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TEMPE — Rudy Carpenter has never lost to the Arizona Wildcats, and he doesn't want to start now.

"For the guys who are seniors, it's a big deal for us to win our last game," he said, "and to also leave and be able to say that we never lost to them."

A win Saturday in Tucson would give the 5-6 Sun Devils a bowl berth — and their quarterback one last game after what will be his 43rd consecutive start.

In 2004, Carpenter stood on the sidelines as a redshirt when the Sun Devils lost at Arizona Stadium 34-27. He has played in three games against the UA since and won them all.

"I don't want it to be my last game," Carpenter said, "especially down there."

ASU coach Dennis Erickson praised Carpenter's skill and durability — but also his school spirit. In the off-season, the quarterback can be seen decked out in ASU gear at basketball, softball and baseball games.

"He means a lot to Arizona State," Erickson said, "because Arizona State means a lot to him."

He draws the ire of Wildcats fans for the same reason.

"I don't hate the people that go to U of A," Carpenter said. "I don't hate the school. I don't hate the city. I like playing against them, and I don't like losing to them.

"Whatever I say they're just going to put up on their wall."

The room erupted with laughter. Carpenter called the game "a chance to get into a bowl game, a chance to move ahead of them in the standings and have another 364 days after that to feel good about yourself."

Carpenter said he doesn't need bulletin board material — or the UA crowd — to motivate him for the rivalry game.

"They're just going to be wearing red and telling me I (stink), like everybody else," he said.

As a member of the Harris Interactive Poll, former ASU coach Frank Kush receives game film every week. He said the UA's offense has "improved 90 to 110 percent" from where it was three years ago.

"U of A probably made more progress in two years," he said. "This is the gospel truth. I hope I don't offend anybody. What difference does it make? I thought they were probably the worst team I'd seen probably about three years ago.

"I'm talking about talent in the Pac-10. They have done a remarkable job from the standpoint of, I'm sure, the recruiting. But more so than anything else, their offense is very meticulous."

● The Sun Devils scored four defensive touchdowns Friday against UCLA, tying an NCAA record. Monday, the NCAA discovered that, in addition to Houston reaching the mark against Texas in 1987, Florida scored four defensive touchdowns against Louisiana-Lafayette in 1996.

● Safety Troy Nolan was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after returning an interception 100 yards for a score in Friday's victory.

ASU tried to nominate its entire defense for the award, but the Pac-10 refused.