Sept. 9, 2011
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TEMPE, Ariz. (Jessica Schott, ASU Media Relations)- Jamal Miles caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Brock Osweiler in overtime, then the defense held Missouri out of the end zone on their possession to seal Arizona State's wild win over No. 21 Missouri, 37 - 30. The Sun Devils improved to 2-0 after the win, Dennis Erickson's 28th career victory over a ranked opponent.
The atmosphere in Sun Devil Stadium was electric with a "Blacked Out" crowd and the players taking the field for the first time in their all black uniforms. The crowd of over 70,000 was the largest at Sun Devil Stadium since Georgia visited in 2008.
Arizona State did not waste any time driving the ball down the field when Osweiler threw a 51- yard pass to Gerell Robinson. That set up Jamal Miles, who was hit next by Osweiler resulting in the Sun Devils first touchdown of the night, a 12-yard strike. The Sun Devils drive 77-yards in just 2:04 to take an early 7-0 lead.
After a Missouri field goal, ASU would stretch the lead to 10-3 when Alex Garoutte made a 47-yard field goal early in the second. Missouri evened things up when Tigers quarterback James Franklin got by the ASU defense for a 2-yard touchdown run. Arizona State quickly knocked down Missouri's momentum when Osweiler responded with a 60-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Pflugrad on the next play from scrimmage. The extra point was blocked, giving ASU a 16-10 lead heading into halftime.
"It was just good timing and a good ball in there and [he] was able to make the play," Osweiler said of the long pass.
Osweiler and Pflugrad had an undeniable chemistry during the game, as the two connected eight times for 180 yards. Osweiler was 24 - 32 for 353-yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
Missouri's kicker, Grant Ressel, made a 24- yard field goal early in the third quarter, pulling Missouri to within three at 16-13. The Sun Devils responded, using a trick play to increase their lead. A halfback pass from Jamal Miles to Aaron Pflugrad covered 35-yards and ended up in the end zone for Pflugrad's second TD of the night and a 23-16 Sun Devil lead. It was the second straight game for Pflugrad with two touchdowns. Not long after that Osweiler ran in for a 12-yard touchdown himself, bringing the score to an Arizona State 30 - 16 lead over the Tigers.
But the Tigers would not go away, drawing to within a touchdown on a Franklin touchdown pass to L'Damian Washington, then evening things up at 30 apiece on a three-yard scoring strike from Franklin to Michael Egnew with just 2:50 remaining on the clock.
The stadium was pulsating with Sun Devil fever and dressed in all black as the defense tried to hold the Tigers, who had marched down to the Sun Devil 30-yard line. With 17 seconds left on the clock, Missouri called two timeouts before Ressel trotted out to attempt a 48-yarder to win the game. He missed wide left, sending the game to overtime.
The Sun Devils, opening the overtime on offense, started fast, moving to the Missouri nine yard line after a 13-yard pass from Osweiler to Pflugrad. Two plays later, Jamal Miles caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Osweiler, giving the Sun Devils a 37-30 advantage.
The defense came out ready when the Tigers took the field. Colin Parker and Junior Onyeali put the pressure on Franklin for the Tigers first two plays in the overtime, holding them to no gain on back-to-back plays. A five-yard gain set up a fourth and five from ASU 20. With the defense breathing down his back, Franklin's pass to T.J. Moe fell incomplete, sealing the victory for Arizona State.
"We knew it was on us, we had to go out and play and come up with a stop," said senior linebacker Colin Parker of the overtime. "That was our mindset going out there and we got it done".