What we learned from WSU’s 37-34 win over Rutgers

River Cracraft was a vital part of Luke Falk's big day, catching eight passes for 121 yards and the winning TD. (AP)

Have you noticed how many publications and websites use “What We Learned” posts and stories all the time now? I’m not sure why, but as it pertains to Washington State’s 37-34 win over Rutgers on Saturday, I’ll play along:

What we learned

• The Cougars are resilient, bouncing back from the worst loss in school history last week to Portland State, traveling 3,000 miles and edging a Rutgers team that beat them in Seattle last year. They certainly could have folded after Janorian Grant’s 55-yard punt return gave Rutgers a 34-30 lead with 1:31 left but didn’t, winning on Luke Falk’s 8-yard touchdown pass to River Cracraft with 13 seconds remaining. They converted a fourth-and-5 along the way and overcame a 30-yard touchdown being called back because replays supposedly showed Keith Harrington stepping on the sideline when I’m not sure if he did or not. That would have been highly controversial if the Cougars had lost.

• Mike Leach has more support from his players than I thought he did. If there was even a partial mutiny, the Cougars would’ve been drilled by the Scarlet Knights or at least lost in routine fashion. Instead, we actually looked the part of a competent football team for the most part. The defense was terrific in the first half, and the offense clicked throughout.

• Special teams are lacking again. Last year Leach fired his special-teams coach after back-to-back kickoff returns for touchdowns by Cal, and Saturday Grant scored on a punt return and a kickoff return. Ky Priester also returned a punt from his own end zone, so there was plenty of buffoonery going on in Piscataway, N.J., but the Cougs somehow got away with it.

• And here’s a potpourri of stuff I think I learned – Falk is pretty darn good. Starting in just his fifth game, he completed his first 12 passes and threw for 478 yards. He was clutch in the final drive, and I liked his somewhat lumbering ability to scramble. I know he’s not Russell Wilson, but he’s more mobile than Connor Halliday. And largely, he didn’t have to run because the offensive line did a nice job protecting him. The Cougs look like they won’t finish last in the country in rushing again, not with guys like Harrington and Gerard Wicks, who averaged 6.1 yards a carry on Saturday. Our kicker, Erik Powell, is pretty good, actually maybe better than pretty good. He nailed all three of his field-goal attempts, including kicks of 47 and 46 yards. Haven’t seen anything like that since Andrew Furney. Plus it sure is nice to have Gabe Marks back – what a tough kid, he got absolutely flattened twice in the game and came through with a terrific fourth-quarter touchdown, somehow getting one foot down in the end zone before being clubbed out of bounds. He was spectacular all afternoon with 14 catches for 146 yards.

What we “hope” we learned

• That the Cougars are one step toward salvaging a season we thought was lost last week. I’d be surprised to the point of being shocked if we lose to Wyoming this Saturday at Martin Stadium (5:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network). The Cowboys have lost two home games already to the likes of North Dakota and Eastern Michigan and are down to their third-string quarterback. The first-stringer injured his knee against North Dakota, and the second-stringer suffered a shoulder injury against Eastern Michigan. Third-stringer Nick Smith went 3-for-13 for 0 yards in the 48-29 loss to Eastern Michigan, but the Cowboys have a good running threat – Brian Hill rushed 21 times for 242 yards against the Eagles on Saturday.

What we don’t know

• How the Cougars will do once they start Pac-12 play. Saturday’s win could be a mirage of sorts – due to suspensions, Rutgers’ defensive backfield was filled with freshmen. After a bye week on Sept. 26, the Cougars will figure out who they are in a hurry with games at vastly improved Cal on Oct. 3 and Oregon on Oct. 10.

The Go 2 Guy also writes for SeattlePI.com and KitsapSun.com. You can reach Jim at jimmoorethego2guy@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @cougsgo.