WSU Football: With Marcus Mason the Cougs CAN Run the Ball, and a Lot More
By Josh Davis
Nov. 10, 2012; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington State Cougars running back Marcus Mason (35) gets past UCLA Bruins linebacker Isaiah Bowens (25) during the first half at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Marcus Mason has straight-up become Mr. Dependable over the past couple weeks of this season. Even before that, Mason was beginning to break into his own, taking the role of all-around running back to heart and not complaining about his carries.
Mason began to make more plays out of the backfield, becoming the pressure-release valve for Connor Halliday when there was nothing left down field. His sure hands and zig-zag maneuvers to matriculate the ball down the field have become a mainstay in this air raid offense, just as is intended by Mike Leach from his running backs.
The last two weeks, Mason has been more than a flair guy though, he’s become a running back! And they said it couldn’t be done!
With 10 carries for 88 yards on Saturday, he became the single game leader for rushing yards since Mike Leach arrived and it was the most yards from a WSU RB since Rickey Galvin went for 88 against UCLA in 2011.
He didn’t stop there though, nor did he stop in the flats. Mason was part of a couple huge hookups from Connor Halliday, the first coming from nine yards out on a throw back across the field into the end zone and then a long pass on another scramble to set up a Cougar field goal in the second half.
It’s fair to say Mason is becoming a huge recruiting product at the running back position for Washington State. The junior is more than just a token back, he’s becoming downright vital to the success of this offense.
Go Cougs!