Arizona Wildcats vs Washington State Cougars Match Player Stats On Nov 05, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Nov 5, 2016

Quarterback Luke Falk completed 22 consecutive passes, Washington State scored on its first six possessions and the No. 25 Cougars cruised to their seventh consecutive victory by beating Arizona 69-7 in a Pac-12 game on Saturday in Pullman, Wash.

Falk, rarely pressured, completed 91.4 percent of his passes -- 32 of 35 for 311 yards and four touchdowns before leaving late in the third quarter. His streak of 22 completions was one short of the Pac-12 record set by Cal's Aaron Rodgers in 2004 against USC.

Washington State (7-2, 6-0 Pac-12) has won its first six conference games for the first time since 2002, which is also the last time it won seven consecutive games overall. Arizona (2-6, 0-6) has lost six in a row for the first time since 2004.

Washington State freshman quarterback Tyler Hilinkski threw for two fourth-quarter touchdowns -- including a 71-yarder to receiver River Cracraft -- as the Cougars tied for the fifth most points ever scored in a Pac-12 game.

Washington State surged from the start, leading 10-0 with 9:37 to go in the first quarter, starting two drives deep in Arizona territory thanks to a 36-yard punt return and an interception by Shalom Luani. Running back James Williams hauled in a shovel pass for an 8-yard touchdown.

The Cougars further stepped on the gas, getting a 1-yard touchdown rush by running back Gerard Wicks and a 2-yard scoring pass to receiver Gabe Marks for a 24-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Those were the most points scored by Washington State in the first quarter since posting 28 at Arizona in 2001.

Washington State led 38-0 late in the second quarter before Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon hit receiver Cam Denson on a 47-yard touchdown pass with 1:55 to go before half.

Solomon twice came off the bench for Brandon Dawkins, including immediately after the early interception. Solomon was pulled after he lost a fumble on a scramble at the Washington State 7 early in the second quarter.

But Dawkins left the game again late in the half, limping on the sideline. He did not return.

Solomon, who played two series last week after missing six games because of a knee injury, completed 9 of 13 passes for 122 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Dawkins was 1 of 4 for minus-2 yards. True freshman quarterback Khalil Tate played the fourth quarter.

Washington State's defense had five sacks, including three from defensive end Nnamdi Oguayo.

NOTES: Arizona opened the game with a 75-yard touchdown pass, but it was nullified by having an illegal receiver downfield. ... Washington State junior QB Luke Falk's four touchdown passes give him 79 for his career, which is tied for 11th in Pac-12 history. ... WSU ended Arizona's four-game winning streak in Pullman. ... Arizona LB Michael Barton, tied for second on the team with 43 stops, did not play because of a knee injury. ... Washington State WR Gabe Marks made five catches to move within six of tying Pac-12 career leader Nelson Spruce of Colorado, who had 294. ... Washington State senior WR River Cracraft has caught a pass in 38 consecutive games.