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Carpenter nails UW

Washington's Anthony Russo hauls in a 61-yard pass on UW's first play from scrimmage, but Huskies settle for a field goal. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Bob Baum Associated Press
Washington's Anthony Russo hauls in a 61-yard pass on UW's first play from scrimmage, but Huskies settle for a field goal. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

TEMPE, Ariz. – Redshirt freshman Rudy Carpenter is Arizona State’s new starting quarterback. The job appears to be in good hands.

Carpenter threw for 401 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate start Saturday and the Sun Devils ended a three-game skid with a 44-20 victory over Washington.

All three touchdown passes were to Matt Miller, for 12, 69 and 10 yards. Miller, a senior, had five catches for a career-high 139 yards. Derek Hagan caught nine for 115 yards to move to third in the Pac-10 in career receptions with 236.

Carpenter, playing in place of injured Sam Keller, completed 27 of 34 passes with no interceptions, but was sacked seven times behind Arizona State’s injury-depleted offensive line.

“Those were some of the best passes I’ve had in my career here,” Miller said. “They were right there. I don’t know what it is with Rudy, but he was just throwing perfect balls tonight.”

After the game, Sun Devils coach Dirk Koetter announced that Keller – the starter in the first seven games – is out for the season and would undergo surgery next week to repair ligament damage in his right thumb. He was injured against Oregon three weeks ago. Koetter said he knew then that surgery would be required but had hoped to put it off until after the regular season.

Carpenter’s 401 yards were second-most by a freshman quarterback in Arizona State history. Jeff Krohn threw for 432 against Oregon in 2000.

“I was just trying to complete passes wherever I could,” Carpenter said. “I just wanted to get out here with a win. I didn’t care how well I played. We have three more games, and hopefully I’ll get an opportunity in those games.”

Next Saturday in Pullman, Carpenter will face a Washington State defense that gave up 433 passing yards to USC on Saturday.

The Sun Devils (4-4, 2-3 Pac-10) had not won since beating Oregon State on Sept. 24.

The Huskies were intercepted twice and fumbled the ball away twice.

“It is difficult to tell how well we played,” Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said. “We had some good things going for us, but the taste of losing clouds that right now.”

Washington (1-7, 0-5) trailed only 24-20 until Arizona State put the game away with three touchdowns in the final 5:04. The game ended with Josh Golden’s 58-yard interception return for the Sun Devils.

Arizona State went 64 yards in 10 plays, throwing 10 yards to Miller to put the Sun Devils ahead 31-20 with 5:04 to go. Jamar Williams intercepted Isaiah Stanback’s pass on Washington’s next possession. The Sun Devils went 51 yards in eight plays. Preston Jones’ 10-yard touchdown run boosted the lead to 38-20 with 1:09 remaining.

UW backup quarterback Johnny DuRocher came in with 3:06 to play and threw an interception that Josh Golden took back 23 yards for another touchdown as the clock expired.

James Sims, who started the season at fullback, rushed for a career-best 140 yards in 24 carries for Washington, including touchdown runs of 1 and 3 yards. Sims started because Louis Rankin was out with a sprained toe.

Stanback said this loss hurt worse than all the others.

“In the fourth quarter, I don’t know what I was doing,” he said. “I wanted to make a play so bad.”