ALAMO BOWL : Cougars Win Again on Defense

Chad Davis passed for 286 yards and Kevin Hicks ran for a one-yard touchdown as No. 24 Washington State held off a last-minute threat and defeated Baylor, 10-3, Saturday night in front of 44,106 in the Alamo Bowl.

The Bears came close to catching the Cougars with 39 seconds remaining in the game when Baylor had a fourth down on Washington State’s 13-yard line. But Baylor quarterback Jeff Watson’s pass intended for Damon Rhynes was intercepted by Todd Jensen in the end zone.

Both teams, who each brought 7-4 records into the game, had predicted a low-scoring affair.

Washington State’s defense, dominated by seniors and ranked second nationally in total defense, held the Bears to 151 total yards.

But Cougar Coach Mike Price had said the game would hinge on how well his special teams and offense performed, and Washington State quarterback Chad Davis got the offense off to a quick start.

The Cougars took a 7-0 lead on the first possession of the game as Hicks scored to cap a 91-yard drive in which Davis missed his first pass before completing six in a row. Tony Truant added the point-after kick.

Washington State scored again with two seconds remaining in the half on Truant’s 37-yard field goal.

Davis completed 27 of 35 passes for 286 yards. Watson completed eight of 22 passes for 77 yards.

Baylor outrushed the Cougars, 74-7.

Baylor missed scoring opportunities in the second quarter when kicker Jarvis Van Dyke was short on field-goal attempts of 34 and 47 yards.

The Bears finally scored with 1:35 left in the third quarter on a 36-yard field goal by Van Dyke.

Davis left the game briefly at the end of the third quarter after he suffered a bruised back on a tackle by Baylor’s Phillip Kent. But he returned early in the fourth quarter.

Baylor finished the regular season in a five-way tie for the Southwest Conference championship; Washington State was fourth in the Pacific 10.