Sun Devils still alive and kicking

At long last, the Arizona State football team seems to be back in the habit of winning, but there are no bold proclamations or bowl guarantees coming out of the Sun Devils’ mouths.

SLIDESHOW: ASU-WSU football

ASU football notebook: Nance's running opens up passing game

Nixon picks his way to top

How could there be? Yes, ASU has two victories in a row, but after a tour through the most catatonic state in college football (Washington), no one can say for certain what that is worth.

The Sun Devils, however, know this: a 31-0 homecoming triumph against Washington State on Saturday kept their postseason hopes alive.

“We all understand if we win two more football games, we have a chance to go to a bowl,” coach Dennis Erickson said. “The light at the end of the tunnel for us is not exactly what we had planned at the beginning of the season, but that is what is there for us. That’s what our goal is, any bowl.”

In the last two weeks, ASU (4-6 overall, 3-4 Pac-10) did was it was supposed to against the Apple Cup programs that have one victory between them this season: outlast a Washington team on the road, and shut down a Washington State team that has already set a Pac-10 record for most points allowed in one year.

On Saturday, the Sun Devils — who donned throwback helmets with the maroon sunburst logo worn from 1976-79 — did not beat the Cougars in overwhelming fashion, like California (66-3), Oregon (63-14), Oregon State (66-13), Southern California (69-0) and Stanford (58-0) have this season. But they never lost control of the proceedings.

“We’re going to take wins any way we can get them,” said quarterback Rudy Carpenter, who was 17 of 24 for 213 yards and three touchdown passes.

With the angst of a six-game losing streak getting farther behind them, the Sun Devils can concentrate on the remaining regular-season games: against UCLA on Nov. 28, and at Arizona on Dec. 6. Win both, and ASU will qualify for a fifth straight bowl trip.

“We got kicked when we were down during that losing streak,” linebacker Mike Nixon said. “We knew before the season that it was going to be a tough stretch, but we never imagined that it would be that tough for us. But we still have a chance, if we win out, to go to a bowl game.

“And if we can win a bowl and wind up 7-6 after being 2-6, that would be a great thing for this team to have going into the future.”

Against Washington State (1-10, 0-8), ASU’s star was the defense. The Sun Devils scored a defensive touchdown for the third straight game when true freshman lineman Lawrence Guy recovered a fumble and returned it 22 yards to the end zone.

The shutout was the school’s first since the momentous 1996 game against Nebraska. The Cougars threatened to score only on their opening drive, which ended in a missed field goal, and they ended up with 130 yards of offense.

“I would have taken 31-7 and been happy,” Erickson said. “I’m happy for the defensive players and coaches that they were able to get that shutout. They have played well all year.”

The offense was not clicking early — ASU led just 10-0 at halftime — but found success afterward with help from third-string running back Dimitri Nance, who gained 47 yards on nine carries.

“We played terrible in the first half,” Carpenter said. “We had no consistency and couldn’t find a rhythm. But we made some adjustments at halftime and put ourselves in a position to make plays.”

While the Sun Devil running backs did not repeat the impressive numbers of the last two weeks, they were able to open up the passing game.

The result was two third-quarter touchdown passes from Carpenter to slot receiver Kyle Williams. The first was a 21-yarder where Carpenter scrambled to his right and found Williams near the sideline, where he eluded a tackler, and the second a 51-yard bomb that was sprung open thanks to a play-action fake.

“The second one was a good throw by Rudy on a straight line,” Williams said. “You really can’t ask for anything more as a receiver. On the first one, too, he was running around and made a nice play.”

At this point, ASU cannot be sure that it is back. In their next two games, the Sun Devils should learn a lot more — including whether their season will be extended.

“It’s a win,” Erickson said. “I told the team that we’re 4-6 and trying hard to crawl out of the hole we’re in right now. We’re scratching, trying to get out of it. Any win for us is good.”

ASU 31, WSU 0
Did you see that? Arizona State president Michael Crow conducted the ASU band at halftime.

Thumbs up: Linebacker Mike Nixon led the team in tackles (again) and had his team-leading fourth interception of the season. The guy almost never blows an assignment.

Thumbs down: It is hard to find fault with a shutout victory, but here is a good one — ASU had three careless personal fouls (on a face mask and two late hits) during garbage time.

Injury report: Right tackle Shawn Lauvao did not play in the second half due to an ankle injury.

Quotable: “We’re trying to get to that bowl game. We’re not far away. We have two more to go, and we’re taking them one at a time. That sounds like a cliché, but that’s what we’re trying to do.” — ASU receiver Kyle Williams.

UP NEXT: UCLA at Arizona State
When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
Records: ASU 4-6, 3-4 Pac-10; UCLA 4-6, 3-4

Bruins this week: The Bruins defeated Washington late Saturday night.

Outlook: It is the third leg of the Sun Devils’ four-part quest for bowl eligibility — a win, and a postseason berth will ride on the rivalry game at Arizona. UCLA could have starting quarterback Ben Olson, who has not played since the preseason due to a foot injury.