With four games left on their schedule, the Washington State Cougars need three wins to qualify for a bowl game and four wins to guarantee they play in a bowl game for the first time since 2003.
Logwone Mitz wants to dispense with the drama altogether.
“We need to win these next four games,” said Mitz, WSU’s senior running back. “We don’t need to win three. We don’t need to win two. We need to win all four.”
To do so, the Cougars must start by halting a four-game losing streak this afternoon against California at AT&T Park, the Bears’ temporary home.
“There’s definitely added incentive to go out and get W’s – as if we needed any more,” senior linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis said.
“At the end of the day, we represent the name on the front of the jersey way more than the one on the back.”
WSU players may find it difficult to stay off their backs against a big, physical California squad.
“I’d say their offensive line is the strength of their team,” Hoffman-Ellis said. “They’ve got an athletic quarterback (Zach Maynard). They have some big, athletic kids at receiver.”
Maynard, who threw four interceptions last week in a loss to UCLA, is a junior transfer from Buffalo. His favorite target is half-brother Keenan Allen, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound sophomore who ranks among the national leaders with 67 catches for 989 yards.
Mitz notes that California’s defensive players are active and aggressive.
“They’ve got some ‘motors,’ especially on that front seven,” Mitz said. “They’re feisty. They’re playing hard, and they’re smart.”
Washington State ranks second in the Pac-12 and 10th in the nation (coming into the week) with 316.1 passing yards per game. California leads the Pac-12 and ranks 32nd in the nation in pass defense at 199.3.
EXTRA POINTS
Cal defensive end Trevor Guyton, a close friend of paralyzed ex-Cougar Cory Mackay, will switch his jersey number from 92 to 6 (Mackay’s number) today. Mitz, who saluted Mackay by wearing No. 6 in WSU’s season opener, said he hopes to wear his good friend’s number in the Cougars’ remaining games after today. … Showers and low-60s temperatures are in the forecast. … The Bears have downed the Cougars six years in a row. … Defensive tackle Toni Pole, a key reserve for the Cougars, is expected to play after sitting out last week with a neck injury. He’s been wearing a protective collar at practice.
COUGARS GAMEDAY
WASHINGTON STATE (3-5, 1-4 PACIFIC-12 CONFERENCE) AT CALIFORNIA (4-4, 1-4 PAC-12)
3:30 p.m., AT&T Park, San Francisco.
TV: Root Sports. Radio: 770-AM, 1240-AM, 104.3-FM.
The series: California leads, 42-25-5. California won, 20-13, last year in Pullman.
What to watch: California coach Jeff Tedford is feeling the heat from plenty of fans, so he may have been somewhat distracted when he said Washington State has “a very good defense.” That’s the same Washington State defense that has yielded more than 40 points and 450 yards each of the past three games. The Cougars did lots of good things last week in a 43-28 loss at then-No. 7 Oregon, but Marshall Lobbestael had two passes intercepted at the Ducks’ 2-yard line. “I’ve got to be smarter with the ball,” Lobbestael said. Diminutive WSU rushing leader Rickey Galvin, who grew up in Berkeley near the Bears’ campus stadium (which is closed for renovations this season), may find it difficult to pick up yards against Cal’s big, rugged defense.
The pick: Washington State 27, California 24.
PRIME NUMBERS
WASHINGTON STATE
With roster number, name, height/weight, year and position in parentheses:
6 Dante Horton (CB), 5-10/174, Sophomore
Leads Pac-12 with four interceptions – one a game in past four outings.
9 Marshall Lobbestael (QB), 6-3/215, Senior
Topped 335 passing yards in four of past five starts.
17 Alex Hoffman-Ellis (OLB), 6-1/231, Senior
First in Pac-12 with 42 solo tackles; fifth with 57 total tackles.
86 Marquess Wilson (WR), 6-4/183, Sophomore
Has 31 catches in past four games but just one touchdown.
CALIFORNIA
6 Trevor Guyton (DE), 6-3/280, Senior
Redmond High graduate is a key run stuffer in Cal’s 3-4 defense.
15 Zach Maynard (QB), 6-2/190, Junior
Good runner, inconsistent passer twice had four turnovers in past three games.
21 Keenan Allen (WR), 6-3/205, Sophomore
Averages 14.8 yards per catch, 123.6 receiving yards per game.
30 Mychal Kendricks (ILB), 6-0/240, Senior
Fourth in Pac-12 with 59 tackles; broken thumb may hinder.
Howie Stalwick, contributing writer
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