WSU quarterback Luke Falk steps up after Connor Halliday's injury
After Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday left the Cougs' game against the USC Trojans with a severe leg injury, Luke Falk was able to keep Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense flying high. The walk-on threw a touchdown late in the second quarter to cut the USC lead to 24-7 and another in the fourth quarter on a 4th-and-goal.
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USC would pull away for the 44-17 win, as seen on the Pac-12 Networks, but Falk would perform admirably in relief duty, going 38-for-57 for 370 yards, two touchdowns and one pick.
An official confirmation on Halliday’s injury has yet to be reported, but Leach confirmed to reporters after the game that his quarterback was undergoing surgery, according to the Spokesman Review's Jacob Thorpe. Immediately after Halliday's injury, USC captain and quarterback Cody Kessler came onto the field to comfort WSU's quarterback while medical staff attended to him.
Our best wishes to Connor Halliday. USC's Cody Kessler with a classy move to comfort his peer. #USCvsWSU pic.twitter.com/L0ex3sGdOR
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) November 1, 2014
The only silver lining for the Cougars is that Falk showed signs that he has the poise and the smarts to keep Washington State's offense moving. Falk said after the game that he expects to start moving forward, according to Thorpe.