Nov. 5, 2005
Nate Policar, ASU Sports Information
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PULLMAN, Wash. - Using the combined arms of their two Rudys, the Arizona State Sun Devils defeated the Washington State Cougars 27-24 behind a pair of defensive stands in the fourth quarter at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. Freshman Rudy Carpenter threw for two touchdowns and 381 yards on 28-of-43 passing while sophomore tailback Rudy Burgess also threw for a touchdown.
The Sun Devils scored on their first drive of the game as Carpenter moved the ball across midfield for the Sun Devils with long completions to receivers Terry Richardson and Chad Christensen. However, it was Burgess who threw the first touchdown pass of the game, finding Derek Hagan on a 43-yard halfback pass to give the Sun Devils an early 7-0 lead. Hagan finished the game with six catches for 139 yards.
After recovering a fumble, Carpenter had a pass picked off in the end zone. Starting from the 20-yard line, the Cougars took advantage of the situation and Jerome Harrison tied the game when he broke free on a 61-yard touchdown rush. With just under three remaining in the first, the score was tied at 7-7.
The Sun Devils struck quickly and scored before the end of the first quarter. Driving 87 yards in just 1:51, Carpenter led the charge with a 28-yard pass to Burgess. Finding sophomore tight end Zach Miller on two consecutive receptions for 13 yards, Carpenter connected with sophomore receiver Terry Richardson on a 10-yard touchdown pass to put the Devils ahead 14-7 at the close of the first quarter.
Carpenter began the second quarter where he left off, finding Zach Miller for a gain of 19 yards to begin the Devils next possession. With the ball nearly at midfield, he then connected with Hagan for a 59-yard passing gain, which setup a 19-yard field goal by Jesse Ainsworth, extending the ASU lead to 17-7. The Devils then struck again quickly, forcing a WSU punt and driving 74 yards. After a 20-yard completion to Burgess brought the Sun Devils into the red zone, Carpenter found Zach Miller again, this time for a five-yard touchdown, giving the Devils a 24-7 lead.
With the first half nearing its close, the Cougars chipped away at the lead, as Lorenzo Bursey returned the kickoff 39 yards to cross midfield. The Cougars' Loren Langley nailed a 40-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 24-10 heading into the half.
The Sun Devils opened the half with another scoring drive. Freshman Keegan Herring broke a 28-yard run to set the Sun Devils up to score more points. After reaching the goal line, an offensive pass interference penalty moved the Sun Devils back and a third down pass from Carpenter to Hagan for a touchdown was overturned after replay, forcing the Sun Devils to settle with a 33-yard field goal and a 27-10 lead.
But the Cougars would not go quietly, as they scored the next 14 points to close the gap. On the next drive, Alex Brink had two 20-yard completions and WSU tailback Jerome Harrison continued to give the ASU defense fits, as he ran the ball in for a touchdown from the ASU seven-yard line. Following a punt by the Devils, the Cougars struck again quickly, gaining 91 yards in just 1:21. After guiding WSU to the 50-yard line, Brink connected with Jason Hill on a 49-yard reception to cut the lead to just 27-24 after three.
The Cougars opened a see-saw fourth quarter with an opportunity to tie the game, but a field goal attempt by Langley from the 50-yard line hit the left upright. ASU drove down the field and entered WSU territory threatening to score, but a Carpenter fumble gave the ball back to the Cougars. With six minutes left, the Cougars had seemingly tied it after making a 25-yard field goal, but elected to accept an ASU offsides penalty and try for the touchdown from the one-yard line. ASU senior Dale Robinson dropped WSU's Harrison for a one-yard loss and gave the ball back to the Devils.
Taking over after a punt with just over five minutes remaining in the game, WSU again had a chance to tie the score. A short punt and a penalty had the Cougars lined up to score, but a 12-yard sack by ASU's DeWayne Hollyfield on a third down play proved to be the difference maker in the game, as Langley missed a 52-yard field goal wide left on the next play and allowed the Sun Devils to escape with victory.
Zach Miller led the ASU receivers with 10 catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. Rudy Burgess added to his passing touchdown with six receptions for 89 yards and Herring finished with 87 yards on the ground. Robinson led the Sun Devil defense with 10 tackles (seven solo) and one sack and Jamar Williams also added nine tackles (four solo).