By Jay Heater
It's been 26 years since Cal last beat Washington State in Pullman. To end that drought today, the Bears must find a way to slow down Mkristo Bruce, the Cougars' 6-foot-7, 250-pound defensive end who leads the nation with 10 sacks. ``He is an all-around complete player,'' Cal Coach Jeff Tedford said. ``But the guy on the other side (defensive end Lance Broadus) is very fast, too. We are going to have our hands full.'' Bruce's ability to get to the quarterback might have the biggest impact in this pivotal Pacific-10 matchup. The Cougars are 2-1 in conference play and can't afford another loss if they expect a shot at the title. Cal, which hasn't won in Pullman since 1979, is 3-0 and in a first-place tie with USC.
Cal ranks 11th in the nation in passing offense (280.2 yards per game) and quarterback Nate Longshore ranks ninth in the nation in passing efficiency. If the Cougars, who lead the nation in sacks with 27, can't disrupt Longshore's timing, it could be a long day for WSU. ``It's no fluke that they lead the nation in sacks,'' Tedford said. ``It all starts with the passion that they play with, the intensity that they play with.'' Washington State Coach Bill Doba said he stresses getting to the quarterback just about every day. ``We've had good players to do that and we've had quickness,'' Doba said. ``We work our pass rush drills every day we are in pads. We work on counter moves, how to pressure, how to spin out. Plus, we're in a conference where they throw the ball a lot.'' Stanford tried to throw the ball a lot against Washington State during a 36-10 loss on Sept. 23. The result: Bruce tied a Pac-10 record by recording five of his team's eight sacks. ``Mkristo has worked hard on his skill,'' Doba said. ``He was a quarterback and strong safety in high school. He can run a little and he enjoys practice. Around here, we always say that you've got to enjoy the process. He really works at his trade and he loves it.''
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