TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State has a knack for slow starts.

When the No. 14 Sun Devils wake up, look out.

Trailing Washington by four at halftime, the Sun Devils stormed back for a 44-20 victory last night behind a 76-yard touchdown run by Keegan Herring and a 57-yard touchdown run by Dimitri Nance.

"One thing about this team, they keep fighting," coach Dennis Erickson said. "I don't know how good we are but we have won seven games, and we'll take it right now."

The Sun Devils (7-0, 4-0 Pac-10) are among only six remaining major-college unbeatens, along with Ohio State, Boston College, South Florida, Hawai'i and Kansas. ASU takes next week off before playing host to No. 2 California, which lost to Oregon State yesterday.

Washington (2-4, 0-3) has lost four straight.

"We didn't make plays," Washington coach Ty Willingham said. "I really don't know how to explain it."

For the fourth time in seven games, ASU overcame a double-digit deficit or trailed in the second half. The Sun Devils have outscored their opponents 136-29 in the second half.

"We're having a lot of fun competing every week," quarterback Rudy Carpenter said.

The Sun Devils took a 20-17 lead early in the third quarter on a 21-yard pass from Carpenter to Rudy Burgess, who made a leaping catch at the pylon and got a foot down before tumbling out of bounds.

Five minutes later, Nance broke through the right side of the line for a career-long 57-yard score to put the Sun Devils up 27-17.

Herring then went around left end and raced 76 yards down the sideline for the longest run of his career. The junior finished with 119 yards on 10 carries.

Carpenter completed 20 of 31 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns for Arizona State, with one interception.

Washington ends its season at Hawai'i on Dec. 1

WAC GAMES

FRESNO STATE 37, IDAHO 24

MOSCOW, Idaho — Running backs Lonyae Miller and Ryan Mathews each rushed for two touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs (4-2, 3-0) over the Vandals (1-6, 0-3).

Miller rushed for 113 yards, while Mathews, a true freshman, added 86 yards. FSU quarterback Tom Brandstater threw for 178 yards. His favorite target was tight end Bear Pascoe, who caught six passes for 69 yards.

Idaho lost to Hawai'i, 48-20, Sept. 29. Fresno State will play at Hawai'i Nov. 10.

LOUISIANA TECH 22, NEW MEXICO STATE 21

RUSTON, La. — Zac Champion erased a 12-point deficit with two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, leading the Bulldogs (2-4, 1-2) past the Aggies (3-4, 0-2).

With Tech trailing 21-9, a third-down pass was batted around the end zone before Brian Jackson hauled it in to bring the Bulldogs to 21-16 with 6:55 left. After forcing a three-and-out, Champion (22-of-35, 215 yards) capped a 6-play, 60-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Phillip Livas. A two-point conversion attempt failed with 1:53 left.

Louisiana Tech lost to Hawai'i, 45-44, in overtime. New Mexico State plays at Hawai'i Oct. 27.

UH OPPONENTS

WEBER STATE 23, NORTHERN COLORADO 0

GREELEY, Colo. — Receiver Bryant Eteuati caught eight passes for 146 yards, including touchdown receptions of 32 and 22 yards, as the Wildcats (2-4, 2-2 Big Sky Conference) ruined homecoming for the hapless Bears (0-7, 0-3).

Weber State had 393 yards on offense, to 133 for the Bears, which lost to Hawai'i, 63-6, Sept. 1.

BYU 24, UNLV 14

LAS VEGAS — Harvey Unga rushed 25 times for 178 yards and a touchdown to lead the Cougars (4-2, 3-0) past the Rebels (2-5, 1-2) at Las Vegas for their 11th straight Mountain West Conference victory.

BYU took control in the third quarter with a pair of time-consuming scoring drives. The Cougars ran 24 plays over 11 minutes, 44 seconds and scored on both possessions to take a double-digit lead.

UNLV lost to Hawai'i, 49-14, Sept. 15.