SEATTLE — Bishop Sankey carried a school-record 40 times for 161 yards and a touchdown and Keith Price threw for two touchdowns to help No. 16 Washington beat Arizona 31-13 on Saturday night.
Sankey outperformed Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey, the NCAA’s leading rusher in 2012. Sankey surpassed the school record of 38 carries set by Corey Dillon in 1996 against Washington State as stormy conditions forced both teams to limit their passing games.
Meanwhile, Sankey, who entered as the country’s No. 2 leading rusher at 148.7 yards per game, continued to be brilliant for the Huskies. He carried for 101 yards on 23 carries in the first half alone as Washington built a 11-6 lead.
Arizona quarterback B.J. Denker struggled to cope with the wet conditions. His first pass was intercepted by Sean Parker as it sailed high over Johnny Jackson.
Four plays later, Keith Price connected with Kevin Smith for a 7-yard touchdown to give the Huskies a 6-0 lead after a botched extra point attempt.
The rain intensified and both offenses struggled to move the chains in the downpour. Arizona failed to convert a first down on their first five possessions of the game against Washington’s stifling defense. After a safety on a punt snapped through the endzone, Kasen Williams returned the ensuing free kick 48 yards to the Arizona 28-yard line. Travis Coons converted a 42-yard field goal to take an 11-0 lead.
After their fifth straight three-and-out of the half, Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez visibly chewed out Denker along the sidelines. Denker and the Arizona offense responded with a touchdown drive to end the half. Facing 4th and 2 at the Washington 36-yard line, the Huskies sold out to stop Ka’Deem Carey and Denker kept for a 33-yard gain to the UW 3. Carey hammered home for a 3-yard touchdown to pull Arizona within 11-6 at the half after a failed PAT. Carey ran for 132 yards and a touchdown for the Wildcats.
The rain lessened and the offenses came out firing after the break. Washington needed to convert just one third down as the Huskies marched on a 95-yard scoring drive to open the third quarter. Price capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Austin Seferian-Jenkins to give Washington a 18-6 lead. Price was efficient in throwing for 165 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Facing another fourth down, Carey ran for 24 yards on 4th and 10 to move the Wildcats to the UW 11. Two plays later, Denker ran around left end into the endzone for a 7-yard touchdown to pull within a score of the Huskies.
Price connected on a 49-yard pass to Smith to quickly move Washington back into Arizona territory. Sankey blasted into the endzone from 1-yard out to extend the Washington lead to 25-13.
The Wildcats were driving again when Denker was intercepted by Marcus Peters, causing Rodriguez to fume again and spiked his headset into the turf along the Arizona sideline. Denker completed just 14 of 35 passes for 119 yards and two interception for Arizona.
Jesse Callier added a 2-yard touchdown run for Washington.
