Washington State’s only other win this season came over Portland State of the Championship Subdivision and the Cougars had been shut out in three of their previous four games.

But as is usually the case with this rivalry, a classic broke out. While it might not be remembered for the highest quality of play, the Cougars and Huskies played a tight game that continued the tradition of the rivalry. Only once in the last 14 matchups has the game been decided by more than 10 points.

“A rival game like this, it hurts bad, and we’re all feeling it,” Washington’s D’Andre Goodwin said.

It was a painful experience for Washington and outgoing coach Tyrone Willingham. The Huskies dominated the line of scrimmage all day, able to bully a team for the first time this season, and seemed set for their first win in more than a year.

But they made crucial mistakes in the fourth quarter, unable to finish a pair of drives inside the WSU 25. Then both Washington kickers — Jared Ballman and Perkins — missed makable kicks. Ballman was wide right from 40 yards, before the first of Perkins’ misses.

“When you feel like you’ve got a game won and you just need one play and you don’t get it done, it’s tough,” Willingham said.

Washington led 10-0 behind the running of Willie Griffin, who finished with a career best 112 yards and a 3-yard touchdown in the first half. Perkins also hit a 35-yarder in the second quarter and the Huskies jogged off the field at halftime taunting the Cougars’ student section with a 10-0 lead.

Washington State finally got its spark late in the third quarter when Logwone Mitz sprinted 57 yards for a touchdown just as Cougars fans finally started refilling the stands after heading to the parking lots at halftime. It was the first time the Cougars scored since the first play of the fourth quarter against Arizona on Nov. 8.

The run gave a confidence boost to the Cougars’ beleaguered offense and it paid off in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“I’m very proud of the players hanging in there and kept fighting to the end,” said Wulff, the Cougars’ first-year coach. “They believed and fought to the end.”

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