Notebook | WSU sees hope for young line

Washington State's retooled offensive line didn't stoke comparisons to history's best Saturday at Qwest Field against Oklahoma State. But the Cougars got enough done to leave the place feeling as if there is hope up front.

"It makes you realize I can play at this level," said offensive tackle Steven Ayers, "and I can play well."

The line has been a big concern for WSU in recent days, with a back injury to senior left tackle Vaughn Lesuma and the departure from the team of veteran guard-tackle Dan Rowlands because of shoulder problems.

That pressed into service Ayers, a 311-pound redshirt freshman from Sehome of Bellingham, and Brian Danaher, a 287-pound sophomore walk-on from Colfax. Danaher has been such an item that coach Paul Wulff said the other day he wasn't aware of him when he was coach at Eastern Washington.

"I think he was pretty solid," Wulff said of Danaher's first action in the 39-13 loss to Oklahoma State. "He gives us some attitude up front."

"It was impressive to see Brian Danaher, a walk-on kid," said the line's veteran, center Kenny Alfred. "People were maybe assuming things about him being young, but he's a die-hard Cougar."

The Cougars allowed two sacks for a combined 5 yards against the Cowboys' front. After a first half of inept offense, they finished with 114 yards rushing, which made 196 yards of total offense more palatable.

Line coach Harold Etheridge, referring to the youth up front, said, "I was shocked. They did a lot better than I thought they'd do."

Ayers admitted to some wide eyes when he arrived at Qwest.

"It was a dream. I remember coming into these games when they first started [in 2002]," he said of WSU football games at Qwest Field, which began in 2002. "I've been to pretty much every one. I could point to sections in the stands where I was sitting.

"It was kind of overwhelming at times."

Lesuma could return next week in WSU's home opener against Cal, but Wulff says the Cougars will be careful with his back injury.

Injury hurts secondary

A thin Washington State secondary lost its leader minutes into the game when Alfonso Jackson suffered a right hip injury on the Cougars first punt. The senior cornerback never played a defensive snap, which forced redshirt freshman Tyrone Justin to fill in.

Justin, a 5-foot-11 defensive back who made his college debut, held solid for a half, but faltered in the latter stages as Oklahoma State receivers punished him with multiple fade routes.

Even when Justin provided blanket coverage, Cowboys quarterback Zac Robinson threw the ball high and 6-2 sophomore receiver Dez Bryant out-jumped Justin for the catch.

"It's just confidence," said Bryant, who had seven catches for 90 yards. "Zac has a lot of confidence in me. He expects me to make that play so I expect myself to make that play."

Sophomore Chima Nwachukwu, who had an interception in the second quarter, was the most experienced player in WSU's secondary after Jackson left.

Gibson struggles

All-Pac-10 receiver Brandon Gibson finished with 53 yards on six catches, all in the second half. In the first half, he had two near-catches on deep balls that he appeared capable of hauling in.

"We had some potential big plays we didn't take advantage of," Wulff said of Gibson's first-half problems.

Said Gibson of the first two quarters, "I didn't play to the best of my abilities. We were slow and boring in the first half. It wasn't the Cougar offense you're used to."

Notes

• Washington State fell to 5-2 in games at Qwest Field. The loss was the second to a Big 12 team. The first came against Colorado in 2004, when quarterback Alex Brink made his debut.

• Junior LB Jason Stripling walked off the field late in the fourth quarter on crutches after suffering a right toe injury. X-ray exam results after the game were not immediately available, and Wulff was unsure if Stripling would be available for the next game. Stripling had a career-high eight tackles, including two for a loss.

• WSU sophomore punter Reid Forrest, who underwent left ankle surgery this summer, is nearly recovered. School officials said he'll no longer need the protective boot and could return for the California game Saturday.

• Senior LB Greg Trent led WSU with nine tackles. He also had the team's only sack.