Sun Devils run out of comebacks, lose 37-27 to WSU
Freshman quarterback Connor Halliday threw for 494 yards and four touchdowns as Washington State beat Arizona State 37-27 on a wet, snowy Saturday night.
Arizona State (6-4, 4-3 Pac-12) missed out on a chance to regain control of the South Division race after UCLA lost earlier Saturday.
Washington State (4-6, 2-5) needed a win to stay in contention for a bowl and perhaps save coach Paul Wulff's job.
Despite a mix of rain and snow and temperatures in the 30s, the game featured few turnovers and plenty of offense.
Halliday, seeing his first extensive playing time at quarterback, completed 27 of 36 passes, and the yardage was a freshman passing record for WSU.
Marquess Wilson caught eight passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns for WSU. Isiah Barton caught seven passes for 155 yards and a touchdown.
After a WSU fourth-quarter punt, Arizona State marched 58 yards to the Cougars' 9. But quarterback Brock Osweiler and Cameron Marshall were stopped a yard short of a first down, and the Sun Devils turned the ball over on downs. Washington State then drove 89 yards, with Halliday hitting a diving Barton on an 18-yard touchdown pass for a 30-27 lead with 8:55 left in the game.
Arizona State drove to the WSU 5, but two passes and a run failed to produce a touchdown, and Alex Garoutte's 21-yard field goal attempt missed left with 5:45 remaining.
Washington State mounted a drive from its 4, with Carl Winston rushing over from the 1 for a 37-27 lead with 1:50 to play.
Arizona State's Jamal Miles returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
Halliday hit Wilson in stride for an 85-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter, but the extra point failed on a bad snap. The reception pushed Wilson over the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season.
Garoutte kicked a 39-yard field goal for Arizona State early in the second quarter. Washington State's Andrew Furney replied with a 39-yard field goal on the Cougars' next possession.
Arizona State drove to the WSU 6, but a 2-yard run and two incomplete passes caused it to settle for Garoutte's 22-yard field goal and a 13-9 lead midway through the second quarter.
Halliday's 23-yard touchdown loft to Wilson capped a 74-yard drive and gave the Cougars a 16-13 lead with 1:15 left in the half.
But Osweiler marched the Sun Devils down the field, and Marshall ran over from the 2 for a 20-16 ASU lead at halftime.
Halliday and Wilson hooked up for a third touchdown pass, a 19-yarder with 6:40 left in the third quarter that lifted WSU to a 23-20 lead.
Back came Arizona State, with Osweiler throwing a 16-yard scoring pass to Gerell Robinson for a 27-23 lead after three quarters.