Washington state schools benefit from great QB play

PULLMAN – The Evergreen State has been treated to some pretty good football in 2016, what with No. 4 Washington and No. 23 Washington State both ranked in November (and the Seahawks atop the NFC West).

And, like their pro counterpart, the college teams have superior quarterback play to thank for their favorable positions. Huskies quarterback Jake Browning in a Heisman candidate, and Cougars passer Luke Falk probably should be, and probably will be if his team keeps winning.

Both quarterbacks had pretty incredible weekends, as well. Browning threw six touchdown passes and averaged 13.5 yards per pass attempt in UW’s 66-27 win at California. Per ESPN Stats & Info, Browning has thrown a touchdown on 15.5 percent of his passes this season, a figure that would break the record (11.6 percent) set by San Diego State’s Dennis Shaw in 1969.

Falk was perhaps even more spectacular in WSU’s 69-7 bludgeoning of Arizona. He threw for more touchdowns than incompletions, connecting on 32-of-35 passes for 311 and four scores. His 91.4 completion percentage was the best in school history.