EUGENE, Ore. – A Sun Devil football squad absolutely decimated by injuries showed an exemplary amount of grit and heart, but the team's late rally fell short in a 54-34 loss to the Oregon Ducks on Saturday in Eugene.
Dillon Sterling-Cole made his first career start for the Devils (5-4, 2-4 Pac-12), becoming just the fifth true freshman quarterback to start for the Sun Devils in history. Making his debut in the notoriously difficult Autzen Stadium, the frosh showed flashes of brilliance en route to 302 passing yards on 21-of-37 passing with a touchdown and also a rushing score.
Kalen Ballage received the bulk of the action in the backfield in the absence of Demario Richard and put together one of his best games as a Sun Devil, finishing with 263 all-purpose yards, two rushing touchdowns and passing touchdown. He led the Sun Devil receiving attack with six catches for 105 yards, becoming the first ASU running back with over 100 rushing yards since Demario Richard's 151-yard effort against New Mexico last season.
A maligned Sun Devil defense featuring six players that did not start the season as starters showed an impressive amount of fortitude, forcing 11 tackles for loss and four sacks, but the lack of depth due to injuries proved too much over the course of the game.
Four Sun Devils finished with double-digit tackles – none of whom were even in the starting lineup when the season began – with Marcus Ball tallying a career best 14 tackles while Koron Crump, J'Marcus Rhodes and Carlos Mendoza all set career bests with 10 tackles each. JoJo Wicker was a force in the backfield, logging a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss.
ASU's fourth-quarter rally started with a 73-yard drive in just 2:36 to cut the lead to 33-28 on Sterling-Cole's first career touchdown pass to N'Keal Harry - a nine-yard snag for the true freshman for his fourth receiving touchdown of the season.
The Ducks responded with a long-touchdown pass on the ensuing drive to make it 4-28 and looked to have things well in hand after forcing the Devils into a turnover on downs on the following possession.
With the Ducks driving and winding down the clock, the Sun Devil defense got the stop it needed as Carlos Mendoza forced a Kani Benoit fumble that was returned 45 yards inside the Oregon 10-yard line by Marcus Ball. ASU found the end zone two plays later as Kalen Ballage notched his first career touchdown pass to Kody Kohl to make it 40-35.
The magic wound out for the Sun Devils after that, however, as Oregon quickly made up the score on a 58-yard touchdown rush by Tony Brooks-James with 6:06 remaining to make it 47-35.
ASU strung together a solid drive on the ensuing possession but Sterling-Cole's interception inside the Oregon 10-yard-line was returned 84 yards in the opposite direction to effectively seal the game with 3:52 remaining with the Ducks finding the end zone a couple plays later to wrap up the 54-35 victory.
A reinvigorated Sun Devil defense stepped up to the plate in the second half after a forgettable start to the game, limiting the Ducks to three points in the third quarter while forcing four tackles for loss to keep ASU within striking distance.
The Devil offense did its part in the frame, relying on the run game on its 77-yard touchdown drive – capped by Ballage's second touchdown of the game and ensuing two-point conversation reception to cut the Oregon lead to 30-22.
Kalen Ballage got ASU on the board with his 11th touchdown rush of the season early in the first quarter following a long Duck touchdown reception, evening things at 7-7.
The Ducks would quickly respond on Charles Nelson's 31-yard touchdown reception followed by an Aidan Schneider field goal to make it 10-7.
Sterling-Cole led a methodical 70-yard drive on eight plays on the following possession, capped by his first career touchdown rush to bring the Devils back within 17-14.
It was all Oregon in the second quarter, however, as a pair of Schneider field goals preceded a late touchdown reception from Brown to give Oregon a 30-14 advantage heading into the locker rooms.
The Sun Devil will now head into a much-needed bye week before wrapping up its 2016 home slate on Thursday, Nov. 10 against Utah in primetime at Sun Devil Stadium. ASU will celebrate its annual Salute to Service game as well as honoring the squad's 20 seniors in the final appearance at Sun Devil Stadium.
