Wildcats Beat Sun Devils in the Battle of Arizona

Alonzo Washington scored twice, catching 1 of 3 Ronald Veal touchdown passes, as Arizona defeated Arizona State, 28-18, Saturday night to extend its unbeaten streak against its archrival to 7 straight games.

Arizona is 6-0-1 against Arizona State since 1982, when the current streak began with another 28-18 victory by Arizona.

The teams tied, 24-24, last season.

The Wildcats finished this season 7-4 overall and tied for third in the Pacific 10 Conference at 5-3. The Sun Devils ended the season 6-5 and 3-4.

Arizona led, 21-18, at halftime and padded its edge with a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, as Veal connected with Washington on an 11-yard scoring pass to cap a 20-play, 82-yard drive.

Veal, who had thrown for only 1 touchdown this season, fired scoring passes of 47 and 55 yards to Derek Hill in the first half and completed 6 of 15 throws for 148 yards.

Washington, whose first score came on a 10-yard run, carried 24 times for 150 yards.

Arizona State’s Paul Justin threw touchdown passes of 8 and 3 yards to Ryan McReynolds, and Bruce Perkins scored on a 44-yard run for the Sun Devils, who failed to make an extra point.

Arizona’s Brett Holley pinned the Sun Devils on their 3-yard line with 4:07 remaining with a 46-yard punt. Then on a fourth-and-2 play, Wildcat defenders batted away Paul Justin’s pass to seal the victory.

ASU scored first to go ahead, 6-0, and also led 12-7 and 18-14 before Arizona took over.

The Wildcats led, 21-18, after Hill grabbed Veal’s 55-yard, up-for-grabs pass as time ran out in the half. Hill plucked the ball out of teammate Melvin Smith’s hands and stepped into the end zone as time expired.