Sept. 9, 2006
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
TEMPE, Ariz. - Rudy Carpenter threw a career-high five touchdown passes to lead No. 25 Arizona State to a 52-21 victory over the University of Nevada Wolf Pack in front of a crowd of 54,232 at Sun Devil Stadium.
Carpenter moved to 6-1 as ASU's starter after completing 17-of-26 passes for 333 yards. He connected with five different receivers for each of the touchdowns. Junior All-America TE Zach Miller, one of nine different receivers to catch passes against Nevada, led the team in receiving with five receptions for 53 yards and one touchdown.
"What pleased us the most was that we showed some explosiveness," ASU head coach Dirk Koetter said following the game. "We were able to make some explosive plays and throw the ball vertically down the field a little bit, which we thought we'd be able to do, but we thought it would come off of a more productive running game. The running game part didn't materialize like we thought it would. But I'm pleased that we made some big plays in the passing game."
Defensively, the Sun Devils recorded four sacks and forced four turnovers, including three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown for the second consecutive week.
The Sun Devils started off fast, taking the opening kickoff and moving 80 yards in 11 plays for the game's first score. Carpenter connected with Zach Miller in the end zone to give the Devils a 7-0 lead. For Miller, it was the 11th touchdown reception of his career, which tied him with former Sun Devil Joe Petty for the most touchdowns by a tight end in school history.
Nevada would tie the score early in the second quarter after Carpenter's throw went off course and was intercepted by Nevada LB Ezra Butler, who returned it 23 yards for a touchdown to knot the score at 7-7. The Sun Devils answered back as freshman WR Mike Jones caught his first career touchdown pass off a 20-yard Carpenter pass. The Carpenter-to-Jones score would be the first of 24 consecutive points the Sun Devils would run off in the quarter.
On Nevada's ensuing possession, senior S Zach Catanese, who was finished the night second on the team with five tackles, caused and recovered a fumble on Nevada's 18-yard line. The Sun Devils would convert the turnover into points as senior Jesse Ainsworth, who had his first field goal attempt of the season blocked in the first quarter, was successful from 32 yards, giving ASU a 17-7 lead.
Following another defensive stop, the Sun Devils would quickly increase their lead to 17 points after Carpenter connected with sophomore WR Nate Kimbrough for a 52-yard touchdown pass to cap a three-play 80-yard drive. Things would go from bad to worse for Nevada on its next offensive play as true freshman S Ryan McFoy intercepted Wolf Pack QB Jeff Rowe and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to give the Sun Devils a commanding 31-7 advantage.
The Wolf Pack would respond with a touchdown in the final moments of the first half to trim ASU's lead to 17 points (31-14) at the half.
In the third quarter, Carpenter threw two more touchdown passes - sophomore TB Shaun DeWitty (22 yards) and senior WR Terry Richardson (15 yards) - to extend ASU's lead to 45-14.
In the fourth quarter, true freshman QB Danny Sullivan made his debut and directed the Sun Devils to a touchdown. Junior TB Ryan Torain, who led ASU with 70 yards rushing, scored the Sun Devils' final touchdown with a 15-yard scamper.