Another tough loss

SEATTLE – Washington’s players slumped into oversized leather chairs, physically beat up and emotionally zapped, again.

A month ago, with a 4-1 record, Washington looked assured of playing come bowl season. On Saturday night, the Huskies were drained after their fourth straight loss, the second straight in overtime, this one 26-23 at home to Arizona State.

If their 31-24 loss at Cal a week earlier wasn’t difficult enough, Saturday’s defeat added a new level of disappointment.

“Just losing is really draining more than anything,” linebacker Scott White said. “We’re all going to be disappointed about the fact we lost. Not the fashion that we lost or in the fact that we came back. We expected to win and we didn’t get that done.”

Three times in the last month, Washington has played down to the final snap only to lose. Against USC, the Huskies failed to get a final play off from the Trojans’ 15 in a 26-20 loss.

Last week against Cal, the Huskies scored on the final play of regulation, but fell in overtime when Marshawn Lynch scored on a 22-yard run, followed by a Washington interception.

A similar pattern played out on Saturday.

Down 20-6 to start the fourth quarter, the Huskies rallied for a pair of scores, the second TD drive directed by backup QB Johnny DuRocher, who took over for an injured Bonnell. DuRocher threw a 4-yard TD pass to Sonny Shackelford with 2:19 left to pull even at 20-20.

Getting the ball first in overtime, the Huskies managed a career-long 47-yard field goal from Michael Braunstein to take a 23-20 lead. Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter then hit Brent Miller streaking up the sideline for a 25-yard TD on the Sun Devils’ second play, setting off a jubilant celebration.

Meanwhile, the Huskies trudged off the field, pondering what bowl hopes remained.

“We have a great opportunity for that. We have three games remaining and we can run the table,” coach Tyrone Willingham said.

Winning their last three won’t be easy for the Huskies.

The string starts next Saturday at No. 24 Oregon, where Washington is just 1-4 in its last five visits. The Huskies return home for Pac-10 doormat Stanford, meaning a chance at getting to six wins and becoming bowl eligible could come down to Nov. 18 at No. 25 Washington State in the Apple Cup.

Unobtainable? No. But difficult.

“We’re so close to having a really good record this year, but a couple plays here and there have cost us,” White said.

There might also be another looming quarterback question.

Carl Bonnell left in the fourth quarter after suffering a concussion. Willingham bypassed heralded freshman Jake Locker and went to DuRocher, a junior. After the game Willingham and offensive coordinator Tim Lappano indicated they don’t plan on using Locker at all this season, keeping his redshirt intact.

Both also expect Bonnell to start next week at Oregon.

“I’ll start my evaluation on Sunday, but as of right now, Carl will be our starter,” Willingham said.