By John Sleeper
Herald Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Washington-Arizona State football game Saturday night ranked a poor third in popularity among sports fans in the Phoenix area this weekend.
In the biggest sports weekend of the year, the Sun Devils and the Huskies not only were up against the World Series Saturday and today, but also the NASCAR Checker Auto Parts 500 Winston Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway today, an event expected to draw 200,000 spectators.
About 600,000 people were expected to converge into the greater Phoenix area this weekend. In addition to the above events, the Phoenix Coyotes were expecting 15,000 for their game against the defending NHL champion Colorado Avalanche, 30,000 were expected for the Arizona Home and Garden Show, 100,000 for the Arizona State Fair and 10,000 were expected for AIDS Walk Arizona.
UW defense rises: After ASU safety Alfred Williams returned an interception 57 yards to the Husky 29-yard line in the first quarter, the Sun Devils got exactly zero yardage in three plays. On the first, Marquis Cooper and Sam Blanche stopped tailback Delvon Flowers for a 1-yard loss; Marcus Roberson and Blanche held Flowers to a yard gain; and quarterback Jeff Krohn botched a screen pass after getting hammered by Anthony Kelley.
Mike Barth missed a 45-yard field-goal try at the end of the drive, and the Sun Devils failed to get points off the turnover.
Razzle doesn’t dazzle: In the second quarter, the Sun Devils tried a trick play in which Krohn split out wide from his position at quarterback. Tailback Tom Pace took Krohn’s place under center and tried an option keeper. Pace gained just two yards after being stopped by outside linebacker Kai Ellis and inside linebacker Tim Galloway.
Later, Barth tried a short, pooch kick on a second-half kickoff. UW defensive tackle Terry Johnson ended up with the ball on a fair catch. Johnson has better hands than your average defensive lineman, having played tight end at McClintock High School in Tempe, Ariz.
Gilby back: UW offensive coordinator Keith Gilbertson returned to his duties after missing two practices because of an angiogram.
Short routes: Tailback Rich Alexis started for Willie Hurst, who was slowed in practice with a thigh bruise … Senior tight end John Westra, from nearby Mesa, Ariz., was selected as the Huskies’ game captain.
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