Before Arizona State could even take the field on Saturday night, the team lost safety Marcus Ball (medical issue) and defensive end Jalen Bates (left leg injury). The losses were indicative of exactly how this season has gone for the Sun Devils, and helped contribute to a 44-18 loss against a Washington team that had dropped 10 in a row to ASU, and not beaten the Devils at home in 19 years.
Arizona State's last-place pass defense and injury riddled roster were the reasons the Sun Devils entered the game against Washington as massive underdogs, but it was the inability of the offense to move the ball when given opportunities that ultimately helped dig a hole that the Sun Devils were unable to get out of.
Arizona State started out receiving the kickoff, and with the aid of an early facemask penalty, a run by Demario Richard, and a short pass to Tim White, the Sun Devils were in Washington territory. That drive stalled, however, after Manny Wilkins was sacked, and the Sun Devils were forced to punt. The opening drive contained one of only two non penalty-aided first downs ASU's offense could muster in their first nine possessions.
Defensively, Arizona State held Jake Browning to 4 of 11 passing with 32 yards and an interception in the opening quarter, and managed to keep Washington out of the end zone despite Tim White fumbling a punt return away to the Huskies at the 11 yard line. On the first play of the second half, Browning was intercepted by Koron Crump. Crump seemed to have returned the interception for a touchdown, but Maurice Chandler was flagged for a controversial block in the back on Browning at the goal line, and instead of a 6-3 lead, Arizona State's offense produced a three play drive that ended with Kevin King making a one-handed interception on a throw meant for N'Keal Harry.
Washington would two plays later on a 75-yard screen pass from Browning to Chico McClutcher to give the Huskies a 10-0 lead that they never looked back from.
After the game Todd Graham commented on the Crump's interception, and how ASU's fortunes changed after the score was disallowed.
"I thought that was huge, because we'd take the lead right there. That was tough." Graham didn't, however, blame the officiating. Instead, he pointed to the overall issue of team discipline in the game. "We had nine penalties tonight. That's probably a record for us."
The amount of time Arizona State's defense was forced to spend on the field seemed to catch up with them by the end of the second quarter, because with 6:06 remaining in the first half, Jake Browning, who up until this point had been 6 of 15 with two interceptions, finished the half by going a perfect 8 for 8 for 122 yards and a touchdown, and giving Washington a 24-0 lead at the break.
"We were battling hard defensively," Todd Graham said after the game. "You know, we were playing so many snaps and not able to generate much."
Saftey Armand Perry agreed with Graham's sentiments. "I think for the most part we did good. We played sound vertically. We gave up an 80-yard screen pass on a walkoff post, but I think other than that the defense collectively did a good job, but we came up short. All credit to Washington. They came out with the 'W' tonight. All we can donis go back to the drawing board and correct what we made mistakes on."
Arizona State started to see some offensive progress in the second half, with Zane Gonzalez hitting a 50-yard field goal (his 7th of the season from 50+ yards), and Jay Jay Wilson catching two fourth down touchdown passes, but any progress was negated by Washington turning both of Arizona State's inside kick attempts into touchdowns of their own. First, on a 45 yard run by Myles Gaskin to make the score 37-11, and next on a return of Gonzalez' kick right up the middle by linebacker Keishawn Bierria to close the game out at 44-18.
Washington (10-1, 7-1) will face Washington State (8-3, 7-1) next week to see who will represent the north in the Pac-12 conference championship game.
Arizona State (5-6, 2-6) will take on Arizona (2-9, 0-8) in Tucson next Friday for an opportunity at bowl eligibility, as well as to retain the Territorial Cup. Todd Graham said that despite the defeat at Washington, who he called the best team ASU has played so far, and despite five consecutive losses, next week will be easy to get up for.
"This is the most important game of the year, every year for our guys, and for our fans."
