Gesser leads WSU’s hot offense

Associated Press

PULLMAN – His career-high 432 yards and four touchdowns in Washington State’s 51-20 rout of California placed Jason Gesser third in WSU single-game yardage behind former Cougars Drew Bledsoe and Ryan Leaf.

But Gesser said he’s not looking for records – or NFL glory – just victories, as Washington State (3-0, 1-0 Pac-10) travels to Arizona (3-0, 0-0 Pac-10) today for a matchup of Pacific-10 Conference unbeatens.

This will be the first conference game for the Wildcats, who are 3-0 overall. The Cougars, meanwhile, are 1-0 in league play and 3-0 overall.

“The thing that motivates me is to keep on winning. We want to get a ‘W’ every week,” Gesser said. “I just want to turn this team around. I’m just enjoying playing football.”

California coach Tom Holmoe saw firsthand how slippery Gesser can be.

“We had a good pass rush, but Gesser is better out of the pocket than he is in the pocket,” Holmoe said after the Bears’ loss last weekend. “He threw two touchdown passes on his back.”

After recovering from a broken leg that kept him out of the final two games last season, Gesser’s glee is obvious.

Through three games, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior ranks seventh nationally in total offense, at 316 yards per game. He also places in the top 10 nationally in pass efficiency, at 171.4, with 10 touchdown passes and only one interception.

The Cougars’ 398.7 yards per game average has them No. 2, behind Florida, in team passing offense, and fifth nationally in total team offense, averaging 546.3 yards per game.

Improving on last season’s 4-7 record, with three disappointing overtime losses, fuels his desire, Gesser said.

“I think it’s just the whole way the season went last year … motivates me more. All the games we should have won,” Gesser said. “Little things like that, you think about it. It motivates you to practice hard every day.”

Gesser credits the Cougars’ early success this season to an improved offensive game plan and a group of athletic receivers who have lit up the scoreboard.

Senior receiver Nakoa McElrath is the nation’s leading receiver, averaging 171.3 yards per game. He has caught 27 passes for 514 yards and seven touchdowns.

Mike Bush and Jerome Riley joined McElrath in tallying more than 100 receiving yards each against California, giving the Cougars a triple threat.

Washington State’s defense, meanwhile, has pulled its share of the load.

The Cougars have allowed just 119 yards per game passing and have held opponents to just 66.3 yards per game, placing WSU No. 7 in the nation in rushing defense.

All of this has Gesser and his teammates thinking they could be playing in a bowl after the regular season ends.

“This year’s team has a different feeling. There is more confidence in your teammates,” he said. “You like to be on the field with these guys. We all kind of feel that way: we know we got each other’s backs.”

And a bowl game?

“Of course, we should have been at one last year,” Gesser said. “But we’re going to take it one game at a time. Arizona is the biggest game of our season.”