UW football notebook: "I did nothing to help the team" says Stanback

TEMPE, Ariz. — Isaiah Stanback turned in another performance Saturday that is sure to incite those who think he isn't the right man to be Washington's quarterback.

But no critic is harder on Stanback than Stanback is on himself.

And after a 44-20 loss to Arizona State, Stanback seemed nearly inconsolable as he met with reporters after completing a season-low eight passes in 20 attempts for 171 yards and one interception. He also lost a fumble in the first quarter that led to an Arizona State touchdown.

"I did nothing to help the team," he said. "Everybody's looking to me to lead us and go down there and score, and I'm messing up."

Stanback seemed most down that he wasn't able to rally the Huskies in the fourth quarter.

"The fourth quarter, I don't know what happened," he said. "I don't know what I was doing. I wanted to make a play so bad."

Asked if he felt pressure from having to be the one to lead the team late in games, he said, "That's my job. Either I can do it or I can't. I need to figure it out soon."

Stanback was asked what he should have done differently. "Make plays," he replied. "I just didn't make plays."

Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said he couldn't judge Stanback's play until looking at film. "There's a lot of good," Willingham added, "and there are some things that [I'm] still not very happy about."

Stanback played all but the final series of the game after Arizona State scored to go ahead, 38-20. Johnny DuRocher took over and completed 2 of 6 passes for 14 yards. The final throw resulted in an interception by Josh Golden that was returned 58 yards for a touchdown as time ran out. That was the second time this year an opponent has scored on the final play of the game. California also did it in a 56-17 win at Husky Stadium.

In an attempt to bolster their rush in obvious passing situations, the Huskies unveiled a new-look defense that featured freshman linebacker Chris Stevens from Mojave, Calif., lined up as a defensive end.

Stevens, listed as 6 feet, 195 pounds, had just three tackles coming into the game. He equaled that total against Arizona State and was also credited with a sack and a forced fumble.

"It was just a really gusty effort on his part to come in here and add some spark and some energy and some juice to our pass rush," Willingham said.

On many occasions, linebacker Joe Lobendahn lined up on the other side, with an extra defensive back in the game as well, leaving just two players who are listed as defensive linemen on the field.

The changes seemed to work as Washington had seven sacks, tied with the Idaho game for most this season.

ASU injuries mount

Stephen Berg, one of two remaining starters on the offensive line, went down clutching his left knee early in the third quarter and will be lost for the season. He's the fourth starter from the line to go down with an injury, following Zach Krula, Andrew Carnahan and Grayling Love. The only regular starter still healthy is Brandon Rodd.

The injury left the line in further disarray. Robert Gustavius started for Krula at right guard, but moved to left guard after Berg left the game. Paul Fanaika then came off the bench to play right guard. Arizona State has now used nine players as starting offensive linemen.

Notes

• Arizona State WR Derek Hagan moved into third place on the Pac-10's career receptions list, moving past former Arizona receiver Bobby Wade and Stanford's DeRonnie Pitts. Hagan finished the game with nine catches, increasing his career total to 236.

• Huskies SS C.J. Wallace did not start for what Willingham said were undisclosed disciplinary reasons. Darin Harris started, and Wallace entered in the second quarter.

• With Evan Knudson struggling with a sore hamstring, UW turned to sophomore Michael Braunstein from nearby Gilbert, Ariz., to handle kickoff duties most of the game. Knudson, however, continued to handle all field goals and extra points.

• Anthony Russo caught a career-long 61-yard pass on the first play of the game to set up UW's first score, a 30-yard field goal by Knudson.

• Washington scored first for the seventh time in eight games this season. Only in the Notre Dame did the Huskies fail to take a quick lead.

• UW's captains were Sims, OG Tui Alailefaleula, LBs Evan Benjamin and Lobendahn.

• Stanley Daniels started at left guard ahead of Clay Walker.

• James Montgomery, a running back from Rancho Cordova, Calif., who has committed to play for the Huskies next season, had a big game Friday, rushing for 449 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Oak Ride of El Dorado Hills.

• Saturday marked UW's fourth straight trip to Arizona State.

• Don James attended UW's volleyball win over Arizona State on Friday and the football game Saturday. The volleyball team stayed to attend the football game as well. Also in the crowd was Mariners minor-leaguer Matt Tuiasosopo, who signed a letter of intent to play with the Huskies in 2004 before choosing pro baseball.

Correspondent Josh Weinfuss contributed to this notebook.