Doubt in Connor Halliday, starting quarterback for Washington State, was evident after WSU’s game against USC. With not one offensive point scored against the Trojan defense, questions arose about how this season would continue; but last weekend changed those opinions.

Halliday’s fast progression as a passer is likely due to his competition with Austin Apodaca, the second string quarterback for WSU, and the person Cougar fans take a glance at on the sidelines whenever Halliday throws a head scratching interception. Apodaca got his first chance to play toward the end of the game against Southern Utah, when the victory was well in hand for the Cougs.

 “I think he does really good in practice, he just needs to go in there and get enough play so that he can show what he can do,” Leach said. “The first (pass from Apodaca) was really good; he hit (wide receiver, River Cracraft) right in the chest. Just don’t try to make too much happen. Just settle down and go play.”

After last weekend’s win over Southern Utah, with a final score of 48-10, it’s hard not to believe in what this quarterback has to offer for the new season. He is steadily improving in each game, and that showed on Saturday. Halliday passed for five touchdown throws, putting his career total at 30; ahead of former WSU quarterback Mark Rypien, who had 28.

Southern Utah didn’t score the entire second half of the game and only gained 219 yards, according to Cougcenter.com. Halliday completed his first 10 passes of the game, as well as recorded his seventh 300-yard game of his career.

It’s easy to blame the quarterback when things aren’t going well for a team, but there are several different factors that contribute to wins and losses.

Inconsistency is the biggest challenge Halliday will have to overcome this season. His biggest problem in the game against Auburn was the amount of interceptions he threw. He came into Saturday’s game with one touchdown pass and five interceptions on the season, an unflattering stat line to say the least.

However, he trotted off the field at Martin Stadium with six total touchdown passes, equaling his interception total for the year. This is an improvement that is likely to keep the redshirt junior under center for the rest of the season.

It’s hard to know what happened to Halliday during the Auburn and USC games, whether it was nerves, the intense stadium crowd or just unforced error, but if last weekend taught us any type of lesson, it would be to not count out Halliday just yet.