The Cougars, who have mastered the art of getting blown out this season, took it to another level Saturday in a 48-7 loss to Arizona.

Washington State won the toss but decided to defer its decision, and the Wildcats returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, beginning an onslaught that saw Arizona take a 21-0 lead less than eight minutes into the game.

From there, it was the same old story, which has become exceedingly redundant for Washington State fans, as the Cougars never got back in the game. Their lone score came midway through the fourth quarter after Arizona led 48-0 and had emptied its bench.

Washington State is now 1-8 overall, 0-6 in Pac-10 play, and has lost every conference game by at least 13 points, and all but one by at least 21.

"They opened with that kickoff, and it's hard to open the game when you are down seven," linebacker Andy Mattingly told The Spokesman-Review.

Not that it likely would have mattered much in the long run, as the Cougars were again completely dominated despite Arizona going conservative pretty early on.

Arizona outgained Washington State 471-185, including a 294-59 edge in rushing.

"We had bodies always on people," coach Paul Wulff told the Spokesman-Review. "It seemed like we were in position, we just didn't make the play."

Making matters worse, starting quarterback Jeff Tuel left the game in the second quarter after suffering a slight subluxation of his kneecap. He didn't return and was replaced by Marshall Lobbestael, who threw a 64-yard TD pass to Jared Karsteter in the fourth quarter for Washington State's only points.

However, Wulff said the injury to Tuel isn't serious and didn't appear to rule out that he could play this week when the Cougars return to Pullman to play UCLA.

The Arizona game was Washington State's third straight on the road, a trio it lost a combined 137-48.

Copyright (C) 2009 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.