Sun Devils without LB Kyle Soelle, CBs Ro Torrence, Isaiah Johnson at Washington State

The Arizona State Sun Devils football team was shorthanded for Saturday’s 28-18 loss to the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash.

ASU was without cornerbacks Ro Torrence (illness) and Isaiah Johnson (illness) in addition to senior linebacker Kyle Soelle due to an upper extremity injury, according to SunDevilSource.

“He tried to go all week,” interim head coach Shaun Aguano told reporters of Soelle postgame. I told him I trusted him and if he’s not 100% ready to go and there’s any doubt, I trust that he’ll let me know. He just couldn’t go.”

Trailing 28-0 at halftime, Aguano also told the Sun Devil radio network that quarterback Emory Jones came in for starter Trenton Bourguet due to a leg injury.

A sickness bug has been going around the Arizona State football program and forced starting defensive linemen Omarr Norman-Lott and Nesta Jade Silvera to leave last week’s 50-36 loss to then-No. 10 UCLA because of it.

The absences of two corners couldn’t have come against a worse opponent in Washington State, which throws the ball the 16th-most of any team in the country while also having the fourth-fewest rushing attempts in the nation.

Timarcus Davis and Macen Williams had to step up as the outside corners opposite of Ed Woods, as Jordan Clark continued to play slot corner in defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson’s nickel package.

The loss of Soelle also means ASU was also without the Pac-12 Conference’s leading tackler and one of its captains.

Will Shaffer and Kyle’s brother Connor Soelle have had more of an impact at the linebacker position alongside senior Merlin Robertson.

Arizona State was already without starting left guard LaDarius Henderson, who has now missed four straight games after suffering a finger injury in the 45-38 upset win over then-No. 21 Washington on Oct. 8.

The loss means the Sun Devils (3-7, 2-5 Pac-12) are no longer bowl eligible, while the Cougars (6-4, 3-4) have guaranteed themselves postseason football.

“We just had a good talk and those guys are going to finish and leave their legacy of a team that will never quit,” Aguano said. “They’ll come back tomorrow and we’ll get ready for the next two weeks.

“Our guys will play and they’ll play as hard as they can the next two weeks. And then we’ll figure it out.”

UP NEXT

ASU hosts Oregon State next Saturday at 12:15 p.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7, the Arizona Sports app and ArizonaSports.com.

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