Arizona State’s 24-17 victory over Washington Saturday night was about as dramatic as you could get ‑ Danny Sullivan hit Chris McGaha on a 50-yard touchdown pass with five seconds left. And from the Sun Devils’ perspective, the game was more dramatic than it should have been.

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ASU (4-2, overall, 2-1 in Pac-10) missed opportunities to take control of the game in the first half at Sun Devil Stadium when a fumble at the Washington 1 cost the Devils a touchdown and a personal foul allowed the Huskies to continue a scoring drive.

Washington (3-4, 2-2) may have owned the biggest mistakes: giving ASU one last shot and somehow allowing a possession wide receiver recovering from the flu to get so wide open at the end of the game.

ASU took with over at midfield with 13 seconds left after a Washington punt. The winning play, Sullivan and coach Dennis Erickson said, was designed for receivers to make comeback routes. If it worked as drawn up, ASU would have gained 20 or so yards to set up a possible field goal.

Sullivan found McGaha, a senior from Moon Valley who had not practiced during the week and played sparingly Saturday night, with no one near him.

“I really don’t know what happened,’’ Erickson said. “But all of the sudden, I see he’s open in the middle of the field.”

Sullivan said he “just told myself, ‘Don’t overthrow him.’ ”

Sullivan didn’t ‑ his pass was hardly a laser.

“The ball seemed to hang up there for three days,’’ Erickson said.

The victory offered some vindication for Sullivan, a first-year starter who has heard boos when he has struggled.

“I’ve been waiting for a game like this, as you guys probably know,’’ he said. “Especially, the last time I played in this stadium, it wasn’t too fun, and my frustration showed after that game.”

Sullivan completed 21 of 35 passes for 263 yards passing with one TD and no interceptions.

Washington quarterback Jake Locker completed 22 of 38 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted twice and sacked three times. A running threat, Locker had 34 yards rushing. The Sun Devils were able to put consistent pressure on him.

ASU outrushed Washington 191-99. Cameron Marshall had 80 yards, and Dimitri Nance had 72 for the Sun Devils.

ASU, plagued by mistakes in the first half, made another after the go-ahead touchdown, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that was assessed on the kickoff.

This one did not come back to bite them. Ryan McFoy intercepted his second pass of the game when Locker tried a desperation throw, sealing the victory.

Washington gave Sullivan his last shot in regulation, though, by not running out the clock to force overtime – and not really going for the victory in regulation either.

After forcing ASU to punt, the Huskies took over on their 10 with 1:17 left. Chris Polk ran twice. Then on third and 1, the Huskies went to the air. Locker’s pass was incomplete.

Even an unsuccessful run would have taken more time off the clock or forced ASU to use its final timeout. What were the Huskies thinking?

“We were trying to get a first down and drive the field to win the game,’’ Locker said.

Erik Folk kicked a 29-yard field goal with 3:50 left to the tie the game at 17-17. The tying field goal was set up when Locker completed a 34-yard pass to Jermaine Kearse. Washington had taken over on its 23 after ASU’s Thomas Weber missed a 40-yard field goal attempt.

The Sun Devils led 17-7 after a 24-yard field goal by Weber midway through the third quarter. Marshall set up the score when he ran 75 yards to the 18.

Washington answered when Chris Polk ran 23 yards for a touchdown. Folk’s extra point cut ASU’s lead to 17-14.

ASU took its first lead on a wide receiver to wide receiver pass early in the second quarter. Former Chaparral standout Kyle Williams took a pitch and threw a 32-yard pass to Peoria High alumnus T.J. Simpson. Weber’s kick made it 14-7.

Washington drove down its next possession from its 8 to the ASU 10, aided by penalties. The Sun Devils were called for two personal fouls, pass interference and a facemask. McFoy stopped the threat with an interception.

The Sun Devils had a chance to go ahead by two touchdowns when Sullivan hit Williams with a pass inside the 5. Williams was going down at the 1 and the ball came lose. It rolled into the end zone, then out of bounds, giving Washington the ball at its 20 on a touchback.

Washington drove to the ASU 30, setting up a 48-yard field goal attempt that was short with 15 seconds left in the half.

A senseless penalty kept Washington’s first drive alive. On third and 9 from the Washington 36, Locker attempted a pass that was batted by a defensive lineman and almost intercepted. But Sun Devil linebacker Vontaze Burfict was called for a personal foul downfield. That gave Washington a first down at the ASU 49.

Burfict was called for three personal fouls in the first half.

“He’s has to learn how to control himself better,’’ Erickson said. “He plays with a lot of emotion. I don’t want to take that away from him. He has to learn some control.”

The next play, Locker threw 49 yards to Devin Aguilar for the game’s first touchdown.

ASU answered with an eight-play, 74-yard scoring drive. Simpson had the big play, going 30 yards on a double reverse.

Sullivan capped the drive with a 1-yard run. Weber’s kick tied the game at 7.