by SAN FRANCISCO – Washington State linebacker Peyton Pelluer (Nez Perce Tribe) was named the Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week, conference commissioner Larry Scott announced Monday.
Pelluer made a team-high 14 tackles and keyed a fourth-quarter comeback with his 36-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Cougars 47-44 triple overtime win over Boise State. Pelluer’s touchdown cut the BSU lead to seven and WSU eventually tied it with 1:44 left in regulation before winning in triple overtime. It was the redshirt-senior’s second career interception and his 14 stops were his eighth career double-digit tackle effort.
Pelluer, a native of Sammamish, Wash., led a defense that forced four turnovers and scored two touchdowns (Robert Taylor7-yard fumble return for TD) for the first time since 2013. The Cougars erased a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter, matching the school record for largest fourth-quarter comeback (Trailed 42-21 to start 4th at Stanford in 1984).
Pelluer earns his first career player of the week honor and is the Cougars first defensive player of the week accolade since Shalom Luani earned the award in 2015 after his two-interception game against Oregon State.
