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Arizona State shuts down WSU, 27-14

Oct 11, 2009 - 1:59 AM By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS Associated Press Writer

PULLMAN, Wash.(AP) -- Danny Sullivan ran for one touchdown and threw for another as Arizona State relied on the Pacific-10's best defense to beat Washington State 27-14 on Saturday.

Kyle Williams had 13 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown as Arizona State (3-2, 1-1 Pac-10) beat WSU for the sixth-straight time. The Sun Devils won despite suffering three interceptions and losing three fumbles in unseasonably cold, windy conditions.

Washington State (1-5, 0-4) managed only 181 yards, 99 of them on the longest touchdown pass in school history. But it was their closest conference loss so far.

Embattled quarterback Danny Sullivan played most of the game for Arizona State, although Brock Osweiler got some plays. Sullivan completed 19 of 29 passes for 169 yards.

Arizona State, leading 13-0 at halftime, struck quickly on its first drive of the second half. Williams gained 53 yards on a reverse and Dimitri Nance ran the final nine yards for a touchdown. Bobby Wenzig missed his second-consecutive conversion kick for a 19-0 lead.

Andy Mattingly's interception gave WSU the ball on ASU's 31. On fourth down, the Cougars' Jeff Tuel threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to a diving Jared Karstetter and WSU trailed 19-7 with 2:22 left in the third.

A botched fake punt by WSU gave Arizona State the ball on the Cougars' 34 early in the fourth. Cameron Marshall scored on a 10-yard run and the Sun Devils led 27-7.

Buried on his own 1-yard line on the next series, Tuel fired a pass downfield to Johnny Forzani. He outran the ASU defense for a 99-yard touchdown that was the longest in team history, cutting ASU's lead to 27-14 with 11:33 left in the game.

Washington State had only 29 yards of offense in the first half, as its quarterbacks were sacked five times.

Arizona State scored in the first quarter when Sullivan hit a wide-open Kyle Williams for a 9-yard touchdown pass. Washington State has yet to score in the first quarter in six games this season, and has been outscored 84-0.

Late in the second quarter, Sullivan marched the Sun Devils 78 yards in nine plays, running the final seven yards himself for a touchdown. The conversion kick by Wenzig missed and Arizona State led 13-0 at halftime.

Arizona State's defense ranks first in the Pac-10, allowing just 232 yards per game.