, 5-10, 175, Fr.; tackles - Matt McGinn, 6-4, 275, Jr., and Eric Alvarez, 6-5, 305, Sr.; guards - Dan Weldon, 6-5, 273, So., and Justin Werth, 6-2, 260, Fr.; center - Aaron McClellan, 6-3, 258, Jr.; tight end - Bill Cox, 6-3, 225, Jr.; quarterback - Dave Henigan, 6-0, 188, Sr.; tailback - Howard Blackwell, 5-11, 180, Jr.; fullback - Daryl Rogers, 6-0, 225, Sr.

Defense

Tackles - Erick Anderson, 6-4, 265, Jr., and Brad Stammer, 6-1, 250, Jr.; nose tackle - David Karthauser, 6-2, 229, Sr.; outside linebackers - Jami Anderson, 6-0, 215, Jr., and Grant Carter, 6-3, 230, Sr.; inside linebackers - Jeff Dyrek, 6-1, 228, Sr., and Eric Stavila, 5-11, 225, Jr.; cornerbacks - Darius Cunnigan, 5-9, 180, Jr., and Duane Thomas, 5-11, 176, Jr.; strong safety - Dimitri Gazelas, 5-10, 180, Sr.; free safety - Jeff Russell, 6-0, 180, Jr. ------------------------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON ST. AT PACIFIC 7:05 p.m., Stockton, Calif.

TV/radio: Prime Sports NW cable TV; KIRO radio (710 AM).

What's at stake: Reputations. WSU (2-2) is heavily favored, in part because it is a member of the Pac-10 Conference. Pacific (1-2) plays in the Big West Conference, a Division I league but not in the same class as the Pac-10. Pacific is 15-59 against the Pac-10.

About Pacific: Coach Chuck Shelton, in his second season, has largely abandoned the run-and-shoot offense he inherited upon his arrival from Utah State. Now, the Tigers play a more conventional, two-back offense featuring a ball-control passing game. The leading receiver is the fullback, senior Daryl Rogers, who has 22 receptions in three games for 252 yards (11.5 average). Senior quarterback Dave Henigan has completed 62 percent of his passes (51 of 82) for 497 yards and three touchdowns. The leading rusher is Howard Blackwell, a junior-college transfer who is averaging 2.5 yards per carry.

What Washington State must do: The Cougars need to play more aggressively than they did in losing 34-3 to USC last week. They need to avoid turnovers and capitalize on scoring opportunities to keep the underdog Tigers from capturing momentum.

What Pacific must do: The Tigers must try to control the ball as a way to prevent the potentially quick-scoring Cougars from getting ahead early and scoring often.

Injury report: WSU - OG Josh Dunning (foot) is out; reserve DT Robert Booth (knee) is out. Pacific - No injuries reported.

The line: No line.

Washington State (2-2)

Sept. 4 At Michigan 41, WSU 14

Sept. 11 At WSU 54, Montana St. 14

Sept. 18 At WSU 51, Oregon State 6

Sept. 25 At USC 34, WSU 3

Today at Pacific

Oct. 9 Arizona State

Oct. 16 California

Oct. 23 at Arizona

Oct. 30 at Oregon

Nov. 6 UCLA

Nov. 20 at Washington

Pacific (1-2)

Sept. 4 At Texas Tech 55, Pacific 7

Sept. 11 At Arizona 16, Pacific 13

Sept. 25 At Pacific 30, Sac. St. 6

Today Washington State

Oct. 9 at Oregon State

Oct. 16 at Northern Illinois

Oct. 23 New Mexico State

Oct. 30 Nevada

Nov. 6 at Utah State

Nov. 13 Arkansas State

Nov. 20 at San Jose State