PULLMAN, Wash. _ In essence, Washington State's 69-7 romp against Arizona in front of a sold out Dad's Weekend crowd at Martin Stadium on Saturday felt like a culmination of everything the Cougars had been building toward ever since that now-distance 0-2 start to the season.
At home again for the first time in three weeks, the Cougars shook off all the drama from Robert Barber's ongoing fight against his suspension this week, and dominated the Wildcats from start to finish.
The Cougars' 69 points were the most they've scored since a 77-7 win at home against Southwest Louisiana in 1997.
The game was an exhibition showcase for the potency of the Air Raid offense operating at its peak, and its triggerman, quarterback Luke Falk, was resplendent, going 32 of 35 for 311 yards and four touchdowns, and completing 22 straight passes at one point.
Falk played only three quarters, but set a school record and career-best with a 91.4 completion percentage that's also the highest of any quarterback nationally with at least 35 pass attempts in a game since 2004.
WSU put its slow start against Oregon State firmly behind it, scoring 38 consecutive points before the hapless Arizona offense got on the board with a desperate Anu Solomon heave into double coverage that Cam Denson turned into a 47-yard touchdown.
With his big day, Falk also passed Alex Brink for second place on WSU's all-time career list for touchdown passes.
Falk's first touchdown of the day _ an 8-yard score caught by James Williams _ tied him with Brink with 76 career touchdown passes, and put the Cougars up, 10-0.
Career touchdown pass No. 77 came toward the end of the first quarter, when he connected with Gabe Marks for a 2-yard score.
Falk followed up with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Tavares Martin to begin the second quarter and put WSU up 31-0, and capped off his day with a 4-yard pass to Martin to finish with 79 in his career thus far.
In between Falk's three touchdown passes, the Cougars sprinkled in some ground-and-pound from WSU's three-headed running back monster.
Gerard Wicks finished with 7 carries for 44 yards, and a pair of first half 1-yard touchdown runs.
Williams led the running backs, rushing 12 times for 72 yards, and catching nine balls for 45 receiving yards, with a receiving touchdown and a rushing score _ a 4-yard run that capped a 75-yard, 5:44 drive to open the second half. He also popped off a couple more of the highlight reel-worthy runs he's becoming known for.
Jamal Morrow was dynamite on punt returns, taking one 36 yards to start the Cougars' offense out at Arizona's 25-yard-line, then stiff-arming and dragging defenders behind him on a 29-yard return that set the Cougars up close to midfield in the second quarter.
The Cougar defense pulled its weight too, forcing a 3-and-out to start the game, then coming up with two turnovers in the first half _ a Shalom Luani interception and 19-yard return, and a nifty forced fumble by Isaac Dotson, who yanked down Solomon with his left arm while reaching for the ball with his left. Peyton Pelluer recovered to give the ball back to WSU's offense.
For 43 out of the first 45 minutes, the Cougars' starters embarrassed a Wildcats team thinned by injury. Then, up 52-7 by the end of the third quarter, WSU pulled its offensive starters and gave the fans a glimpse of backup quarterback Tyler Hilinski.
Hilinski showed promise. His first career touchdown pass was a 71-yard bomb to River Cracraft, and he followed that with a 9-yard pass that true freshman receiver Isaiah Johnson-Mack caught for his first career touchdown reception.
WSU outgained Arizona 619 yards to 286, and held the Wildcats to 2-of-10 on third down conversions.
