A back-and-forth shootout under the lights in San Diego brought viewers nationwide an offensive showcase but ultimately a disappointing ending to a generally successful Washington State football season.

The Cougars ended with a 52-35 loss against No. 22-ranked Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl on Friday night at Petco Park to wrap up the season with an 8-5 final record.

The Cougars, without their departed head coach, star quarterback and coveted offensive coordinator after a month of significant attrition, played with heart and pride throughout the entirety of the game, even ending the first quarter up by a touchdown.

But Syracuse (10-3) controlled this game with its offense throughout, with senior quarterback Kyle McCord lighting it up through the air, throwing for 453 passing yards and five touchdowns.

WSU got the scoring going early with senior quarterback Zevi Eckhaus on the ground, looking similar to former WSU quarterback John Mateer (who transferred this month to Oklahoma) and his ability to be more dual-threat than people imagined. Eckhaus put on a show on the evening himself, throwing for 363 yards, three touchdowns and 2 interceptions while also rushing for a score.

He showed a great connection with senior wide receiver Kyle Williams, who had 10 receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown.

But the Orange never trailed again after reeling off three touchdowns in the second quarter and eventually pulled away down the stretch. In addition to McCord's big game, running back LeQuint Allen had 165 total yards (120 rushing, 45 receiving) and three touchdowns on the evening while several wide receivers feasted for Syracuse, led by Darrell Gill Jr. (4 catches for 145 yards), Jackson Meeks (5 catches for 110 yards), Oronde Gadsden II (4-74, 2 TDs) and Trebor Pena (5-72-2).

WSU interim head coach Pete Kaligis opened his postgame press conference upset at the result on the scoreboard but also proud of how his team fought the entirety of the game, despite whatever the score said at the time.

“They fought and I’m so proud of them,” Kaligis said. “The one thing I do know, love never fails, and it won’t fail.”

Senior linebacker Kyle Thornton, who started as a walk-on and now six years later captaining the defense, talked in his final press conference in the crimson and gray about what it truly means to be a Coug and dealing with all the adversity the past 25 days.

“I know it’s pretty easy to keep track of the ones who don’t want to be a part of the team, but the Cougs who want be Cougs, they’re a little harder to track, but they’re in there,” Thornton said.

The Cougars played with heart, something Kaligis emphasized throughout all of bowl prep, and they played for themselves. Even though the score may say otherwise, WSU gave its full effort in its finale while fighting all the circumstances out of its control.

First quarter

9:47, WSU – Zevi Echkaus 4-yard run (Dean Janikowski PAT), WSU 7-0

7:03, Syracuse – Trebor Pena 19-yard catch from Kyle McCord (2pt NO GOOD), WSU 7-6

2:32, Syracuse – LeQuint Allen 12-yard run (McCord to Allen 2pt GOOD), Syracuse 14-7

1:22, WSU – Kyle Williams 66-yard pass from Eckhaus (Janikowski PAT), Tied 14-14

0:17, WSU – Josh Meredith 12-yard punt return (Janikowski PAT), WSU 21-14

Second quarter

12:53, Syracuse – Oronde Gadsden II 18-yard catch from McCord (Jackson Kennedy PAT), Tied 21-21

7:34, Syracuse – Allen 2-yard run (Kennedy PAT), Syracuse 28-21

0:12, Syracuse – Gadsden II 5-yard catch from McCord (Kennedy PAT), Syracuse 35-21

Third quarter

2:06, WSU – Carlos Hernandez 42-yard catch from Eckhaus (Janikowski PAT), Syracuse 35-28

1:19, Syracuse – Pena 45-yard catch from McCord (Kennedy PAT), Syracuse 42-28

Fourth quarter

9:19, Syracuse – Kennedy 30-yard field goal, Syracuse 45-28

3:23, Syracuse – Allen 33-yard catch from McCord (Kennedy PAT), Syracuse 52-28

0:09, WSU – Branden Ganashamoorthy 9-yard catch from Eckhaus (Janikowski PAT 52- 3), Syracuse 52-35

WR Kyle Williams

In his final game in the crimson and gray, Williams proved why he is such a threat to any opposing defense, racking up 172 receiving yards on 10 receptions from Eckhaus.

Eckhaus also showed out in his first FBS start in college football as well, giving Cougar fans some reassurance that they might have found their starting quarterback for the upcoming 2025 season. Eckhaus finished with four total touchdowns on the evening and 363 yards of passing offense -- not too bad for someone making their first start at the FBS level, coming from the FCS level.

Whether it was Mateer throwing him the football, or Eckhaus, or even last year with former WSU QB Cam Ward before he transferred to Miami, Williams is a playmaker that showed why he will be receiving some draft attention from scouts. His presence when he’s off the field is felt, and on the field, even more electric.

What a way for No. 2 to end his WSU career.

When your opponent scores 52 points in a college football game, it’s hard to say that anyone on the defense is deserving. But the entire unit, undersized and all, gave it their all against the best passing attack in the country for the Orange.

The Cougars had a slight disadvantage at the line of scrimmage, facing a veteran line that has good size, versus a thin defensive tackle room that is undersized and undermanned from the portal and injuries. But WSU was still able to get home to the quarterback to force big sacks when needed throughout all the defensive struggles. WSU let up a ton of yards and points to a very good offense, but it still played with full intensity for the full 60.

The Cougars knew the circumstances coming into this game -- 32 players in the transfer portal along with the head coach and offensive coordinator and no defensive coordinator, no running backs coach and no quarterbacks coach either. But that didn’t stop them at all.

The Cougars played for themselves and played this game for their seniors, and even though it wasn’t the result the team wanted, the group earned a lot of respect.

Marshall opted out of its bowl game against Army after many players entered the portal and the coaching staff departed. The Cougars didn’t. This was the best loss the Cougars have had the entire four-game losing skid to wrap up the season, not giving up until the end.

Passing

Zevi Eckhaus – 31 of 43 completions, 363 passing yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs

Rushing

Zevi Eckhaus – 11 carries for 28 yards, 1 TD

Leo Pulalasi – 14 carries for 61 yards

Djouvensky Schlenbaker – 2 carries for 4 yards

Josh Joyner – 2 carries for 10 yards

Christopher Barnes – 1 carry for -1 yard

Tony Freeman – 1 carry for 7 yards

Receiving

Kyle Williams – 10 receptions for 172 yards, 1 TD

Carlos Hernandez – 8 receptions for 80 yards, 1 TD

Josh Meredith – 5 receptions for 30 yards

Leo Pulalasi – 2 receptions for 5 yards

Branden Ganashamoorthy – 1 reception for 9 yards, 1 TD

Trey Leckner – 2 receptions for 31 yards

Djouvensky Schlenbaker – 2 receptions for 16 yards

Christopher Barnes – 1 reception for 20 yards

Defense

Josh Meredith – 1 punt return TD Stephen Hall – 5 tackles (4 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass deflection

Syrus Webster – 5 tackles (2 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack

Quinn Roff – 2 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss

Tyson Durant – 8 tackles (2 solo)

Nusi Malani – 2 tackles (1 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack

Kapena Gushiken – 1 solo tackle, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass deflection

Andrew Edson – 2 solo tackles, 1 pass deflection