A painfully bitter football season just got a whole lot sweeter for the Cougars.

Washington State University's football team pulled out a win in the 101st Apple Cup on Nov. 22 in front of a jubilant Martin Stadium crowd of more than 32,000. It just took a little longer than usual to do so.

Kicker Nico Grasu booted a 37-yard field goal in the second overtime to give WSU the 16-13 victory, causing a wave of crimson-clad Cougar fans to cascade over the railings and charge the field.

“I couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful Apple Cup,” WSU Head Coach Paul Wulff said.

The Cougars pulled out the improbable win despite being down 10-0 at halftime. The victory was WSU’s fourth in the past five years against the University of Washington, but marked the first Pac-10 win of a historically bad Cougar football season.

“It was important for the seniors to finish their final home game with a win, and for this young team to learn how to play in a tight game and then to win a tight game,” Wulff said.

All hope seemed to be lost for the Cougars when the Huskies took over on downs with 2:02 left in the game and held a 10-7 lead. The defense stepped up for the Cougars and forced the Huskies to go 3-and-out, giving WSU one final chance.

With just 24 seconds remaining, WSU Quarterback Kevin Lopina connected with freshman wide receiver Jared Karstetter for 48 yards to the Washington 18-yard line. That led to a game-tying 28-yard field goal by Grasu as time expired.

“I told Karstetter in the huddle that we needed to take a chance here, so I pretty much knew where I was going to go with the ball if the corner sat and he did so it was just a great play on his part,” Lopina said.

In overtime, WSU pounded the Husky defense on the ground with running back Dwight Tardy, who finished with 80 yards on 19 carries. Tardy made it all the way to the UW 1-yard line in the first overtime, but WSU had to settle for a field goal after failing to convert on third down after an 11-play drive. Washington answered back with a field goal of its own, forcing a second OT. The Huskies had first possession in the second OT, but when Ryan Perkins missed a 37-yard field goal attempt, the door was opened for Grasu’s three-point game-winner. Washington kickers missed three field goals on the day, including one from 28 yards out in the fourth quarter.

WSU’s offense drove the ball in Husky territory multiple times in the game, but stalled due to a mostly ineffective running game. It wasn’t until late in the third quarter that WSU got on the board with a 57-yard touchdown scamper by running back Logwone Mitz.

“It wasn’t as fun the first three (quarters) because we felt like we were missing many opportunities on offense, but defense kept us in the game,” Wulff said. “When we had to get tough and we did.” The Huskies controlled the clock throughout the first half behind the sustained running attack from tailbacks Willie Griffin and Terrance Dailey. Griffin scored the Huskies' only touchdown of the game on a three-yard rush in the second quarter that capped off a nine-play, 60-yard drive. Griffin was the game’s top rusher at 116 yards of 26 carries.

Both defenses prevented any consistency in either team's passing game. Lopina completed 17 of 29 passes, finishing with 167 yards and an interception. UW quarterback Ronnie Fouch went 11 for 16 with one interception and just 99 yards.

The Cougars improved to 2-10 with the win and finished Pac-10 play 1-8. The Huskies are without a win this season at 0-11, 0-8 Pac-10, and will have one final attempt at a win when they play at California on Dec. 6.