As heavy rain poured down on Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash. last Saturday night, the Sun Devils found their problems with penalties and turnovers wash away with it.
They put forth one of their best performances of the season against quarterback Jake Locker and the Huskies and came away with a 24-14 victory. Washington had previously pulled off a big upset against USC in the Coliseum.
ASU quarterback Steven Threet had been plagued by seven interceptions in the previous two games. He managed to only throw one in the fourth quarter against the Huskies. Threet passed for 288 yards, 200 of which came in the first half, and two touchdowns. He also had a one yard touchdown run that put the Sun Devils up 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. ASU’s defense took care of the rest.
They held Locker to 200 yards passing and one touchdown pass. He ran for the other touchdown to keep the Huskies within striking distance.
ASU’s field goal kicker Thomas Weber had trouble with the wet field as he failed to make two of his three field goals, one from 40 and the other from 47 yards out. His one made field goal was from 22 yards away. Washington’s kicker, Erik Folk, didn’t fare any better as he missed his only attempt of the game from 47 yards out.
The running game is always important on rainy days and ASU freshman Kyle Middlebrooks, who plays as both a receiver and a running back, kept the Devils going with seven rushes that added up to 58 yards, an average of 8.3 yards per run. He ran his longest for a big gain of 22 yards.
Washington’s final rally in the fourth quarter was stopped short in the end zone when ASU junior cornerback Omar Bolden intercepted Locker as he tried to connect with wide receiver Jordan Polk.
The Sun Devils now find themselves at the halfway point of the season with a 3-3 record. With tough matchups against USC, Stanford and U of A looming in the second half of their season, it is imperative for ASU to pick up wins against their next two opponents, California and Washington State, if they are to keep their bowl hopes alive.
ASU is currently in a bye week preparing for their Oct. 23 matchup with the California Golden Bears (3-2) in Berkeley.
