Cougs know a physical fight awaits in Wisconsin

September 6, 2022 8:04 PM

Alex Crescenti,

Posted: September 6, 2022 8:04 PM

Updated: September 7, 2022 5:28 PM

by Alex Crescenti

PULLMAN, Wash. —As if the Idaho Vandals weren’t a tough enough test for the Washington State Cougars this past weekend, when the team travels out to Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, the # 19 Badgers are going to present a whole new set of challenges for this squad.

Wisconsin historically is known for its rushing attack and physicality, and that’s no different this year. The good news though for the Cougars is their running game is going to be led by former Wisconsin Running Back Nakia Watson who’s coming off his career-best game and knows the kind of environment the team is walking into.

“I be telling them boys it’s going to be coming down hill, they are strong, they are fast and they are powerful. So we’re going to have to bite down on our mouth piece and come with what we come with. So that’s what I let them know. That’s what I let our team know, we know we’re going to have to play fast, we’re going to have to play physical, we’re going to have to play to the echo of the whistle. Steal some energy, we’re going to have to do all that in order to by successful,” said Watson.

Watson finished with a career high 117 yards on the ground in the team’s win against Idaho on Saturday night.

“I mean they’re a physical team, it’s probably going to be one of the bigger O-Lines we’ve ever gone against just across the board. So I just think it’s embracing this opportunity and attacking it straight on. We play teams that run the ball often a lot too, just in the regular season. So the team that runs the ball is never just going to be something we haven’t experienced,” said Defensive End Ron Stone Jr.

“We’ve been working really hard the past couple of days just being mentally tougher and physically tougher and just trying to be our best because we know we weren’t our best, not even close to it on Saturday. So we know we have a lot to improve on. We know we can only go up from here,” added Renard Bell who made his return to the field on Saturday after missing all of 2021 with a knee injury.

These two teams have only played once before and that was back in 2007, when the Badgers won the season opener out in Madison. Kickoff between Washington State and Wisconsin is set for 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.