Gabe Marks Cover vs. Arizona
Washington State Athletics

Football Associated Press

Marks, Falk lead Cougars to third-straight win

Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Luke Falk threw for 514 yards and hit Gabe Marks on four of his five touchdown passes, helping resurgent Washington State beat Arizona 45-42 Saturday.

Washington State (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) beat Oregon in Eugene two weeks ago and tacked on another impressive road victory behind the arm of Falk to remain in the thick of the Pac-12 North race.

The sophomore completed 47 of 62 passes and had the most passing yards ever against Arizona, breaking the mark of 511 yards set by Arizona State's Ryan Kealy in 1998.

Marks caught eight passes for 97 yards, the last one a 9-yard touchdown that put the Cougars up 45-35.

Arizona (5-3, 2-3 Pac-12) rallied in the second half after Jerrard Randall replaced Anu Solomon at quarterback, but the Wildcats had no answer for Falk and Washington State's Air Raid offense.

Randall threw for 137 yards and ran for 105 on 10 carries. He hit Johnny Jackson on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left, but the Wildcats failed to come up with the onside kick.

Arizona rolled over Washington State 59-37 in Pullman last season in a game that featured 994 yards of offense.

This one had 1,114 total yards, though the Cougars got off to a quicker start behind Falk, who had thrown for 911 yards and 11 touchdowns the previous two games combined.

Given all kinds of time to throw by his offensive line, he made it look easy picking apart Arizona's secondary. Falk hit Marks on a 6-yard touchdown on the opening drive, then Marks turned a short pass into a 43-yard score and 14-0 lead.

Falk found Marks for a third score in the second quarter, a 1-yarder, and hit Kyrin Priester in the corner of the end zone for a 6-yard TD that put Washington up 28-14.

Falk had 335 yards and four touchdowns on 30-of-38 passing in the first half, helping Washington State build a 31-21 lead.

Arizona took a while to get its offense in gear, finally putting together a drive that led to Jared Baker's 1-yard touchdown run to open the second quarter.

Nate Phillips followed with a 69-yard punt return touchdown that tied the game at 14-all, but Shun Brown fumbled a kickoff to set up Priester's touchdown. Baker added a 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to keep the Wildcats within reach at halftime.

Falk kept firing and completing to start the second half, hitting Kyle Sweet on a 28-yard pass on third-and-19 to set up Gerard Wicks' 1-yard touchdown run to put the Cougars up 38-21.

Randall replaced Solomon on Arizona's second drive and reeled off a 59-yard run on his first play, but that drive ended with a turnover on downs at Washington State's 11.

Next series, Randall found Cayleb Jones on a 3-yard touchdown pass to pull the Wildcats within 38-28 late in the third quarter. Randall converted a fourth-and-2 with a run on the next drive and Baker pulled the Wildcats within 38-35 with a 6-yard touchdown run.

Falk ended Arizona's rally with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Marks, putting Washington State up 45-35.

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Players Mentioned

Luke Falk

#4 Luke Falk

QB
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Gabe Marks

#9 Gabe Marks

WR
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Kyrin Priester

#1 Kyrin Priester

WR
6' 1"
Sophomore
Kyle Sweet

#83 Kyle Sweet

WR
6' 0"
Freshman
Gerard Wicks

#23 Gerard Wicks

RB
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Luke Falk

#4 Luke Falk

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
QB
Gabe Marks

#9 Gabe Marks

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
WR
Kyrin Priester

#1 Kyrin Priester

6' 1"
Sophomore
WR
Kyle Sweet

#83 Kyle Sweet

6' 0"
Freshman
WR
Gerard Wicks

#23 Gerard Wicks

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
RB