LOS ANGELES - Rudy Carpenter battled through a sore left ankle on Saturday to make his 37th consecutive start at quarterback for Arizona State. But so what?

Bordow: Sun Devils have dozed off in Pac-10

Carpenter gives it a go on broken ankle

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For physical ailments are not killing the Sun Devils. Rather, after they bumbled and stumbled away what should have been a competitive game at eighth-ranked Southern California, the burning question is how their heads are, at least on offense.

Nothing could help ASU on that side of the ball - not Carpenter starting, not excellent field position, not five takeaways by the defense - in a 28-0 loss at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Sun Devils were shut out for the first time since 2004.

"I'm perplexed," coach Dennis Erickson said. "I'd have trouble spelling that, but 'perplexed' is a good word. We're better than how we are playing offensively.

  

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