PULLMAN – Connor Halliday delivered one of the most memorable performances in Washington State football history Saturday night, but it might not be good enough to earn his first college start.
This Saturday’s final home game is Senior Day, and coach Paul Wulff said that “absolutely” could have an impact on determining whether Halliday or senior Marshall Lobbestael starts at quarterback against Utah (2 p.m., no TV).
Halliday, a redshirt freshman whose only previous action came in mop-up duty in blowout victories in early September in WSU’s first two games, replaced Lobbestael on the Cougars’ third possession Saturday – as planned beforehand -- against Arizona State. On his first play, Halliday hit Marquess Wilson in stride for an 85-yard touchdown.
On a snowy night in Pullman, Halliday demonstrated remarkable touch on passes of all types. The former Spokane prep standout finished with four touchdown passes and 494 passing yards – just shy of Alex Brink’s school record of 531, and the most by a freshman in nearly a century of football in the Pacific-12 Conference and its forefathers.
“He came out and played his heart out and just showed us his character with his leadership,” Wilson said. “He just showed us how to go out there and keep fighting, no matter what the score was.”
“I just wanted to get a chance,” said Halliday, whose passing yardage ranks 10th in conference history.
The Cougars, one loss away from being eliminated from bowl consideration, came from behind three times to register a 37-27 win against an Arizona State team that has been ranked in the Top 25 much of the season.
“Connor obviously did a great job,” Wulff said. “He’s got a great knack. He’s got a lot of growing to do, but he did a lot of great things.”
“He’s a great kid,” offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy said. “He’s going to have a great career here.”
Halliday credited just about everyone but himself – Sturdy, receivers, offensive linemen, the defense, etc. -- for the victory. Halliday said he drew inspiration from a team meeting earlier in the day with Steve Gleason, the former WSU star who is fighting for his life with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).
“A great role model,” Halliday said.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the building on the football team,” Wulff said. “He is a special guy and a big part of this victory.”
EXTRA POINTS
Wilson moved into first in the Pac-12 and fifth in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 119.7 receiving yards per game. Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson, interviewed on WSU’s pregame radio show, said Wilson “might be the best receiver in the country.” ... Wulff said some of the four true freshmen on WSU’s kickoff coverage team may be replaced by starters or other older players. The Cougars gave up their fourth kickoff return TD Saturday – no other team has yielded more than two – and fell to 110th (out of 120 teams) in average kickoff returns yardage allowed. The Cougars led the nation in 2010. ... Wulff said starting middle linebacker C.J. Mizell (bruised shoulder) “should be back” Saturday after missing a game. Wulff said starting defensive end Lenard Williams is “very doubtful” after suffering a sprained knee against ASU.
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