It's a little bit weird to talk about the records that were set by WSU during Saturday night's loss to the second-ranked Oregon Ducks, given the fact that the game was a laugher late in the third quarter. I think we all can agree that we like our record-setting performances to produce meaningful results.
Oregon coach: Leach is 'low class' for continuing to throw
Defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti didn't mince any words when it came to Connor Halliday's record-setting performance, calling WSU's decision to compete until the end "total bulls***." That said, what Connor Halliday did last night was impressive, if for no other reason than he threw more passes in one game than Navy quarterbacks have thrown in the entire season and his arm was still attached postgame.
This is where you'll find Halliday's name in the single-game record book going forward:
- Most passing attempts in NCAA history, all divisions (89)
- Most passing completions in NCAA Division I history (58; tied for second most across all divisions)
- Most passing yards in Pac-12 and WSU history (557)
As if the context of the records wasn't weird enough -- with about half the passes coming after the game was out of reach -- it's likely that the most memorable part of this probably will be Nick Aliotti's rant against WSU continuing to throw the ball, which is what made the records possible.
Congratulations, Connor, for this odd contribution to football history.
Game Notes
TEAM NOTES
- WSU had 10+ receivers record a catch for the sixth straight game, have had 10+ receivers catch a pass in seven games this season
- WSU has forced eight fumbles this season, surpassing last year's total of six
- WSU scored its first touchdown on a defensive fumble recovery since 2004 (Will Derting vs. Washington)
HALLIDAY NOTES
- Connor Halliday threw four touchdown passes, he now has 42 in his career, sixth-most in WSU history
- Halliday passed for 319 yards in the first half, seventh time a WSU quarterback has passed for 300 yards in a half, first time since Alex Brink (304-vs. San Diego State - 2007), second most in a half (Ryan Leaf - 371 - at Arizona State - 1997)
PLAYER NOTES
- Deone Bucannon made nine tackles, pushing his career total to 343, tied for fourth-most in WSU history
- Dom Williams caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season and seventh of his career
- Xavier Cooper made a career high nine tackles, recorded 1.5 sacks
- Cooper forced his first fumble of the season, second of his career
- River Cracraft caught his first career touchdown pass
- Cooper scored his first career touchdown, first fumble returned for a touchdown since 2010 (Kyle McCartney at SMU off a fumbled punt return)
- Andrew Furney kicked a season-long 49 yard field goal to end the first half
- Furney made career field goal No. 41, fourth-most all time
- Gabe Marks recorded his fourth career 100-yard game, second this season
- Marks made a WSU single game record 13 receptions