The Washington State Cougars put on an offensive show on Saturday, scoring at will in their 59-7 victory over the UNLV Rebels. The Cougars posted 664 total offensive yards en route to eight touchdowns.
The Cougars scored five touchdowns in the first half to take a commanding 35-0 halftime lead. Running back Rickey Galvin started things off with a 48-yard touchdown carry less than three minutes into the game, and quarterback Marshall Lobbestael tossed in four touchdowns of his own to three different receivers. Jared Karstetter caught two of those passes while Isiah Burton and Andrei Lintz caught one apiece.
The Cougars kept them offensive momentum into the second half, though this time they interspersed some field goals amongst their touchdowns. Andrew Furney knocked in a 46-yarder and Lobbestael found Marquess Wilson for a seven-yard touchdown to increase the score to 45-0 by the end of the third quarter.
Lobbestael left the game after that throw and had a good game with 361 passing yards and five touchdowns on 24-of-32 passing. He has done a good job in replacing WSU starter Jeff Tuel, who is out with a broken collarbone.
Lobbestael was replaced by Connor Halliday, and Halliday kept the offense rolling in the fourth quarter. Halliday found Kristoff Williams for a 57-yard touchdown and Bennett Bontemps for a 10-yard score. He finished with 110 yards and two touchdowns on 5-of-6 passing.
The Cougars surrendered their lone score with 5:29 left in the contest when UNLV's Alex Gauper returned a kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown. The touchdown eliminated a potential shutout and made the final score 59-7.
In addition to Lobbestael, who led the offense with over 300 yards and five touchdown passes, Galvin helped pioneer the Cougars' attack by adding on 80 rushing yards and one touchdown. Wilson led the receivers with 102 yards and one touchdown on five receptions. Six different WSU receivers caught a touchdown pass during the game.
The Cougars move to 2-0 on the season. They face San Diego State on the road next week.