Relive the 2014 regular season as we spend the next 12 days counting down toward the team’s departure to El Paso. Every day, from Dec. 12 through Dec. 23, we will take a unique look back at all 12 games this year. Visit thesundevils.com as well as all of Sun Devil Athletics’ social media outlets daily.
GAME 4
#11 UCLA 62, #15 Arizona State 27
Tempe, Ariz. (Sun Devil Stadium)
Sept. 25, 2014
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Big Plays Doom Sun Devils In Home Loss To UCLA
A pair of big plays that bookended halftime turned a close game into a 62-27 loss to No. 11 UCLA in the fourth annual Blackout game on Thursday night at Sun Devil Stadium.
UCLA cornerback Ishmael Adams had a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown seconds before the break and wide receiver Jordan Payton hauled in an 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bret Hundley on the Bruins’ first play from scrimmage in the third quarter to quickly make a three-point lead into a 17-point advantage.
The Sun Devils started strong in the first quarter as they scored 10 points and held UCLA to a punt and two field goals to keep them out of the end zone for the first 15 minutes. However, UCLA outscored ASU, 42-17, in the second and third quarters en route to 582 yards of total offense and the most points scored in the 55-year history of Sun Devil Stadium.
ASU ran 105 plays, collected twice as many first downs as UCLA and gained 626 yards, but were unable to overcome the Bruins’ five plays of 80 yards or more.
Playing in place of injured starter Taylor Kelly, quarterback Mike Bercovici broke single-game school records for both pass attempts and completions as he went 42-of-68 for 488 yards. He became the first Sun Devil to pass for more than 400 yards in his first career start since Rudy Carpenter in 2005, and surpassed Paul Justin’s 63 attempts in 1990 and Jeff Van Raaphorst’s 38 completions in 1986 and 1984.
Wide receiver Jaelen Strong pulled in 12 catches for 146 yards, including a 25-yarder in the first quarter that set up the Devils’ first touchdown of the game.
Trailing by three with just over two minutes to play in the first half, Bercovici led the Devils 58 yards down the field to the Bruins’ 17-yard line, but was intercepted by Adams on third down.
The Bruins then outscored ASU 35-10 in the second half, including a 100-yard kickoff return by Adams midway through the third quarter, to run away with the victory.
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GAME 3
#16 Arizona State 38, Colorado 24
Boulder, Colo. (Folsom Field)
Sept. 13, 2014
GAME 2
#17 Arizona State 58, New Mexico 23
Albuquerque, N.M. (University Stadium)
Sept. 6, 2014
GAME 1
#19 Arizona State 45, Weber State 14
Tempe, Ariz. (Sun Devil Stadium)
Aug. 28, 2014