Cougar Football Postgame Notes - Montana State - Washington State University Athletics

Cougar Football Postgame Notes - Montana State

September 03, 2017 | Football

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. - No. 24 Washington State opened the 2017 season with a 31-0 victory over Montana State at Martin Stadium Saturday evening. Check out the postgame notes and social media posts from the win.

GAME NOTES
•       Montana State won the toss, elected to receive
•       Jamal Morrow was the game captain for the 23^rd consecutive game
•       85 degrees at kickoff was the highest temperature for night kickoff since 2001 opener against Idaho (8/30), 82 degrees
•       Attendance: 30,254

TEAM NOTES
•       WSU notched its first season-opening win since 2011
•       WSU recorded its first shutout since 2013, 42-0 vs. Idaho
•       WSU held MSU to 143 yards of total offense, the fewest yards allowed since 2004, 125 vs. Colorado in Seattle
•       WSU held MSU to 28 yards passing, the lowest since 1994, 18 at Oregon State

PLAYER NOTES
•       17 players made their career debuts: Renard Bell (WR), Jamire Calvin (WR), Kyle Celli (LS), Mitchell Cox (P), Jack Crane (KO), Christina Haangana (ST), Sean Harper Jr. (ST), George Hicks III (CB), Tay Martin (WR), Chima Onyuekwu (ST), Justus Rogers (ST), Liam Ryan (ST), Dillon Sherman (ST), Deion Singleton (ST), Zaire Webb (ST), Josh Wastson (OL), Jahad Woods (LB)
•       Three players made their first career starts: Renard Bell (H), Fred Mauigoa (C), Hunter Dale (Nickel)
•       Luke Falk threw three touchdown passes, breaking Connor Halliday's WSU career passing TD record of 90, Falk now owns 92 career TD passes
•       Falk threw for 311 yards, his WSU-best 25^th career 300-yard game, passed Alex Brink for second in WSU history in career passing, now owns 11,204 career passing yards, trails Connor Halliday's record of 11,304
•       Falk recorded his 19^th career win, trails only Jason Gesser's WSU record of 24
•       Falk started the game with 20 consecutive completions, completed 21 straight against Arizona in 2016
•       James Williams caught 13 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns, setting WSU single-game records for receptions and receiving yards by a running back
•       James Williams caught his second and third career TD passes
•       Jamal Morrow tallied 116 all-purpose yards (89 rush, 5 rec), upping his career all-purpose yards to 3,238, eighth-most in WSU history
•       Tavares Martin Jr. caught his ninth career TD pass
•       Jamal Morrow's 29-yard TD run in the third quarter was the sixth rushing TD of his career.
•       Erik Powell connected from 40-yards out, upping his career FG total to 32, tying Rian Lindell for fifth-most in WSU history
•       Hercules Mata'afa recorded 1.5 sacks, now owns 13.5 in his career
•       Mata'afa tallied 2.5 tackles-for-loss, now owns 27 for his career
•       Garrett McBroom recorded his second career sack
•       Jalen Thompson made a team-best seven tackles and recorded his first career interception

Falk. Legend.

This TD pass makes him @wsucougfb's all-time leader in passing touchdowns.

?? @fs1 https://t.co/t69cHVTx9f
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 3, 2017

We think Herc is hungry tonight, what do you think? #GoCougs #SpeedD https://t.co/IVt4Q0MwqR
— WSU Cougar Football (@wsucougfb) September 3, 2017

The shutout is still intact for the #SpeedD courtesy of Thompson's INT #GoCougs https://t.co/ljS7eN3SOW
— WSU Cougar Football (@wsucougfb) September 3, 2017

James Williams set WSU single-game running back records for catches and receiving yards!#GoCougs #AirRaid #GroundAttack pic.twitter.com/GUQNq15BTk
— WSU Cougar Football (@wsucougfb) September 3, 2017

Postgame with the Cougs!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/uvxIQ338Fy
— WSU Cougar Football (@wsucougfb) September 3, 2017

Check out the highlights from the season-opening win over Montana State!#GoCougs https://t.co/DGM2mlD7dP
— WSU Cougar Football (@wsucougfb) September 4, 2017