Early in the fourth quarter of Washington State's eventual 29-26 win over San Diego State on an embarrassing field at the Aztecs' Snapdragon Stadium, it seemed obvious that the oddsmakers had missed this game.

The Cougars, who came into the game 6-1, were advantaged by nearly three touchdowns against the 3-3 home team. But with just under 14 minutes to go they were twelve minutes behind. Cover was impossible. However, victory was still in the picture.

And the duo in the broadcast booth, veteran play-by-play announcer Carter Blackburn and former Rice quarterback Taylor McHargue, were there to share it with us. They had told us early on that the Aztecs, who were coming off two straight wins, were playing well. And the Cougars? Like everyone covering the team on television, they focused on quarterback John Mateer. He was the right guy as he worked with the defense led by Kyle Thornton and scored a crucial replay in the final 13 minutes.

What they saw

• The Cougar offense relies on Mateer's legs and arms. In the Cougars' first loss, Boise State limited both. The same was true for the Aztecs – for most of the game.

Once Washington State and Mateer won the battle, early on with his flea-flicker, his 26-yard touchdown throw and midway through the second quarter with Mateer's 1-yard push into the end zone, the offense clicked.

This was not the case in the middle part of the game. In the end? Yes, including the 15-point rally and running the clock down to the final half-minute after Thornton knocked off a key third-down pass with plenty of contact. The Aztecs then received a rough the punter penalty to thwart their chances.

It might not have happened, although the replay didn't change the location of Mateer's final key run, a 4-yard gain on third-and-4. It was originally marked as short.

“What a tough night for John Mateer,” McHargue said as the clock ticked down. “He had so many explosive plays in the fourth quarter.”

• The passing game was up and down. Mateer was sacked three times and left his spot more than once. He attempted 27 passes, completed 19 and finished with 257 yards.

Walking was worse.

Mateer came into the game with a WSU quarterback record 533 rushing yards. He's had the most success in the biggest games, most notably his 197 yards rushing against Texas Tech. But against the Aztecs, he had 1 yard on his first 15 attempts. He took out the sacks and he still only had 17 for 12.

That's when McHargue explained how San Diego State, which will join the Pac-12 in 2026, contained Mateer. A bird's eye view appeared on the television. McHargue drew a series of yellow lines and told viewers how the Aztec staff wanted to build a “cage” around mateer. They did that, especially in the second half.

Mateer, who had more yards in the fourth quarter than he had in the first three combined, had 42 rushing yards on 21 attempts.

• The offensive woes put pressure on the Cougar defense, which did what it could early on. Bend hard but stiffen in the shadow of his end zone.

Until the final few minutes of the second quarter, San Diego State had only two Gabriel Plascencia field goals in four drives. But as the offense struggled, the defense began to falter. After two three-and-outs early in the second half – and when the offense failed to take advantage – the defense allowed a tricky 27-yard touchdown pass from SDSU receiver Jordan Napier, followed by an 11-play 5- 69-yard touchdown pass -minute, 23-second scoring drive.

Mateer and WSU responded with an incredible catch by Kyle Williams for 33 yards and a precise throw by Mateer that led to a 34-yard touchdown by Carlos Hernandez.

And the defense did the same, thanks to a save from Taariq Al-Uqdah after the Aztecs advanced into the red zone.

WSU still had life with 8:31 left. The ball on the 37th and Mateer had his magical moment. An 18-yard scramble for what looked like another sack.

“Broken tackle after broken tackle,” is how McHargue described it. “We’ve seen it all year from John Mateer.”

Five plays later – four of them for 14 or more yards – Mateer found himself in the end zone. According to Blackburn, it's a “wild, Philly-looking play, Hutson manages to score the two-point conversion,” and the Cougars led 29-26.

• The Aztecs' Snapdragon Stadium opened in 2022. It is, of course, in San Diego, the land of eternal sunshine. But for some reason there are obvious problems on the grass field.

How obvious? You could see that in the broadcast, especially in the midfield. In some places there were more divots than at Esmeralda after four high-handicap players completed a spring round.

And when a San Diego State receiver slipped early in the game, one of far too many slips at every position, Blackburn voiced his opinion on the field, calling it “questionable turf.” However, there is no question that the field contributed to a choppy, disjointed game.

The stadium is not just the home of the Aztecs. The city's NWSL team, the San Diego Wave FC, uses it throughout the summer. A major league rugby team, the San Diego Legion, also plays there. The city's new MLS team, which starts in 2025, will also use it.

The wear and tear showed. And influenced the quality of the game.

What we saw

• If you need proof that there is a shortage of referees at all levels of football, all you have to do is watch this game.

The referee was John Love of Spokane, who has been climbing the Pac-12 rankings for years. This season, he has reached the top of the college hierarchy by moving from the position of center judge – the other official in the offensive backfield – to a full-time position wearing the white hat – addressing the crowd.

But he was recently spotted at a middle school football game in Spokane.

Why? There is a need. And Love participates along with all the local club officials.