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Arizona builds big lead, cruises past Cougars

Oct 26, 2014 - 5:16 AM Pullman, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Anu Solomon threw five touchdown passes against a deplorable Washington State defense, leading 15th-ranked Arizona to a 59-37 rout on Saturday.

Solomon did most of his damage in the first half, as the Wildcats (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) jumped out to a 31-0 lead early in the second quarter. Washington State's potent offense woke up after that, but the damage was done.

Solomon threw for 294 yards on 26-of-38 passing efficiency, Terris Jones- Grigsby ran 13 times for 107 yards and five different players hauled in touchdown receptions in the dominant victory.

Connor Halliday, who set the NCAA single-game passing record earlier this season, stuffed the stat sheet once again, but most of his crooked numbers came with the game already out of reach. Halliday completed 56-of-79 for 489 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Vince Mayle led all receivers with 14 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown, and Isiah Myers scored twice among his six grabs for 95 yards.

Washington State (2-6, 1-4) has dropped four straight home games to the Wildcats.

"I thought we battled the whole game," WSU head coach Mike Leach said. "We were explosive, but erratic. I think that's true of both sides of the ball."

The Cougars punted following a three-and-out on their opening possession, and Davonte' Neal dashed through defenders and down the left sideline for an 81-yard return score to give Arizona an early lead.

Casey Skowron kicked a 31-yard field goal on Arizona's next possession and later in the first, Solomon got in on the fun, throwing two touchdown passes.

Solomon was 7-for-8 for 75 yards on the next series, which Neal capped with a 2-yard touchdown catch. Wazzou then gambled on fourth down on its own 34-yard line but was stuffed, setting up the Wildcats in prime field position. On second down, Solomon stepped up in the pocket and hit Nate Phillips in stride around two defenders to make it 24-0.

"We've been lacking a fast start the last few games and thank God we started fast this week," Solomon said.

Cayleb Jones hauled in a short touchdown catch to extend the lead to 31-0 before Washington State started showing signs of life.

Halliday and Myers hooked up for a pair of touchdown passes and Jared Baker fumbled a kick return with less than two minutes to go, setting up Quentin Breshears' 40-yard field goal near the end of the half.

Arizona owned a 31-16 edge at the break, and its offense got rolling again after halftime with a 6-play, 61-yard trek. Samajie Grant's 41-yard reception highlighted the drive and Nick Wilson punched it in from two yards out.

Solomon threw touchdown passes to Austin Hill and Trey Griffey to push the margin to 52-16 heading to the fourth.

Gerard Wicks pounded it in from one yard out and Halliday hit Mayle for an 8- yard score. Erik Powell tried an onside kick following the touchdown, but Jones scooped it up and ran in for another Arizona touchdown.

Tyler Baker's 8-yard touchdown reception from Halliday in the final seconds capped the scoring.

Game Notes

Jamal Morrow had 11 catches for 70 yards for Washington State, while star wide receiver River Cracraft left early in the game with an injury ... Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright III had three sacks. He has at least one sack in six of seven games this season.