STANFORD, Calif. – The Arizona State University football team dropped its Pac-12 road opener on Saturday, falling to Stanford, 34-24.
The Sun Devils (2-3, 1-1 Pac-12) stayed within striking distance for much of the game but were unable to overcome a 14-point second-half deficit.
Demario Richard went over 3,000 career all-purpose yards in the contest as he finished with a team-leading 137 total yards of offense (80 rushing yards and 57 receiving yards) with two rushing touchdowns. Richard now has 3,019 all-purpose yards in his Sun Devil career and 24 total touchdowns.
ASU finished with a season-best 214 rushing yards with three different players rushing for over 60 yards in the effort – Richard 84, wide receiver Kyle Williams (65) and running back Kalen Ballage (60).
ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins, who entered the game with a school record 188 attempts without an interception, threw his first interception of the season on ASU's first possession of the second quarter. His record-breaking streak ended at 192 pass attempts. He would finish the game with 181 yards passing.
For the first time this season the Sun Devils did not have a receiver account for at least 100 yards. Richard (three receptions for 57 yards) and N'Keal Harry (three receptions for 40 yards) tied for the team lead with three receptions each. Jalen Harvey was the recipient of Wilkins' longest pass completion of the game (43 yards).
Trailing by two touchdowns for much of the second half, the Sun Devils made it a one-possession game with 8:02 remaining in the tilt, cutting the Stanford lead to 31-24 before the Cardinal effectively closed out the game with a methodical 11-play, 71 yard field goal drive that took 5:36 off the clock.
The Sun Devils attempted one last stab at things, aiming to get a shot at the onside kick and a Hail Mary by attempting a 59-yard field goal with about 20 seconds remaining but Brandon Ruiz's effort was a couple feet short and allowed the Cardinal to take a knee to close things out.
Defensively, ASU could not find an answer for the nation's leading rusher Bryce Love as the Cardinal running back finished with a school single-game record 301 rushing yards with three touchdowns.
Christian Sam led the way with 10 tackles in the effort while DJ Calhoun added 2.5 tackles for loss on nine tackles.
The Cardinal (3-2, 2-1) opened the scoring on the game's fourth play when Love raced 61 yards for a touchdown.
The Sun Devils moved themselves into position to match Stanford's quick score after Wilkins found Richard for 34 yards. Richard's leaping catch set up ASU with a first down at the Stanford 30. The Sun Devils would get as far as the Stanford 27 before being forced out of field goal range when Wilkins was sacked for a 12-yard loss on third and seven.
A big play by the Sun Devil defense kept Stanford from increasing its lead after J'Marcus Rhodes stripped the ball from Cardinal wide receiver Dalton Schultz and recovered the ball on the doorstep of the Sun Devil goal at the two-yard line.
A 49-yard run by wide receiver Kyle Williams helped the Sun Devils immediately move the ball to Stanford's side of the field. Later in the drive the Sun Devils thought they had scored the game-tying touchdown when, on first 10 from the Cardinal 20, Harry caught a short pass from Wilkins and – at first glance – appeared to maintain his balance after a Stanford defender attempted to knock Harry off his feet. Thinking the play was over, the entire Cardinal defense stopped and Harry kept running eventually making his way to the end zone. Officials ruled on the field that Harry's knee never touched the ground and the preliminary call was a touchdown. After a review, however, the call was reversed as it was ruled that Harry's forearm touched the ground as he was attempting to stay on his feet. After the touchdown was taken off the board the Sun Devils would get as far as the 10 where they had it first and goal. Three plays later ASU would settle for a 32-yard field goal by Ruiz to cut Stanford's lead to 7-3.
The Sun Devil defense would force Stanford to punt on its ensuing possession, but the Cardinal would get the ball right back when Wilkins threw his first interception of the season – on his 193rd pass attempt. Stanford would cash in the miscue when Love scored his second touchdown of the game with a 43-yard run to put the Cardinal up 14-3.
Down by two scores the Sun Devils would respond with a determined 14-play, 75-yard drive for their first touchdown of the game. Richard would account for 48 of the 75 yards on the ground, including the three-yard scoring run that capped the drive to get ASU within four points, 14-10.
Love would help the Cardinal reclaim an 11-point lead after he led off Stanford's next drive with a 39-yard run. Love would get his hands on the ball two more times on the drive, the second of those runs moving Stanford to the ASU 12. From there, quarterback K.J. Costello would finish the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass.
Big plays of 18 yards (run by Ballage) and 21 yards (Harry reception) helped ASU move back into scoring position. After a pair of runs by Richard helped the Sun Devils move to the ASU 12, the Sun Devils would go to their bag of tricks as Harry took a direct snap out of the Sparky formation, rolled out and found tight end CeeJhay French-Love for a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Stanford would tack on a field goal just before the half to take a 24-17 lead into the locker room.
The Sun Devils will have a bye next week before returning to action on Saturday, October 14 when they host defending Pac-12 champion Washington at Frank Kush Field/Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe (time TBA). The Oct. 14 matchup will also serve as the Hall of Fame Game with eight student-athletes from seven different varsity sports being honored at halftime: Alejandro Canizares (Men's Golf), Amy Hastings-Cragg (Track and Field/Cross Country), Emily Westerberg (Women's Basketball), Aaron Aguayo (Track and Field/Cross Country), Andrew Walter (Football), Jim Newman (Men's Basketball, posthumously), Ron Davini (Baseball) and Adria Engel (Women's Tennis).
Fans are encouraged to wear black as the game vs. the Huskies will also mark the Sun Devils' annual Blackout game. To purchase tickets, click here or contact the Sun Devil ticket office at 480-727-0000.
