Kevin Lopina will start at quarterback for Washington State this Saturday in the season opener against Stanford. But Marshall Lobbestael will also take snaps, perhaps as early as the third series of the game.
The players have been locked in a battle for the starting job since fall camp began, and neither has built a strong enough case to lay full-time claim to the job, coach Paul Wulff said.
But someone has to take the first WSU snap of the game, and Wulff said earlier this week that would be Lopina.
Both players started games in last year's 2-11 campaign, and both struggled with injuries.
Lopina, a junior, appeared in nine games, completing 56.9 percent of his passes for 841 yards with no touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Lopina started his career at Kansas State as a redshirt, then had to sit out a season before becoming eligible last year.
Lobbestael, a sophomore, played in five games, completing 51.5 percent of his passes for 571 yards, with four touchdowns and four interceptions.
In the team's first scrimmage, Lopina completed all six of his pass attempts for 94 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown to tight end Zach Tatman. Lobbestael completed 4 of 7 passes for 32 yards.
In the final scrimmage on Friday, Lopina completed 9-of-11 for 123 yards, with a seven-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Gino Simone. Lobbestael completed 7-of-13 for 88 yards.
The Cougars open the season against Stanford on Saturday in Martin Stadium
The players have been locked in a battle for the starting job since fall camp began, and neither has built a strong enough case to lay full-time claim to the job, coach Paul Wulff said.
But someone has to take the first WSU snap of the game, and Wulff said earlier this week that would be Lopina.
Both players started games in last year's 2-11 campaign, and both struggled with injuries.
Lopina, a junior, appeared in nine games, completing 56.9 percent of his passes for 841 yards with no touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Lopina started his career at Kansas State as a redshirt, then had to sit out a season before becoming eligible last year.
Lobbestael, a sophomore, played in five games, completing 51.5 percent of his passes for 571 yards, with four touchdowns and four interceptions.
In the team's first scrimmage, Lopina completed all six of his pass attempts for 94 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown to tight end Zach Tatman. Lobbestael completed 4 of 7 passes for 32 yards.
In the final scrimmage on Friday, Lopina completed 9-of-11 for 123 yards, with a seven-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Gino Simone. Lobbestael completed 7-of-13 for 88 yards.
The Cougars open the season against Stanford on Saturday in Martin Stadium
