Jayden de Laura passed for four touchdowns and Max Borghi ran for a career-high 139 yards as Washington State handled Arizona 44-18 on a foggy, snowy Friday night in Pullman, Wash.
Calvin Jackson Jr. and Travell Harris each caught two touchdown passes to help the Cougars (6-5, 5-3 Pac-12) reach bowl eligibility. De Laura completed 13 of 22 passes for 259 yards with no interceptions.
Borghi, a senior playing in his final home game, carried 16 times and eclipsed 2,000 career rushing yards in the win. His previous career-high rushing total for a game was 128 yards against New Mexico State to open the 2019 season.
Arizona (1-10, 1-7) trailed 37-7 in the third quarter but closed within 37-18 on a 27-yard pass from Will Plummer to Michael Wiley early in the fourth quarter. Washington State closed the door on any comeback attempt when Jackson slipped behind the defense over the middle for a 78-yard touchdown reception to make it 44-18 with 8:37 left.
Jackson caught four passes for 133 yards. Harris made six receptions for 95 yards.
Borghi’s second touchdown run, on a 2-yard option pitch early in the third quarter, helped give Washington State control with a 28-7 lead.
The Cougars rolled from there, blocking a punt for a safety and getting a 31-yard touchdown pass to Harris on the ensuing possession to make it 37-7 with 7:10 to go in the third quarter.
Plummer was 24-of-42 passing for 222 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception.
Washington State led 7-0 before a flurry of scoring late in the second quarter.
The Cougars pushed the lead to 14-0 on an 8-yard pass to Harris with 4:28 to go before halftime. Arizona responded with a 71-yard run by Drake Anderson that set up an 11-yard touchdown pass to Boobie Curry on fourth-and-2 to make it 14-7.
Washington State needed only 56 seconds to score again. Deon McIntosh busted loose for a 38-yard run before de Laura threw deep to Jackson for a 43-yard score with 1:26 remaining in the half.
–Field Level Media
