Demond Williams Jr. threw four touchdown passes and rushed for another and Washington scored 28 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to defeat Washington State 59-24 on Saturday in the Apple Cup in Pullman, Wash.
Jonah Coleman scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) for the Huskies (3-0), Denzel Boston had a pair of TD receptions and Alex McLaughlin intercepted two passes, returning one for a score.
For Washington State (2-2), Zevi Eckhaus completed 26 of 37 passes for 277 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Eckhaus also rushed for a score.
Williams was 16-of-19 passing for 298 yards and rushed for a game-high 88 yards on 13 attempts. Coleman added 59 yards on 12 carries and caught six passes for 104 yards. Boston had six receptions for 107 yards.
After the Cougars pulled within 31-24 late in the third quarter, Williams hit Boston with a 7-yard pass in the back right corner of the end zone to give the Huskies a 14-point lead with 12:59 remaining in regulation.
McLaughlin returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown with 11:34 left to make it 45-24 and the Huskies forced Eckhaus to fumble on WSU’s next play.
Coleman scored on a 34-yard screen pass from Williams four plays later, making it 52-24 with 10:08 to go.
Williams hit Omari Evans with a 59-yard scoring strike with 2:40 left to wrap up the victory.
The Huskies took a 24-10 halftime lead.
Williams hit Boston with a 29-yard scoring strike on the game’s first drive and, after an interception, Williams scampered untouched around the right end for a 23-yard TD.
The Cougars responded, with Eckhaus hitting freshman tight end Beau Baker on a 12-yard pass to pull WSU within 14-7 early in the second quarter.
Coleman dragged three defenders over the goal line on a 12-yard run.
The teams traded field goals before the intermission, with the Cougars’ Jack Stevens connecting on a 36-yarder and the Huskies’ Grady Gross converting from a career-long 51 yards with 25 seconds left in the half.
WSU scored on the opening drive of the second half, with Eckhaus hitting Devin Ellison on an 8-yard slant, to pull within 24-17.
After a failed onside kick, Coleman scored on a 2-yard run to put the Huskies back up by 14.
Eckhaus’ 1-yard plunge pulled the Cougars within 31-24 late in the third.
