Washington vs. Arizona State: Devils Drop Huskies, 53-24

Oct 19, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils defensive end Gannon Conway (95) sacks Washington Huskies quarterback Keith Price (17) during the first half at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Ranked 16th in the country, 4-0 and driving down the field trying to come back from down 31-28 against the Stanford Cardinal, all hope was still alive. Then Kevin Smith’s game-saving catch was overruled. The Washington Huskies have lost three straight games since then, and got blown out by the Arizona State Sun Devils on the road, 53-24.

Washington opened the game by forcing an ASU three-and-out and easily driving down the field to take a 7-0 lead. That would be the last thing that came easy to the Huskies Saturday afternoon.

Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian listed off a handful of reasons for the “embarrassing” defeat.

“We weren’t well enough coached, we didn’t perform well enough and we didn’t play physical enough,” Sarkisian said. “They outcoached us and outplayed us.”

Bishop Sankey, who was averaging nearly 150 yards per game, was held to just 22 yards on 13 carries.

“They came to play and we didn’t,” Sankey said. “They got on us early and we couldn’t really get back.”

Keith Price was sacked seven times, aggravating his already hurting thumb. X-rays on Price’s thumb came back negative and the fifth-year senior said he expects to play next week.

“(The thumb) is getting better,” Price said. “It’s just tough to keep it healthy when you’re constantly agitating it.”

It was almost like a flashback to last season, with Price completing just 16 of his 39 passes and being pressured nearly every passing play.

“(ASU) just kept bringing pressure…That’s their thing,” Price said. “We didn’t handle it correctly.”

The constant pressure from the Sun Devil front seven caused Price to make a few errant throws, most notably open routes over the middle. Despite speculation that his thumb was hurting him, Price took full responsibility.

“I’m healthy enough to be out here,” Price said. “Some of those throws were just on me. (They were) easy throws that I normally make.”

This is now the fifth consecutive season that the Huskies have lost at least three games in a row under Sarkisian, and the eighth loss in a row to ASU. They’ll have to wait until next season to break the latter, but will look to stop the former next week against the California Golden Bears at Husky Stadium.