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PULLMAN – The state of Washington had a pivotal season in 2018, and the Cougars were still in sight on Saturday night. They were trying to become the sixth team in the history of the program to win 10 victories in one season and the first to do so since 2003.
The visiting Arizona Wildcats were never going to interfere in the school's history on a cold night in Pullman; in many cases, they actually helped WSU No. 8 reach the 10-goal plateau at Martin Stadium. In an explosion of 69-28, the Cougars achieved this record and tackled several others that they probably did not count on.
That makes sense for the WSU – if only for a moment – because in six days, the Cougars (10-1, 7-1) will play their rival, the Washington Huskies (8-3, 6-2) in Pullman for a month. place in the Pac-12 championship match. The Apple Cup will be what will determine the North's representative for the third consecutive season. Utah won the Pac-12 South beating Colorado on Saturday.
"We are excited about this," said WSU coach Mike Leach, about Saturday's feat against Arizona. "We're excited about this for tonight, then tomorrow morning and early tomorrow – and earlier than usual – you come in and get ready to get ready for the next appointment since we'll be playing on Friday."
But until the clock strikes Saturday at midnight, the official sign of the beginning of the Apple Cup week, the Cougars could feast on their record night. There was a lot to be enjoyed in
"It's a good deal and I think it's good for the school," said Leach, "and a credit to our boys and our locker room for getting together and playing together and doing all these things as a team where everyone does it. something that helps the team and in some ways elevates the entire group. "
If we had not taken a bad shot on a PAT in the second quarter, WSU would have equaled the most points scored in a single half in the history of the program. Instead, the Cougars settled for a 55-14 lead at half-time – one point out of the 56 scored in 1997 against southwestern Louisiana.
No problem, there were records to be elsewhere.
Quarterback Gardner Minshew continued to refine his Heisman Trophy CV, completing 43 of his 55 passes for 473 yards and a seven-touch school record. Two of Leach's other quarterbacks, Luke Falk and Connor Halliday, have thrown six, but have never reached magic number seven.
Minshew could not remember a more productive day in his individual career.
"I think in high school I've had six, but I do not think I've done seven already. It was pretty crazy tonight. "
Minshew shared the ball as effectively as he did this season, hitting eleven different receivers and eight of them at least three times. Six players caught touchdowns from Carolina 's East Carolina graduate transfer on Saturday.
In order, they were: Calvin Jackson Jr., Dezmon Patmon, James Williams, Tay Martin, Jam Calvin and Easop Winston.
"We are two in all positions, X, H, Y, Z, running backwards," said Minshew. "And I have complete confidence in one of these guys and that has paid off tonight."
Jackson Jr., the transfer from Independence Community College, captured his first and second touchdown passes in a WSU uniform and finished with five receptions for 85 yards, while Martin led the crew with seven catches for 124 yards and one touchdown.
The versatile half-goals of the Cougars also helped make this match the highest score in the Leach era (he tied the 69-point WSU offense against Arizona two years ago). Williams scored a touchdown and another reception to bring his season total to 14, while Max Borghi ran for 50 yards, caught for 65 yards more and rushed for a touchdown in the first quarter.
The Cougars did not need a ton of help on a night when their attack generated 605 yards. The offensive line gained a lot of time at Minshew and opened the way for the riders, who finished with 111 yards and 5.8 yards per run.
"We thought, depending on how recently we played, that we could reach them," said AU coach Kevin Sumlin. "We could not, as everyone did all year, was not able to reach them."
The Wildcats (5-6, 4-4 Pac-12) constantly crushed their feet, taking six penalties in the first half for 72 yards. They also gave four turnovers.
"In front of a team that can score points like that, the goods are essential," said Sumlin. "You took away your property and gave it at least three or four with turnovers."
The Cougars were already leading comfortably 14-0 when the Wildcats finally won the first dive in their third offensive possession. Williams had scored the first WSU touchdown on a 1-meter run and the Cougars quickly recovered the ball when cornerback Marcus Strong made an impressive game as he returned to intercept quarterback Khalil Tate in Arizona.
WSU also had two touchdowns in four seconds in the second quarter. After Minshew was sent back to Jackson Jr. to take the score to 41-14, the Cougars recovered the kickoff of Jack Crane, who then reached the end zone after two players tried to fix it.
Kainoa Wilson finally jumped on the ball to allow the special teams to score 41-14.
"I just made the game," Wilson said, "but I credit the coach and the credits of my teammates, we all complement each other."
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