Lopina to start at QB for WSU

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Senior Kevin Lopina will start at quarterback when Washington State plays No. 20 Oregon State on Saturday.

Coach Paul Wulff also said Thursday that starting linebacker Jason Stripling will be suspended indefinitely after his arrest in Pullman for suspicion of assault last Sunday. Wulff had earlier announced that Stripling would sit out only the first quarter of the OSU game.

Lopina was the starting quarterback at the beginning of the season, but was injured in the second game. He did not return to action until last weekend's game against UCLA, when he entered in the second quarter in relief of Marshall Lobbestael and led the Cougars to their only touchdown.

Lobbestael had thrown interceptions to end WSU's first three possessions.

During his period of inactivity, Lopina stayed sharp by volunteering to quarterback the WSU scout team, which mimics the play of upcoming opponents.

On Saturday the Cougars will also be without the services of defensive tackle Toby Turpin, who has been suspended for the final two games for violating team rules. The junior had started six games this season and had 28 tackles with two sacks. The team did not specify which rules Turpin had violated.

The Cougars were already thin at defensive line after Dan Spitz suffered a concussion against UCLA and Jesse Feagin has missed the past three games with a broken hand. Feagin might be able to play.

SENIOR DAY: Saturday's football game against Oregon State marks the final home appearance for 15 members of the Washington State team.

There will be a ceremony to honor those players prior to the game.

The seniors include Kenny Alfred, Jesse Feagin, Xavier Hicks, Colin Huemmer, Andrew Kreutz, Reed Lesuma, Kevin Lopina, Andy Mattingly, Patrick Rooney, Jason Stripling, Dwight Tardy, Zach Tatman, Sam Tennant, K.C. Thometz and Tony Thompson.

"Those guys put a lot of work in here," coach Paul Wulff said. "I sure respect what they have gone through."

FORREST SOARS: Washington State punter Reid Forrest is having a superb season. The junior is averaging 44 yards per kick, often from deep in WSU territory.

He's not a bad tackler either, making several stops this season as the final defender between an opponent and the goal line.

Forrest had a career-best 65-yard punt versus Southern Cal, and has 16 punts of more than 50 yards this season. Four have gone for more than 60 yards. The 184 punts for 8,175 yards in his punting career are both fourth in WSU history.

COLD SEATS: WSU is averaging about 24,000 fans at four games in Pullman this season, and the forecast for Saturday's game is not great. Wet weather and cold temperatures are predicted. And many students will likely head home early for Thanksgiving.

"We hope to get everybody to stay if they can," Wulff said. "We hope the weather doesn't have them leaving early."

TURNOVERS DOWN: WSU is just minus 7 in turnovers this season. Through the first 10 games of last year, they were minus 22. The Cougars have recovered 12 fumbles this year, tops in the Pac-10.