The Sun Devils (2-3, 1-1 Pac-12) stayed within striking distance for much of the game but were unable to overcome a 14-point second-half deficit.
Demario Richard went over 3,000 career all-purpose yards in the contest as he finished with a team-leading 137 total yards of offense (80 rushing yards and 57 receiving yards) with two rushing touchdowns. Richard now has 3,019 all-purpose yards in his Sun Devil career and 24 total touchdowns.
ASU finished with a season-best 214 rushing yards with three different players rushing for over 60 yards in the effort – Richard 84, wide receiver Kyle Williams (65) and running back Kalen Ballage (60).
ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins, who entered the game with a school record 188 attempts without an interception, threw his first interception of the season on ASU's first possession of the second quarter. His record-breaking streak ended at 192 pass attempts. He would finish the game with 181 yards passing.
For the first time this season the Sun Devils did not have a receiver account for at least 100 yards. Richard (three receptions for 57 yards) and N'Keal Harry (three receptions for 40 yards) tied for the team lead with three receptions each. Jalen Harvey was the recipient of Wilkins' longest pass completion of the game (43 yards).
Trailing by two touchdowns for much of the second half, the Sun Devils made it a one-possession game with 8:02 remaining in the tilt, cutting the Stanford lead to 31-24 before the Cardinal effectively closed out the game with a methodical 11-play, 71 yard field goal drive that took 5:36 off the clock.
The Sun Devils attempted one last stab at things, aiming to get a shot at the onside kick and a Hail Mary by attempting a 59-yard field goal with about 20 seconds remaining but Brandon Ruiz's effort was a couple feet short and allowed the Cardinal to take a knee to close things out.
Defensively, ASU could not find an answer for the nation's leading rusher Bryce Love as the Cardinal running back finished with a school single-game record 301 rushing yards with three touchdowns.
Christian Sam led the way with 10 tackles in the effort while DJ Calhoun added 2.5 tackles for loss on nine tackles.
The Cardinal (3-2, 2-1) opened the scoring on the game's fourth play when Love raced 61 yards for a touchdown.
The Sun Devils moved themselves into position to match Stanford's quick score after Wilkins found Richard for 34 yards. Richard's leaping catch set up ASU with a first down at the Stanford 30. The Sun Devils would get as far as the Stanford 27 before being forced out of field goal range when Wilkins was sacked for a 12-yard loss on third and seven.
A big play by the Sun Devil defense kept Stanford from increasing its lead after J'Marcus Rhodes stripped the ball from Cardinal wide receiver Dalton Schultz and recovered the ball on the doorstep of the Sun Devil goal at the two-yard line.
A 49-yard run by wide receiver Kyle Williams helped the Sun Devils immediately move the ball to Stanford's side of the field. Later in the drive the Sun Devils thought they had scored the game-tying touchdown when, on first 10 from the Cardinal 20, Harry caught a short pass from Wilkins and – at first glance – appeared to maintain his balance after a Stanford defender attempted to knock Harry off his feet. Thinking the play was over, the entire Cardinal defense stopped and Harry kept running eventually making his way to the end zone. Officials ruled on the field that Harry's knee never touched the ground and the preliminary call was a touchdown. After a review, however, the call was reversed as it was ruled that Harry's forearm touched the ground as he was attempting to stay on his feet. After the touchdown was taken off the board the Sun Devils would get as far as the 10 where they had it first and goal. Three plays later ASU would settle for a 32-yard field goal by Ruiz to cut Stanford's lead to 7-3.
The Sun Devil defense would force Stanford to punt on its ensuing possession, but the Cardinal would get the ball right back when Wilkins threw his first interception of the season – on his 193rd pass attempt. Stanford would cash in the miscue when Love scored his second touchdown of the game with a 43-yard run to put the Cardinal up 14-3.
Down by two scores the Sun Devils would respond with a determined 14-play, 75-yard drive for their first touchdown of the game. Richard would account for 48 of the 75 yards on the ground, including the three-yard scoring run that capped the drive to get ASU within four points, 14-10.
Love would help the Cardinal reclaim an 11-point lead after he led off Stanford's next drive with a 39-yard run. Love would get his hands on the ball two more times on the drive, the second of those runs moving Stanford to the ASU 12. From there, quarterback K.J. Costello would finish the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass.
Big plays of 18 yards (run by Ballage) and 21 yards (Harry reception) helped ASU move back into scoring position. After a pair of runs by Richard helped the Sun Devils move to the ASU 12, the Sun Devils would go to their bag of tricks as Harry took a direct snap out of the Sparky formation, rolled out and found tight end CeeJhay French-Love for a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Stanford would tack on a field goal just before the half to take a 24-17 lead into the locker room.
The Sun Devils will have a bye next week before returning to action on Saturday, October 14 when they host defending Pac-12 champion Washington at Frank Kush Field/Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe (time TBA). The Oct. 14 matchup will also serve as the Hall of Fame Game with eight student-athletes from seven different varsity sports being honored at halftime: Alejandro Canizares (Men's Golf), Amy Hastings-Cragg (Track and Field/Cross Country), Emily Westerberg (Women's Basketball), Aaron Aguayo (Track and Field/Cross Country), Andrew Walter (Football), Jim Newman (Men's Basketball, posthumously), Ron Davini (Baseball) and Adria Engel (Women's Tennis).
Fans are encouraged to wear black as the game vs. the Huskies will also mark the Sun Devils' annual Blackout game. To purchase tickets, click here or contact the Sun Devil ticket office at 480-727-0000.