> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Washington State Offense Looks to Bounce Back Against FCS Foe Duquesne
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/washington-state-cougars-offense-bounce-back-duquesne-dukes/
- Published: 2026-09-19T06:28:17.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T06:13:21.000Z
- Author: Jacob Stevenson
- Tags: Analysis, Cougars Football, Caden Pinnick, Kirby Vorhees, Maxwell Woods, Daniel Blood

After a tough 34-7 loss to Kansas State last weekend, the Washington State offense will look to find its identity and put together a much better performance when the Cougars host Duquesne on Saturday at 12:30 PM PT at Gesa Field.

Washington State enters the matchup 0-2 after opening the season with road games against No. 17 Washington as well as Kansas State. The Cougars have struggled to consistently move the football during the first two games, and the offense will have an opportunity to get back on track in its home opener against an FCS underdog.

The Dukes also enter the game 0-2 after losses to Air Force and Youngstown State. Duquesne has allowed 104 points through its first two games, giving Washington State a prime opportunity to get into a rhythm on offense versus one of the worst defenses at the lower Division I level so far.

Here are three keys for the Cougs to get the ball rolling against an inferior foe at home:

### 1\. Caden Pinnick needs to have a bounce-back performance under center.

The redshirt sophomore entered the season with plenty of expectations after a standout freshman season at UC Davis. Pinnick threw for 3,206 yards and 32 touchdowns while adding 437 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in 2025\. He was named Big Sky Freshman of the Year and earned FCS Freshman All-America honors.

Through the first two games, however, Pinnick has had a difficult time playing against Power Four teams, struggling with accuracy and being able to throw the ball with enough zip to complete passes into tight windows.

Against Washington, Pinnick completed 16 of 25 passes for 142 yards with two interceptions while adding 61 rushing yards and a touchdown. Last week at Kansas State, he completed just nine of 20 passes for 65 yards and rushed for 29 yards on 13 carries, largely rendered ineffective as both a passer and runner by the Wildcats.

Pinnick will be looking to find a groove against Duquesne, which has functioned like Swiss cheese trying to defend the pass in the first two weeks. To help him regain some confidence, the Cougars’ offensive line must give Pinnick some time to complete some easy throws.

His ability to make plays with his legs could also be an important part of the offense. Pinnick showed against Washington that he can create yards on designed runs, and getting him involved in the running game should help open up opportunities for the rest of the offense.

### 2\. The running game complementing Pinnick will also be an important part of Saturday's matchup.

Kirby Vorhees entered the season as one of Washington State's most important offensive players after leading the team in rushing last season. He is expected to once again be a major part of the Cougar offense alongside Maxwell Woods, but the production simply has not been there thus far for either player.

The duo struggled against Kansas State, combining for just 74 rushing yards, with Vorhees finishing with 45 yards on 11 carries. Vorhees also lost a fumble for the second consecutive game, and ball security must be prioritized by him moving forward, or Woods could wind up stealing more carries away him.

Washington State needs to set the tone and establish the running game against Duquesne. Being able to use the running backs more efficiently will take pressure off Pinnick and the rest of the offense, and to make that happen, an offensive line that has not had much success creating push up front will need to take frustrations out on the Dukes’ undersized front line to manufacture space for the backs to operate.

### 3\. Washington State's offense is still needing to adjust to the loss of Tony Freeman.

Freeman, a team captain and the Cougars' leading returning receiver from 2025, suffered a torn ACL in the first quarter against Washington and will miss the remainder of the season. His absence takes away Pinnick’s best weapon along with also hurting special teams, as he has been a dynamic returner in his college career, meaning other receivers will need to take on bigger roles.

Darius Clemons and Daniel Blood are expected to be two of the top players the Cougars will look to on offense to make up for Freeman’s absence. The transfers from Oregon State and Missouri have combined for 13 of Pinnick's 25 completions and 138 of their 207 receiving yards so far, and they will need to possibly do even more as the year progresses.

Saturday's game against Duquesne gives Washington State an opportunity to put together a complete offensive performance for a much-needed first win in the Kirby Moore era. Given the struggles of the Dukes, this should be the perfect “get right” game playing at home for the first time all year.

**Prediction: Washington State 45, Duquesne 7**