Christian Caple’s keys to the WSU game

What went right

There was little that didn’t. Connor Halliday was as sharp as he’s been, completing 32 of 41 passes for 383 yards and five touchdowns. His only real mistake was an interception in the end zone. Otherwise, he ran WSU’s offense nearly to perfection. The Cougars’ defense allowed zero points in the second half for the second straight week.

What went wrong

The Cougars had a little trouble early in the game with getting Southern Utah off the field. The Thunderbirds converted a few third downs and moved the ball decently on their first few possessions, which kept at least some pressure on WSU in the first half. But none of it lasted. WSU also struggled a bit to generate a pass rush, but it eventually broke through.

Turning point

SUU had a chance to make it a one-score game before halftime – and was going to receive the second-half kickoff – but Damante Horton intercepted Aaron Cantu’s pass and returned it 72 yards for a TD with 38 seconds left in the first half. That made it WSU 28-10, and the Cougars rolled from there.

Difference makers

Horton, Daquawn Brown and Deone Bucannon each had interceptions. Receiver Dom Williams caught

two long touchdown passes and finished with 101 receiving yards on three catches. Cyrus Coen led

the team in tackles with 10, including one for loss. Kache Palacio started

at buck linebacker and had six tackles and a sack.