LUBBOCK, Texas – The Sun Devil football team rallied from a three-score deficit to tie things late, but came up short on the road in a 52-45 decision at Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday night.
Manny Wilkins was admirable for the third straight game, completing 27-of-41 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. The redshirt junior also completed a lateral pass to Frank Darby that went in the books as a rushing touchdown in the heroic effort.
N'Keal Harry had his best game as a Sun Devil, with 13 catches for 148 yards – both career highs – and a touchdown. Kyle Williams had a coming out party as well with the first two touchdown receptions of his career on seven catches for 111 yards.
SUN DEVIL MOST RECEPTIONS IN A GAME
19, Ron Fair (277 yards) vs. Washington State (Oct. 28, 1989)
15, Chris McGaha (165 yards) vs. Oregon State (Oct. 3, 2009)
13, N'Keal Harry (148 yards) at Texas Tech (Sept. 16, 2016)
13, Gerell Robinson (241 yards) vs. Boise State/Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 22, 2011)
13, Kyle Williams (126 yards) at Washington State (Oct. 10, 2009)
As a team the Sun Devils rushed for a season-high 168 yards. Kalen Ballage (56 yards, one TD) and Demario Richard (53 yards, one TD) combined for 109 yards to lead the way.
Down by as many as 18 points on two occasions (21-3 and 35-17) the Sun Devils came back to knot the game at 45-45 following Wilkins' 21-yard touchdown pass to Harry with 9:52 remaining in the game.
The Sun Devils were able to force a three-and-out on Texas Tech's ensuing possession but could not capitalize on the offensive end, setting the stage for the Red Raiders' game-winning score with 1:55 left on the clock.
Christian Sam and DJ Calhoun each finished with double-digit tackle totals (11 and 10, respectively) but the Sun Devil secondary struggled against a potent Texas Tech air attack, allowing 543 passing yards in the effort.
ASU received the opening kickoff and drove 42 yards but was not able to come away with any points after Brandon Ruiz' 41-yard field goal sailed wide left.
The Sun Devils forced the Red Raiders into a three-and-out and, following a Texas Tech punt, would once again find success moving the ball. Runs of 18 (Wilkins) and 17 yards (Harry) helped the Sun Devils drive 46 yards in eight plays for the game's first score, a 44-yard field goal by Ruiz.
The Red Raiders would respond by scoring the game's next 21 points on drives of 75, 72 and 22 yards to put the Sun Devils in a 21-3 hole at the end of the first quarter.
The Sun Devils would answer Texas Tech's scoring burst with 14 straight points to cut the deficit to 21-17. Williams caught a three-yard scoring pass from Wilkins to cap an eight-play 75-yard drive. Then, after a fumble recovery, Wilkins would lead the Sun Devils 80 yards in nine plays for another touchdown to make it a one-score game. Wilkins had completions of 24 (Williams), 15 (Jalen Harvey) and 21 yards (Harvey) on the drive.
ASU would get no closer the rest of the half as the Red Raiders scored the last 14 points of the quarter to take a 35-17 lead into the locker room.
Down, but not out, the Sun Devils came back with a strong third quarter outscoring the Red Raiders 21-10 in the frame to get within a touchdown, 45-38, entering the final 15 minutes.
Wilkins was brilliant in the quarter as he completed nine of his 13 pass attempts for 168 yards. Harry caught five of those passes for 82 yards while Williams pulled in three for 78 yards, including his second touchdown reception of the night (nine yards). Also scoring touchdowns in the quarter were Ballage (one-yard run) and Darby (21-yard run).
The Sun Devils played most of Saturday's game without Koron Crump, who was injured midway through the first quarter and did not return. Crump came into the game tied for second in the nation with four sacks.
Saturday's game kicked off one hour later (8:05 pm CT) than the originally scheduled time of 7:05 pm CT due to a weather delay (lightning).
The Sun Devils return to action next Saturday (7 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Network) when they host Oregon in the Pac-12 opener for both teams. To purchase tickets, click here or contact the Sun Devil ticket office at 480-727-0000.
