With A Back Up Quarterback Starting Washington State Overcomes, Defeats UNLV 35-27

You might think the odds would not be with Washington State coming to Las Vegas with a back-up quarterback starting.

Well that back-up quarterback, Connor Halliday threw for 26 of 45 passes for 378 yards and four touchdowns as Washington State defeated UNLV 35-27.

With those kind of numbers what went on in Vegas for Wazzou doesn’t need to stay in Vegas.

Halliday knew he would start in the middle of the week and responded with a terrific game and the Cougars second win of the year. Jeff Tuel was the starter but Halliday stepped in Friday night and if Mike Leach was auditioning Halliday let’s just say he nailed it.

“I feel like I made a decent case,” Halliday said. “I need to play better in the fourth quarter.”

“For a guy who hadn’t played football for a long time, I thought he played good.” Washington State head coach Mike Leach said.  “I thought, really calm for a guy that hasn’t played a lot. I think his demeanor with his team was good.”

Here’s Connor Halliday after the game.

 


And Mike Leach.

Wazzou Loses To BYU In Mike Leach's Coaching Debut

Mike Leach’s debut as Washington State head coach did leave a milestone.  The Cougars didn’t score a touchdown in its season opener for the first time since 1971.

Washington State did put up some impressive offensive numbers totaling 229 yards passing.  Cougar quarterback Jeff Tuel completed 30 of 45 passes but two interceptions.

The run game, well that will get some attention this week in practice.  Wazzou -5 yards rushing.  Ouch.

The BYU defense was dominant.

“I don’t think coaching-wise we had them prepared to play, for whatever reason,” Washington State head coach Mike Leach said. 

BYU quarterback Riley Nelson torched the Wazzou defense.  Nelson completed 25 of 36 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns.

"Riley [Nelson] is competitive and so tough," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "He has great leadership and that suits him really well. He demands respect, and when it's hurry up, he gets everyone to the line and pushes the ball forward."

Here’s the highlights.  (Thanks BYU Productions)

 

 

 

Mike Leach Will "Swing His Sword" Against Alma Mater BYU

Mike Leach makes his Washington State coaching debut Thursday night.  Leach’s Cougars travel to Provo, Utah to face BYU, which happens to be Leach’s alma mater.

Here’s Leach talking about the upcoming game. (Thanks KREM-TV, Spokane, WA)

Leach’s Washington State team will toss the football around the field.  Other than that Wazzou doesn’t have a whole lot.  There are concerns about the Cougar offensive line and the defense is just not up to par.

BYU is a veteran team and head coach Bronco Mendenhall likes how physical his team is. While BYU’s secondary will be tested by Wazzou’s receivers their trio of linebackers, Kyle Van Noy, Brandon Ogletree and Uona Kaveinga are pretty darn good.  Van Noy is the star of the group.

Bottom line Wazzou will do some good things but BYU will wear down the Washington State defense and should win this game rather easy. 

OSG predicted score: BYU 48, Wazzou 10