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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Luke Falk’s cool-under-pressure attitude has rubbed off on his Cougars teammates

Unflappable QB Luke Falk directs Cougars’ game-winning drive against the Ducks last Saturday. (Ryan Kang / Associated Press)

PULLMAN – It’s a wonder that Luke Falk never developed an aversion to end zones, considering the fiery nature of his imaginary childhood touchdowns.

Long before he starred at Utah’s Logan High, transferred to California’s Oaks Christian and then back to Logan, before he walked on at Washington State, earning a scholarship and then a starting spot as a sophomore, Falk quarterbacked the Denver Broncos.

And his opponent was always the Oakland Raiders.

The teams were evenly matched and the score was always close in the final minute, but the Broncos had Falk, who time and again called his own number and dived across the goal line.

The goal line, of course, being a pile of his mother’s pillows stacked high against the active fireplace Falk had inexplicably designated the end zone. Analee Falk is likely both relieved that a charred pillow was the only casualty of these make-believe rivalry bouts, and perturbed about donating her cushion to the cause.

But at least her boy was developing useful skills.

“I always envisioned myself winning the game and getting it done,” Falk said.

Falk no longer has to imagine what it feels like to have the ball in his hands in a do-or-die situation with just seconds on the clock. Those come up constantly for he and the Cougars offense.

In WSU’s (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12) first five games, the Cougars offense has taken the field for one final drive needing to score to avoid a loss four times. Falk has led them to victory twice.

The first chance began well. WSU was down by a touchdown against Portland State and had 2:18 seconds to drive 75 yards. Falk picked up two first downs but the second of them came when he took it upon himself to rush for the necessary yards and – no cushions this time – was injured while diving forward.

Most recently, Falk stared down a raucous Autzen Stadium crowd to throw a touchdown pass to Dom Williams to force overtime against Oregon in what would eventually be a WSU victory.

That success rate in those situations – 2 for 3 with an incomplete – is unusual.

The last time the Cougars even had a comparable drive was in 2013 at Arizona when Connor Halliday threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Isiah Myers.

But the stakes were lower in that situation. The game was already tied and a failure to score would not have guaranteed a loss.

WSU coach Mike Leach credits Falk’s unflappable nature for his success in high-pressure situations and says that poise rubs off on the team.

“I think he’s been a very composed figure out there on those and I think that has rubbed off on the rest of the team,” Leach said. “It starts with the expectation that you can march down and score, and he does a good job keeping everybody clear-headed in those games.”

His teammates have also noticed the way he is willing to sacrifice his body in games and in practice to accomplish their shared goal of winning.

“He’s got that aura to him and he’s really gritty on the field,” wide receiver Gabe Marks said. “He’s not like a lot of the quarterbacks today, real pretty and stuff like that. He’s like one of us. He likes to get out there and get dirty with us.”

Before Falk can clear his teammates heads, first he’s got to take care of his own. Falk denies that he has any particular rituals he performs on the sideline, but the process he goes through before every big drive sure seems ritualistic.

First, Falk starts throwing some passes, typically to backup quarterback Peyton Bender. While he does so, he begins to repeat positive affirmations to himself. You can spot him doing this if the TV cameras find him.

Once his body is occupied with throwing and the mantras have cleared his brain, he begins to visualize what he will see once he steps on the field. What looks the defense will be in, what plays the offense will run, whom his reads will be.

Then he gathers his teammates, maybe tells a couple jokes to dissipate the growing tension and leads the offense on a game-deciding drive. Just with fewer pillows, and absolutely no flames.