Manny Wilkins was admirable for the third straight game, completing 27-of-41 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. The redshirt junior also completed a lateral pass to Frank Darby that went in the books as a rushing touchdown in the heroic effort.
N'Keal Harry had his best game as a Sun Devil, with 13 catches for 148 yards – both career highs – and a touchdown. Kyle Williams had a coming out party as well with the first two touchdown receptions of his career on seven catches for 111 yards.
SUN DEVIL MOST RECEPTIONS IN A GAME
19, Ron Fair (277 yards) vs. Washington State (Oct. 28, 1989)
15, Chris McGaha (165 yards) vs. Oregon State (Oct. 3, 2009)
13, N'Keal Harry (148 yards) at Texas Tech (Sept. 16, 2016)
13, Gerell Robinson (241 yards) vs. Boise State/Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 22, 2011)
13, Kyle Williams (126 yards) at Washington State (Oct. 10, 2009)
As a team the Sun Devils rushed for a season-high 168 yards. Kalen Ballage (56 yards, one TD) and Demario Richard (53 yards, one TD) combined for 109 yards to lead the way.
Down by as many as 18 points on two occasions (21-3 and 35-17) the Sun Devils came back to knot the game at 45-45 following Wilkins' 21-yard touchdown pass to Harry with 9:52 remaining in the game.
The Sun Devils were able to force a three-and-out on Texas Tech's ensuing possession but could not capitalize on the offensive end, setting the stage for the Red Raiders' game-winning score with 1:55 left on the clock.
Christian Sam and DJ Calhoun each finished with double-digit tackle totals (11 and 10, respectively) but the Sun Devil secondary struggled against a potent Texas Tech air attack, allowing 543 passing yards in the effort.
ASU received the opening kickoff and drove 42 yards but was not able to come away with any points after Brandon Ruiz' 41-yard field goal sailed wide left.
The Sun Devils forced the Red Raiders into a three-and-out and, following a Texas Tech punt, would once again find success moving the ball. Runs of 18 (Wilkins) and 17 yards (Harry) helped the Sun Devils drive 46 yards in eight plays for the game's first score, a 44-yard field goal by Ruiz.
The Red Raiders would respond by scoring the game's next 21 points on drives of 75, 72 and 22 yards to put the Sun Devils in a 21-3 hole at the end of the first quarter.
The Sun Devils would answer Texas Tech's scoring burst with 14 straight points to cut the deficit to 21-17. Williams caught a three-yard scoring pass from Wilkins to cap an eight-play 75-yard drive. Then, after a fumble recovery, Wilkins would lead the Sun Devils 80 yards in nine plays for another touchdown to make it a one-score game. Wilkins had completions of 24 (Williams), 15 (Jalen Harvey) and 21 yards (Harvey) on the drive.
ASU would get no closer the rest of the half as the Red Raiders scored the last 14 points of the quarter to take a 35-17 lead into the locker room.
Down, but not out, the Sun Devils came back with a strong third quarter outscoring the Red Raiders 21-10 in the frame to get within a touchdown, 45-38, entering the final 15 minutes.
Wilkins was brilliant in the quarter as he completed nine of his 13 pass attempts for 168 yards. Harry caught five of those passes for 82 yards while Williams pulled in three for 78 yards, including his second touchdown reception of the night (nine yards). Also scoring touchdowns in the quarter were Ballage (one-yard run) and Darby (21-yard run).
The Sun Devils played most of Saturday's game without Koron Crump, who was injured midway through the first quarter and did not return. Crump came into the game tied for second in the nation with four sacks.
Saturday's game kicked off one hour later (8:05 pm CT) than the originally scheduled time of 7:05 pm CT due to a weather delay (lightning).
The Sun Devils return to action next Saturday (7 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Network) when they host Oregon in the Pac-12 opener for both teams. To purchase tickets, click here or contact the Sun Devil ticket office at 480-727-0000.