Arizona still without a win in Pac-12 after loss to Washington State
Nov 5, 2016, 5:20 PM
Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
(AP Photo/Young Kwak)
PULLMAN, Wash. — Luke Falk threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns and No. 25 Washington State beat Arizona 69-7 on Saturday for the Cougars’ seventh consecutive victory.
Washington State (7-2, 6-0 Pac-12, No. 25 CFP) had its highest points total since 1997 and the most ever against a Pac-12 opponent.
The Cougars hadn’t won seven straight games since 2002. They and No. 4 Washington remain the only teams with undefeated Pac-12 records.
“Everything we touched worked,” coach Mike Leach said. “We played together the whole game. We talked all week of playing a complete game. ‘I’m glad we didn’t let up.”
Arizona (2-7, 0-6), which has lost six games in a row, struggled on offense behind quarterbacks Brandon Dawkins, Anu Solomon and Khalil Tate. They combined to complete 11 of 23 passes for 128 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.
“I’m embarrassed and we should be embarrassed and it starts with me,” Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said. “That’s a good team. They played well and we didn’t. ‘We’re better than this, even with all the adversity.”
Washington State scored on its first six possessions for a 38-7 lead at halftime.
Falk, who was relieved late in the third quarter by Tyler Hilinski, completed 32 of 35 passes. He was not intercepted or sacked. Hilinski completed 15 of 17 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Combined, the two quarterbacks threw six touchdown passes against only five incomplete passes.
“That’s pretty good,” Leach said.
Washington State piled up 614 yards of offense while limiting Arizona to 286 yards. Samajie Grant rushed for 77 yards for the Wildcats.
Washington State’s Gerard Wicks ran for two touchdowns, and Tavares Martin Jr. caught two touchdown passes. James Williams also scored a pair of touchdowns for the Cougars.
THE TAKEAWAY
Arizona: The Wildcats rotated their quarterbacks all game, but could not generate much offense. The defense proved porous to WSU’s Air Raid.
Washington State: Played without star nose tackle Robert Barber, who has been suspended from school for his role in a fight at a party. But Washington State had a big day on defense anyway, holding Arizona to 158 rushing yards, 50 of them on one play.
UP NEXT
Arizona hosts Colorado next Saturday.
Washington State hosts California next Saturday.
