Highs & Lows: ASU vs. WSU

High point

After catching six passes for 49 yards the week before, wide receiver Jason Hill reeled in a 49-yarder from Alex Brink in the fourth quarter that brought the Cougars to within three points. And for the first time in a previously lackluster effort, WSU looked like it had a chance to pull the upset and keep its bowl hopes alive.

Low point

In a game so close, the Cougars had a chance until the very end, which essentially came when WSU defensive tackle Aaron Johnson was flagged for a 15-yard facemask on a third-and-5 with just more than two minutes left. Photo and video evidence show that the flag was unwarranted, and the Cougars could have gotten the ball back for one more chance without it. Instead, Arizona State needed just one more first down – which it got – to run out the clock.

Play of the game

Not a hard pick here. The Cougars had tied the game at 27 on a field goal, but opted to take the points off the board in favor of an offside penalty and a fourth-and-1. Middle linebacker Dale Robinson stuffed Jerome Harrison behind the line of scrimmage to give Arizona State the ball back and the 27-24 score held the rest of the way.

Player of the game

Harrison once again gets a nod here for his great effort but not the nod. Sun Devils quarterback Rudy Carpenter got his team the lead and forced WSU to play catch-up thereafter. By the half, Carpenter, making his second career start, had thrown for 265 yards and two touchdowns to give Arizona State a 24-10 lead. Carpenter finished with 381 yards on 28 of 43 passing. It wasn’t a perfect game for Carpenter, but enough to control the clock and win the game.

Stat of the game

After allowing 548 yards and 27 points to Arizona State, the Cougars are 109th in total defense (455.3 yards a game) and 101st in scoring defense (32.2 points a game).

Glenn Kasses, staff writer