Washington St. Wins With Wind at Its Back

Mike Price, Washington State coach, knows the value of the little things that make for big victories.

“I don’t know how many big plays there were in that game, but there had to be a ton of them,” Price said.

Those second-half big plays proved effective Saturday as No. 25 Washington State shook off a shaky start to edge Arizona State, 20-18, in a Pacific 10 Conference game at Pullman, Wash.

Drew Bledsoe connected with Deron Pointer and C.J. Davis on long scoring passes and shook off the effects of wind and Shante Carver, who also made some big plays for the Sun Devils.

Washington State, 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Pac-10, kept its bowl hopes alive with the victory before 15,441, but it was difficult.

The Sun Devils had a chance to tie with 2:29 remaining, but tight end Bob Brasher dropped a conversion pass from quarterback Grady Benton.

Bledsoe finished with 267 of Washington State’s 296 yards, completing 22 of 31 passes for two touchdowns.

Carver, 6 feet 5 and 230 pounds, deflected a pass that set up Arizona State’s first touchdown, blocked a field-goal attempt, blocked a punt, recovered a fumble and recorded a sack.

Washington State scored all its points in the second and third quarters when it had a strong, gusting wind at its back.

Bledsoe’s touchdown pass to Pointer went for 25 yards and the one to Davis was good for 31.

“Offensively, we did a pretty good job,” Price said.