By Theo Lawson
The Spokesman-Review
PULLMAN — Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon didn’t garner another weekly Pac-12 honor, but the Cougars’ offense — and more specifically, its offensive line — was recognized after a 54-53 victory over Oregon State on Saturday.
Cougars right tackle Abraham Lucas, a graduate of Archbishop Murphy High School, was named Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week on Monday, the second WSU offensive lineman to be honored this season. Left tackle Liam Ryan was honored after the first week of the season.
Making his 11th straight start this season and the 24th straight of his career, Lucas played every offensive snap of the Cougars’ one-point win over the Beavers and helped protect Gordon on a night the quarterback threw for 606 yards and six touchdowns.
Lucas, a redshirt sophomore, didn’t allow a sack on 70 dropbacks and WSU’s offensive line conceded just one sack to an OSU team that ranks third in the conference with 30 this season.
“He keeps getting better,” WSU coach Mike Leach said of Lucas. “But again, I think he’s not tapped out either. … He’s always been a gigantic guy, but he’s getting stronger, he’s getting faster.”
WSU’s O-line also opened up holes for a pair of rushing touchdowns, including Max Borghi’s game-winner with two seconds remaining.
Lucas graded out at 90 percent for the game, according to Pro Football Focus, and had the highest pass-blocking grade of the week among all tackles nationally. The metrics-based football website considers the 6-foot-7, 324-pound Lucas the top-rated pass-blocker in the country. In 809 snaps, the Everett native has allowed only one sack and committed a single penalty.
“The other thing is,” Leach said, “he’s getting where he synchronizes better with the rest of the unit than he has.”
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