NOTES: Tuel's 350 yards out of the ordinary

THIS IS HOW strange an Apple Cup it was. Jeff Tuel threw for 350 yards and... no touchdowns.

Tuel used 10 different receivers in the Cougs' 31-28 overtime Apple Cup win. But all three of Wazzu's touchdowns came on the ground, courtesy of Carl Winston.

Dominique Williams had a huge day, with eight grabs for 143 yards.

Tuel was 33-53 on the day for 350 hashes and two interceptions, neither of which were his fault. Both bounced off Cougar receivers' hands. And those 350 hashes through the air would have been more, perhaps much more, but for the series of drops and miscues by WSU wideouts left the Cougs down by 18 entering the fourth quarter.

But those who erred, came back and atoned for their mistakes, with tough runs after the catch (Isiah Myers), converted third downs (Gabe Marks) and two-point conversions (Brett Bartolone.)

THE MOST REMARKABLE catch was arguably made by Gino Simone. With WSU trailing by three, the senior somehow had the concentration to latch onto a bullet despite getting bumped and with two sets of hands -- his and the defender's -- surrounding the pass. And then he raced into Husky territory after the grab.

Simone made another great grab immediately after and then refused to go down until he picked up another couple yards. Every yard would count in this one -- and on this drive, with Andrew Furney connecting on a 45-yard field goal to tie it two plays later.

Tuel had his best game of the season and one play really captured it.

SCRAMBLING AND ALL but in in the Huskies' grasp, the senior QB cradled the ball and the back of his hand seemed to touch turf. But the ball didn't. And Tuel then had just a split second to find a crossing Myers, who picked his way downfield for another 20 yards.

Tuel stood tall and got absolutely blasted on the play, as Husky DE Andrew Hudson left his feet and launched himself helmet-first into Tuel's facemask for one of the Huskies' umpteenth penalties on the day.

Didn't matter. Tuel was rolling now. And so were the Cougs.