Dillon Sterling-Cole made his first career start for the Devils (5-4, 2-4 Pac-12), becoming just the fifth true freshman quarterback to start for the Sun Devils in history. Making his debut in the notoriously difficult Autzen Stadium, the frosh showed flashes of brilliance en route to 302 passing yards on 21-of-37 passing with a touchdown and also a rushing score.
Kalen Ballage received the bulk of the action in the backfield in the absence of Demario Richard and put together one of his best games as a Sun Devil, finishing with 263 all-purpose yards, two rushing touchdowns and passing touchdown. He led the Sun Devil receiving attack with six catches for 105 yards, becoming the first ASU running back with over 100 rushing yards since Demario Richard's 151-yard effort against New Mexico last season.
A maligned Sun Devil defense featuring six players that did not start the season as starters showed an impressive amount of fortitude, forcing 11 tackles for loss and four sacks, but the lack of depth due to injuries proved too much over the course of the game.
Four Sun Devils finished with double-digit tackles – none of whom were even in the starting lineup when the season began – with Marcus Ball tallying a career best 14 tackles while Koron Crump, J'Marcus Rhodes and Carlos Mendoza all set career bests with 10 tackles each. JoJo Wicker was a force in the backfield, logging a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss.
ASU's fourth-quarter rally started with a 73-yard drive in just 2:36 to cut the lead to 33-28 on Sterling-Cole's first career touchdown pass to N'Keal Harry - a nine-yard snag for the true freshman for his fourth receiving touchdown of the season.
The Ducks responded with a long-touchdown pass on the ensuing drive to make it 4-28 and looked to have things well in hand after forcing the Devils into a turnover on downs on the following possession.
With the Ducks driving and winding down the clock, the Sun Devil defense got the stop it needed as Carlos Mendoza forced a Kani Benoit fumble that was returned 45 yards inside the Oregon 10-yard line by Marcus Ball. ASU found the end zone two plays later as Kalen Ballage notched his first career touchdown pass to Kody Kohl to make it 40-35.
The magic wound out for the Sun Devils after that, however, as Oregon quickly made up the score on a 58-yard touchdown rush by Tony Brooks-James with 6:06 remaining to make it 47-35.
ASU strung together a solid drive on the ensuing possession but Sterling-Cole's interception inside the Oregon 10-yard-line was returned 84 yards in the opposite direction to effectively seal the game with 3:52 remaining with the Ducks finding the end zone a couple plays later to wrap up the 54-35 victory.
A reinvigorated Sun Devil defense stepped up to the plate in the second half after a forgettable start to the game, limiting the Ducks to three points in the third quarter while forcing four tackles for loss to keep ASU within striking distance.
The Devil offense did its part in the frame, relying on the run game on its 77-yard touchdown drive – capped by Ballage's second touchdown of the game and ensuing two-point conversation reception to cut the Oregon lead to 30-22.
Kalen Ballage got ASU on the board with his 11th touchdown rush of the season early in the first quarter following a long Duck touchdown reception, evening things at 7-7.
The Ducks would quickly respond on Charles Nelson's 31-yard touchdown reception followed by an Aidan Schneider field goal to make it 10-7.
Sterling-Cole led a methodical 70-yard drive on eight plays on the following possession, capped by his first career touchdown rush to bring the Devils back within 17-14.
It was all Oregon in the second quarter, however, as a pair of Schneider field goals preceded a late touchdown reception from Brown to give Oregon a 30-14 advantage heading into the locker rooms.
The Sun Devil will now head into a much-needed bye week before wrapping up its 2016 home slate on Thursday, Nov. 10 against Utah in primetime at Sun Devil Stadium. ASU will celebrate its annual Salute to Service game as well as honoring the squad's 20 seniors in the final appearance at Sun Devil Stadium.