ASU surprises UW

Danny Sullivan threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Chris McGaha with five seconds to play Saturday night to give Arizona State a stunning 24-17 victory over Washington at Tempe, Ariz.

Sullivan, the embattled ASU quarterback, unleashed the pass after the Huskies, seemingly looking ahead to overtime, punted with 22 seconds left. Arizona State (4-2, 2-1 Pac-10) got the ball at the 50 and Sullivan took his shot downfield.

McGaha, who had missed practice all week with illness, somehow got behind the secondary of Washington (2-2, 3-4) and was wide open for the score.

Sullivan completed 21 of 35 for 263 yards and one big touchdown. Washington’s Jake Locker was 22 of 38 for 279 yards and a touchdown. There were 223 yards in penalties in the game, 12 for 124 yards against the Huskies.

Penalties everywhere

Flags were flying throughout Saturday’s first half, and one of them caused Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson to fly off the handle.

Sixteen penalties were called during the first 30 minutes of Saturday’s game between Washington and ASU, including six personal fouls.

The most controversial one came on a pass interference call that went against ASU cornerback Pierre Singfield, sending Erickson into such a frenzy that he appeared to make contact with side judge Nardy Samuels. Erickson ran out onto the field to confront Samuels, who used a forearm to push Erickson away.

Several ASU assistants rushed in to pull Erickson back to the sideline, and no further penalty was called.

The call, which Erickson disputed because it looked like UW receiver James Johnson was the one who initiated contact with Singfield, gave the Huskies 15 yards and a first down at the Sun Devils’ 22 yard-line. But an interception ended that drive shortly thereafter.

One snap before Singfield’s interference call, ASU teammate Vontaze Burfict got flagged for his third personal-foul penalty of the first half when he drilled UW receiver Devin Aguilar with his helmet.

The drive included four defensive penalties for 55 yards.