Utes top Sun Devils 49-26 on Salute to Service Night

TEMPE, Ariz.  - A Sun Devil squad (5-5, 2-5) still struggling with key injuries went stride-for-stride with 13th-ranked Utah (8-2, 4-2) for most of the game, but couldn't hold on in a 49-26 loss at Sun Devil Stadium Thursday night.
 
Manny Wilkins made his return for the Sun Devils under center after exiting ASU's Week Eight contest with Washington State midway through the first quarter with an injury. The redshirt sophomore dispelled any questions about his health, throwing for 309 yards and one touchdown against one of the Pac-12's best defensive units.
 
Junior running-back Kalen Ballage powered the Sun Devil offense, combining for 244 all-purpose yards that included 118 yards through the air.
 
Freshman wide-receiver N'Keal Harry was a warrior on offense, combining for 114 yards on eight receptions. Harry added a 31-yard rushing touchdown and a 46-yard pass to senior wide-receiver Fred Gammage to end the night with 145 total yards.
 
Junior linebacker DJ Calhoun lead the ASU defense with nine tackles, including seven solo tackles and one tackle for loss.
 
The Sun Devil defense was a force to be reckoned in the first quarter, forcing their first of two fumbles just four seconds into the  contest. A bad snap lead to a Utah fumble that was scooped up by defensive lineman George Lea to give ASU prime field position on Utah's 24 yard line. However, ASU was unable to capitalize on the Utes' error as Wilkins' pass on second and 12 from the Utah 14 was intercepted in the end zone by Tyler McClure.
 
The defense proved to be the difference again when it forced its second fumble of the night on Utah's next drive. A 24-yard pass from Wilkins to Harry, and a 14-yard rush by Ballage, placed senior kicker Zane Gonzalez in position to put one through the uprights, giving ASU an early 3-0 lead.
 
After forcing a Utah three and-out, the Sun Devils took a 10-0 lead as Ballaged rushed two yards for his 14th rushing touchdown of the season. The touchdown was set up by Harry's 46-yard pass to senior Fred Gammage, becoming the eighth ASU player to complete a pass this season.
 
ASU kept the Utes off the board again and Gonzalez added another field goal following a 71-yard pass from Wilkins to Ballage, putting the Sun Devils up 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Utes, however, would come roaring back in the second quarter answering back with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Troy Williams to wide-receiver Raelon Singleton to put the Utes on the board. A little over three minutes later, Williams completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Saiosi Wilson to take their first lead of the game, 14-13.
 
The Sun Devils reclaimed the lead, 20-14, with a rushing touchdown from Harry, who recovered his own dropped pass and proceeded to snake through the Utah defense for a 31-yard score.
 
In the waning minutes of the half, the Utes connected on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Singleton to cling to a narrow 21-20 lead at the half.
 
Utah, after forcing an ASU three-and-out to begin the half, took a 28-20 lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter after running-back Joe Williams rushed 82 yards for a touchdown, marking the longest rushing touchdown by an opposing team during the 2016 season.
 
The Sun Devils responded with a 12-yard touchdown from Wilkins to senior Tim White, cutting the Utah lead to 28-26 with 4:07 remaining in the third.
 
Five minutes later, Singleton tallied his third touchdown of the night with a 24-yard pass from Williams, but the Utes put the game out of reach after a 34-yard interception return by Chase Hansen that put the Utes up 42-26 with just over five minutes left in the game. Utah closed the game with a 40 yard touchdown run by Williams closing out the Utes eighth victory of the season, 49-26.
 
With the loss, the Sun Devils fell to 9-10 against ranked teams, and 4-2 against the Utes in the Todd Graham erra.
 
The Sun Devils will return to action on Saturday, November 19, as they will travel to Seattle to face the No. 4 Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium. First kick is slated for 5:30 p.m. with the game to be broadcast on FOX.