The two prime candidates for Washington State's No. 1 quarterbacking role played a game of role reversal Tuesday that cast them both in a flattering light.
In 11-on-11 drills to conclude the afternoon practice at Sacajawea Junior High in Lewiston, Connor Halliday consistently found receivers on short and intermediate routes and Austin Apodaca completed a home-run pass - a flip-flop of their purported strengths.
Thus capped a sun-baked Day 5 of preseason football camp, the first in full pads, and both QBs declared it one of the most efficient of their careers. That's a strong statement for Halliday, a junior with six career starts who's launching his second season under coach Mike Leach.
"I wouldn't say it's the best day I've ever had here (at WSU), but it's the best day I've had with Leach, going through reads," Halliday said. "In skelly (7-on-7), I didn't have a big play but I hit four checkdowns. (Normally) I hit big plays - the harder thing for me is get to the checkdowns, so I was happy with that."
Apodaca, a second-year freshman, was comparably productive and furnished the workout's late highlight with a long touchdown pass to a streaking, wide-open Vince Mayle.
"I was talking to someone about spring (camp), how confused I was trying to get a grip on the offense, trying to rush things," Apodaca said. "I'm still not there yet. I've still got a lot to improve on, a long way to go. But I've gotten a lot better since spring."
The on-field rapport between quarterbacks and receivers, Apodaca said, "is even light-years ahead of where we were in the spring."
The Cougars, who open their season Aug. 31 at Auburn, will work out again at 3 p.m. today at the Lewiston Orchards junior high.
