Nov. 28, 2008
Stats | Quotes | Notes | Game Action
TEMPE, Ariz. -- By Carmen Vitali, ASU Media Relations
A historic defensive performance led the Arizona State football team to a 34-9 victory over UCLA on Friday at Sun Devil Stadium. It was the third straight win for ASU, who is now 5-6, 4-4 in the Pac-10, on the season.
The Sun Devil defense tied an NCAA record by scoring four touchdowns against the Bruins, returning three interceptions and one fumble.
"I've never seen anything like it in my many years of coaching," head coach Dennis Erickson said. "I've never seen four touchdowns scored on defense and such total control of the game. It's unbelievable."
Senior Paul 'Unga started things off with a 17-yard fumble recovery return in the second quarter, giving him his first collegiate score in his final home game. Linebacker Travis Goethel then had a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown six minutes later, helping the Sun Devils to a 14-6 lead at the half.
In the fourth quarter, with the Bruins inside the 10 and trailing 17-9, senior safety Troy Nolan stepped in front of a Kevin Craft pass intended for Terrence Austin in the end zone, tipped it to himself and then returned the ball 100 yards for a score. It was Nolan's third touchdown this season.
"I was thinking about it all week," Nolan said. "I wanted to make a big play. It was a highlight, and it put a stamp on my career."
Linebacker Mike Nixon finished off the defensive scoring less than a minute later, collecting his team-high fifth interception of the season and returning it 45 yards for a score.
This was the fourth straight game ASU scored a defensive touchdown, and by holding UCLA's offense to just three field goals, the Sun Devils now have a streak of 10 straight quarters without allowing their opponents to reach the end zone.
The Sun Devils also had five sacks in the victory, their highest total of the season. Morris Wooten had two of those sacks and a team-leading 17 tackles in the game, while defensive linemen Dexter Davis, Lawrence Guy and Luis Vasquez added one sack each.
Offensively, quarterback Rudy Carpenter was 13-for-26 for 101 yards with one interception. A bright spot for Carpenter came on a four-yard pass to Michael Jones in the first quarter, as that moved him ahead of Andrew Walter to become the school's all-time leader in pass completions.
Overall, the Sun Devil offense had just 122 total yards in the game and failed to score a touchdown for the second time this season.
"[The offense] played pretty poorly," Carpenter said. "We haven't played very well on offense all year. The defense played great, that's how we got the win."
On special teams, junior Kyle Williams had a career-high 64-yard punt return in the third quarter that led to an ASU field goal. Kicker Thomas Weber made both of his field goal attempts, from 31 and 38 yards.
Friday night was also Senior Night for the Sun Devils, with all 15 seniors being honored before the game.
"All of [the seniors] have contributed one way or the other," Erickson said. "It's amazing."
The Sun Devils close out the 2008 regular season next week, playing the rival Arizona Wildcats in Tucson.