PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Quarterback John Mateer rushed for 197 yards and a touchdown, Wayshawn Parker rushed 43 yards for a TD as part of a 14-point blitz in 16 seconds in the second quarter, and Washington State outran Texas Tech 37-16 on Saturday night.

Djouvensky Schlenbaker added a pair of short TD runs as the Cougars (2-0) dominated their most notable opponent in visiting Pullman during this transition season for Washington State. Texas Tech (1-1) was one of two Power Four opponents on the Cougars’ schedule.

Mateer added one TD pass, but it was his legs that made the difference, setting a school record for yards rushing by a quarterback. Washington State finished with 301 yards rushing as a team, just the sixth time since 2000 that the Cougars have surpassed 300 yards on the ground and the first time since 2022.

“They kept throwing eight at us, so we just ran the ball and it worked,” Mateer said. “The (offensive) line got after it. They’re good. Just, the line is really good.”

The showdown between the two schools once coached by the late Mike Leach came on the weekend that Leach was inducted into Washington State’s Athletics Hall of Fame. The schools each wore pirate-themed stickers on the back of their helmets, and Leach was recognized with the rest of the inductees at halftime.

Leach would have loved the points on the board, although it wasn’t exactly a game of offensive efficiency. In the first half alone, there were interceptions thrown by quarterbacks for both teams, and Texas Tech gave the ball away twice on downs in its own territory and had a critical fumble.

“I know this much, Coach Leach would be really disappointed: ‘Why in the world are you letting your starting quarterback run?’” joked Washington State coach Jake Dickert. “I think there’s a lot of potential for John.”

Texas Tech QB Behren Morton threw for 323 yards and one TD on 58 attempts, but was intercepted twice. Texas Tech played without star running back Tahj Brooks a week after he rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown in the Red Raiders’ season-opening win over Abilene Christian.

The Red Raiders scored a 20-yard double pass TD from Coy Eakin to Cam’Ron Valdez in the second quarter.

Washington State took a 14-3 lead midway through the second quarter when Parker streaked down the sideline for his long TD run. It came one play after Tech’s Jalin Conyers was stopped on fourth-and-1.

On Tech’s next drive, Josh Kelly, who played for Washington State last year, was stripped of the ball by Buddah Al-Uqdah and returned the fumble to the 2. Schlenbaker scored immediately to make Washington State’s lead 21-3.

“I told him before that we were going to get him. I was going to get him,” Al-Uqdah said. “And a couple plays later I had my opportunity and I took full advantage of it.”

The Cougars extended their lead in the final seconds of the first half after Morton was intercepted. Kyle Williams caught a deflected pass in the corner of the end zone, giving Washington State a 27-10 lead at halftime.

The takeaway meal

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders were too sloppy for the caliber of their opponent. It started with the opening kickoff, which the Cougars chopped short on a modified onside attempt and took back. Throw in two turnovers on downs and the Red Raiders gave the ball away five times in the first half.

Washington State: Mateer was great on the ground, but the passing game needs to improve to have a chance next week. Mateer was 9 of 19 passing for 115 yards.

Next

Texas Tech: hosts North Texas next Saturday.

Washington State: Apple Cup against rival Washington next Saturday at Seattle’s Lumen Field.

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