Something Must Budge—did it Ever
ASU and Washington entered Saturday’s game with an all-time series tied at 15 wins apiece, but with the 53-24 victory now take the edge by one game in the series. The Sun Devils have now won eight-straight against the Huskies, though, tied for the third longest active winning streak among all Pac-12 series.
It’s a Rout
Arizona State scored 53 points on Saturday, the most points it has ever scored against Washington. Previously, the high was 45 points which came in 1996.
Home Field Advantage
Sun Devil Stadium has been pleasant for ASU this season, holding a 5-0 mark while playing on its home field. The Devils are 9-2 all-time at home under Todd Graham and have two home games remaining (Oregon State and Arizona). ASU has gone undefeated at home just once in the past 16 seasons (1997-2012), when it was 6-0 in 2004.
Halftime Implications
The Sun Devils led 29-7 at halftime as they went on to win by a comfortable margin. ASU improves to 12-0 when leading at the half in the Todd Graham era.
Take It Away and Capitalize
Through seven games this season, Arizona State is outscoring its opponents 71-35 (+37) on points off turnovers while posting a +6 takeaway number. ASU has eight touchdowns off 15 opponent turnovers this season.
Moving the Sticks, and Vise-Versa
On the season, the Sun Devils have only gone three-and-out on 21-of-103 drives (20.4 percent). On the flip side, ASU has forced opponents to 46 three-and-outs on 104 drives (44.2 percent). The Huskies entered Saturday third-best in the FBS in not allowing teams to force them to three-and-outs, only having nine of them in 77 total drives. The Sun Devils held them to six in the first half alone, and forced them to surpass their season total in one game, forcing them to 10 three-and-outs.
Breaking 100
With 268 yards, Marion Grice has eclipsed 100 all-purpose yards for the ninth-straight game. He came into Saturday tied for third in the nation with Arizona’s Kadeem Carey for this streak.
Ground and Pound
ASU'S 317 rushing yards is its fourth-most in past 18 seasons (1996-present) and its second most since in past 16 seasons (1998-present). Only the Navy game last year (380) is better in the past 16 seasons.
1. 450 at Arizona (Nov. 23, 1996)
2. 405 vs. Oregon (Nov. 15, 1997)
3. 380 vs. Navy in Hunger Bowl (Dec. 29, 2012)
4. 331 vs. Oregon (Sept. 28, 1996)
5. 317 vs. Washington (Oct. 19, 2013)
Anything But Ground and Pound
Washington could not manage gaining positive yards on the ground against the ASU defense, totaling -5 rushing yards over the course of the contest. In the past 18 seasons (1996-present), ASU has held just two teams to -5 yards rushing or better. It held Idaho State to -5 on Sept. 5, 2009 and held Washington State to -54 on Oct. 20, 2009. The total was especially notable as UW entered with the nation’s leading rusher, Bishop Sankey, who came in averaging 149.8 yards per game and finished with just 22 yards on Saturday. UW was ranked eighth in the nation, averaging 248.0 rushing yards per game prior to Saturday.
Shutting Him Down
Entering the contest, UW starting quarterback Keith Price was 11th in the nation in completion percentage at 69.3 percent (133-192). Saturday, he was held to 16-of-39 (41 percent) throwing while being sacked six times. Washington had given up just 12 sacks all season entering the weekend and gave up seven total on Saturday.
The Grice Zone
Last season, Marion Grice found the end zone 19 times, tying him for third on ASU’s all-time single-season touchdown list. Through only seven games this season, Grice has 18 touchdowns (12 rushing, six receiving). In his last ten games dating back to last season, Grice has scored 24 touchdowns (16 rushing, seven receiving), and has scored at least one touchdown in each of those contests. He entered the game leading the nation in points scored per game at 15.0.
Grice, Grice Baby
Marion Grice ran for 158 yards, the first Sun Devil to rush for over 100 yards this season. The last player to reach the feat was Grice himself, when he ran for 159 against Navy in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on Dec. 29, 2012.
Winning By Way of TKO (Taylor Kelly Offense)
In his last ten games dating back to last season, Taylor Kelly has completed 216-of-337 of his passes (.641), while throwing for 26 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. The Sun Devils improve to 3-7 when Kelly tosses an interception. They are 10-0 in contests when he does not throw a pick.
TK on Feet
Entering Saturday, Taylor Kelly had a combined two touchdown rushes in his ASU career. Kelly had two touchdown rushes against the Huskies, both runs of one yard. Kelly had rushes of 36 and 30 yards on the game.
Ozier Is Here
Kevin Ozier entered the game with nine total receptions on the year for 178 yards. He left the game almost double his receptions, hauling in eight for 88 yards.
No Answer
After giving up a touchdown on the Huskies’ first drive, the Sun Devils answered by scoring 29 consecutive points to take a 29-7 lead into the half.
In-Zane in the Membrane
Freshman kicker Zane Gonzalez has found the sweet spot, connecting on 11-straight field goal attempts. He is 15-18 on field goals this season, and made all four of his attempts against Washington. His four field goals in a game is the most field goals from a Sun Devil kicker since Thomas Weber had five at Arizona on Dec. 2, 2010.