‘It’s make or break:’ Cougars suit up for 1st fall scrimmage

Aug. 10—PULLMAN — Jackson Lataimua put himself between the ball and the receiver, caught the ball and began running.

He wasn’t running alone as the whole defense ran down the field with him, mobbing the junior defensive back at the end of WSU’s 60-yard practice field. It was only a matter of minutes before Portland State transfer Parker McKenna picked off a pass and bounded down the field, too, accompanied by a similarly expansive ensemble.

“Are you not entertained!?” a WSU defender shouted.

The Cougar defense, infused by two takeaways to end practice, provided the entertainment and earned themselves ice cream from coach Jake Dickert on Thursday morning.

Dickert has given ice cream to either the offense or the defense on most days of camp depending on which unit wins the day.

“Oh, we’ve definitely made them (the offense) pay for it. I can’t even lie to you,” Lataimua said. “As many times as you guys have seen them win, they’re in there in the locker room talking about it all day, just eating ice cream in front of us. You know, when we get our chance, we’re gonna capitalize and I tell my guys ‘Man, go enjoy it.'”

WSU had Friday off ahead of the team’s first fall scrimmage, a closed-door affair at Gesa Field where guys will exhibit their progress in a simulated game. Here are three things to watch for when the Cougs take the field today:

Can the defense earn more ice cream?

It has been two straight days of victories for the Cougar defense. Following a lighter practice Wednesday morning, the team set up a blow-up gladiator arena on Gesa Field in which individuals attempted to knock each other off a platform with padded poles. Dickert got in on the action, going 2-0 and the defense won the day (and ice cream).

Following the departure of Jaden Hicks to the NFL, the Cougs converted Lataimua to a safety. Although he and Tanner…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/break-cougars-suit-1st-fall-121600137.html

Author : Lewiston Tribune, Idaho

Publish date : 2024-08-10 12:16:00

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