It was a hard-fought battle, but the Washington State University Cougars ultimately lost the Apple Cup to the fourth-ranked University of Washington Huskies on Saturday. The game was close throughout, with the Huskies leading by just one point at halftime.
The Cougars had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but a missed field goal attempt sealed their fate. The Huskies then drove down the field and scored a touchdown with just over a minute remaining to seal the victory.
The Cougars had a strong showing in the first half, with quarterback Anthony Gordon throwing for two touchdowns and running back Max Borghi rushing for another. However, the Huskies defense tightened up in the second half, limiting the Cougars to just three points.
The loss was a tough pill to swallow for the Cougars, who had been hoping to win their first Apple Cup since 2012. The Huskies, meanwhile, have now won three of the last four Apple Cups and remain undefeated in Pac-12 play.
The Cougars will now look to regroup and prepare for their next game against Oregon State on November 30th. It will be a difficult task, as the Beavers are currently ranked second in the Pac-12 North standings.
The loss was a disappointing end to an otherwise successful season for the Cougars, who finished with an 8-4 record and earned a bowl game berth. Despite the loss, the Cougars can still take pride in their accomplishments this season and look forward to next year with optimism.
