With 17 seconds left in the game and the Cougars already up by 42 points against the Idaho Vandals, the game was out of reach.

However, the Vandals were only one yard away from not leaving Martin Stadium scoreless. On fourth down, with the ball on the WSU one yard line, Idaho running back James Baker received the ball from his quarterback and tried running the ball up middle, only to be stuffed by multiple WSU defensive players. The goal line stand for the Cougars resulted in a 42-0 victory and their first shutout at Martin Stadium since 1999.

“We each looked at each other in the eye, and we made a decision,” WSU safety Deone Bucannon said. “We’re not going to let them in our end zone, and we’re going to do everything we possibly can to stop them from getting in our end zone.”

Idaho’s failed goal line offensive possession at the end of the game summed up the night for the Vandals.

From the whistle at start of the game to the final whistle at the end, the WSU football team was in complete control of the game.

“Our team played great,” WSU wide receiver Gabe Marks said. “This [goal line stand] shows how bad we want to win, how bad we want to excel. That shows big growth in our team.”

Starting the game, the Cougar defense came out with fire and passion. In the first defensive play WSU linebacker Darryl Monroe raced through the offensive line to sack Idaho quarterback Chad Chalich for a two yard loss.

Once Bucannon made an interception in the middle of the first quarter, the WSU offense was able to build off that momentum and scored on a 43-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior quarterback Connor Halliday.

However, it wasn’t until the second quarter that the Air Raid offense started to come alive. Halliday started to settle down, and he controlled the offense. Halliday threw for three touchdowns in the quarter while the defense continued to shut down Idaho’s offense.

“I thought as a team that was our best quarter,” Head Coach Mike Leach said.

Going into halftime up 28-0, the Cougars would not look back, and WSU continued to attack the Vandals in the air and in the running game. In the third quarter, with the WSU offense on the Idaho 13-yard line, running back Jeremiah Laufasa received the ball from Halliday and saw a huge hole provided by the offensive line and walked into the end zone for a touchdown.

“I always praise my o-line afterwards,” Laufasa said.

Laufasa ran for two touchdowns in the game. His other touchdown came in fourth quarter on a three yard run, which put the Cougars up 42-0.

“Hard runner,” Leach said. “Hits the hole, hits it hard.”

Halliday finished the night with four touchdown passes, 346 yards passing and two interceptions in the game.

Out of the 346 yards passing, Marks recorded 146 of the yards and had two touchdown receptions.

“Today was just a good day for me,” Marks said.

On the defensive side of the ball, Bucannon recorded an interception and had a monster hit on Idaho running back Kristoffer Olugbode, which resulted in a forced fumble and turnover for the Vandals.

“I just like to play my heart out for my team no matter what,” Bucannon said.

The win against the Vandals results in the Cougars’ third straight win of the season, which gives the Cougars momentum heading into Pac-12 play.

“I think it’s something we’ve built on since spring ball and gone into Lewiston,” Halliday said. “There’s just a different feel around this team. This is the closest group of guys I’ve ever been around.”

WSU will play in Seattle Saturday at Century Link Field and host the No.5 team in the nation, the Stanford Cardinal.

“As long as we go in there and make our plays, we’ll be fine,” Marks said.