When Mike Leach was hired to coach at WSU, we knew it was only a matter of when -- not if -- his quarterbacks would rewrite the record books in Pullman. It might have taken a little longer than expected, but Saturday's win over Cal just might be the first step in the Air Raid revolution.
RECAP: Cougs roll past Bears, 44-22
Connor Halliday lights up the Golden Bears as WSU improves to 4-2, just two wins from bowl eligibility. Halliday threw for 521 yards, the second most in WSU history behind only Alex Brink's 531-yard performance against Oregon State in 2005. Halliday undoubtedly could have passed Brink, but Leach threw the offense in first gear in the final two series to run out the clock. (Rarely does Leach have mercy on an opponent, but equally rarely is he facing a former assistant on the opposite sideline.)
While he fell short of the single-game yardage record, Halliday did set the school record for pass attempts in a game with 67. While 67 is an amazing number in and of itself, it becomes even more incredible in the context of the leg injury Halliday suffered last week against Stanford, which was clearly causing him discomfort throughout the game. His 41 completions were the second most in a game in school history.
Game Notes
Via WSU Athletic Communications
TEAM NOTES
• WSU won its first two road conference games for the first time since 2006 (Stanford, Oregon State)
• WSU's 92-yard touchdown drive was the longest of the season, longest since 96-yard drive against UCLA
last season
• WSU has rushed for six touchdowns through six games, had six rushing scores all of last season.
HALLIDAY NOTES
• Connor Halliday tossed three touchdown passes, up his career total to 37, seventh-most all time
• Halliday completed a career-high 41 passes, second-most in WSU single-game history, now owns 399
career completions, eighth-most in WSU history
• Halliday passed for a career-high 521 yards, his ninth career 300-yard game, fourth this season, third
career 400-yard game and first career 500-yard game, second time in WSU history that a Cougar has
passed for 500 yards, Alex Brink - 531 yards at Oregon State in 2005
• Halliday owns 4828 career passing yards, eighth-most in WSU history
• Halliday's 67 attempts are the WSU single-game record
PLAYER NOTES
• First career fumble recovery for Toni Pole; he finished the game with two recoveries and one forced
• Marcus Mason caught his second career touchdown pass (UCLA-2012)
• Mason is the first WSU running back to record a 100 receiving yards since Deon Burnett had 101 yards
against Arizona in 2000
• Vince Mayle caught his third and fourth career touchdown passes, posted his first career 100-yard game
• Kache Palacio recorded his second sack of the season
• Ioane Guata recorded his first two solo sacks of the season, second career multi-sack game (UW-2012)
• Jeremiah Laufasa scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the season.
• Deone Bucannon recorded his13th career interception, tied for fourth-most in WSU history
• Bucannon made 12 tackles, his 14th career double-digit tackle performance
• Bucannon now owns 326 career tackles, sixth-most in WSU history
• Teondray Caldwell scored his first career touchdown
• Andrew Furney hit from 44, 41 and 28, owns 39 career field goals, fourth-most all time
• Mitch Peterson recorded his first career tackle
• Daquawn Brown picked off his second career pass.