Originally published September 28, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified September 28, 2007 at 2:02 AM

WSU Football | Cougs expect air show against Wildcats

The Washington State-at-Arizona game is so likely to be a prolonged shootout Saturday night that coach Bill Doba cracked jokes about it...

By Craig Smith

Seattle Times staff reporter

Cougars Forum

Saturday

Washington State @ Arizona, FSN, 7 p.m.

The Washington State-at-Arizona game is so likely to be a prolonged shootout Saturday night that coach Bill Doba cracked jokes about it.

"We may not get back until Monday," he said this week.

Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama threw 61 passes last week at California, and Cougars quarterbacks threw 43 at USC. Pass-dominated games take longer because the clock stops after incompletions.

Kickoff is set for 7 o'clock, and the game will be on FSN.

The Cougars (2-2 overall, 0-1 Pac-10) must improve their third-down defense to beat the Wildcats (1-3, 0-1). Washington State is allowing teams to convert a league-high 57.9 percent of the time. The next-worst team is Washington at 42 percent.

Doba said Thursday that third-down defense has been emphasized at practice this week.

The coach said he thinks the Cougars will be facing a better group of receivers this week than they faced last week at No. 1 USC. The Wildcats' leading receiver is sophomore Mike Thomas, who has 31 catches for 346 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Arizona leads the Pac-10 in passing, averaging 318.2 yards per game. The Cougars are ninth in pass defense, allowing 274 yards per outing.

Arizona's running game has been a disappointment, and coach Bob Stoops announced this week that true freshman Nicolas Grigsby will start at running back. Grigsby started last week at Cal, gaining 42 yards on 14 carries. He also scored the team's first rushing touchdown of the season.

Notes

• Doba said backup CB Markus Dawes (shoulder) is probably done for the year.

• Doba said choosing between punters Darryl Blunt and Reid Forrest could be a game-time decision.

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com

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