The Washington State Cougars effectively paper-cut Montana State to death last Saturday. Rather than stretch the field against a team hell bent on dropping everyone they could into coverage, they hit underneath routes and relied on the running game.
And they busted out the shovel pass.
Falk netted four completions, 61 yards and two touchdowns off this play. In a game somewhat lacking in downfield explosives, this was the Cougs’ big play.
The shovel pass is essentially a draw play. The quarterback will give a two-Mississippi sell like he’s scanning downfield then flip the ball forward to a running back pretending to pass block.