SALT LAKE CITY – A dominating defensive effort combined with an efficient offensive performance helped the Sun Devil football team come away with a wire-to-wire, 30-10 win at Utah on Saturday.
The momentum the Sun Devil defense established in its win over Washington carried over into its game against the Utes. After shutting out the Huskies for the first three quarters (20 plays for 42 yards in the first half) in last week's 13-7 win, the Sun Devils did not allow the Utes to score in the first half on Saturday (24 plays for 93 yards) and allowed only one field goal through three quarters.
As a team, the Sun Devils (4-3, 3-1 Pac-12) rushed for more than 200 yards for the second time in three games as they piled up 205 yards. Leading the way was Demario Richard who had 93 yards on 18 carries while backfield mate Kalen Ballage added 75 yards.
Manny Wilkins threw for 140 yards and N'Keal Harry caught a team-high eight passes for 72 yards for the Sun Devils, who outgained Utah 345-265 in total yards on Saturday – holding their second consecutive opponents under 300 yards of total offense.
ASU intercepted Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley four times – the most since having four against Washington State in 2014. Jay Jay Wilson, making his first career start on defense, capped off the defensive onslaught with his first career interception and defensive touchdown in the fourth quarter – effectively sealing the game as he put ASU up 30-3 with seven minutes remaining in the game.
Christian Sam had 10 tackles in the tilt with one tackle for loss and an interception while J'Marcus Rhodes tied his career best with 10 tackles and his first career interception.
The Sun Devils took the opening kickoff and marched 46 yards in 11 plays. Brandon Ruiz capped the drive, which took 4:23 off the clock, with a 47-yard field goal to give ASU the early lead. Ballage (16 yards) and Harry (11 yards) both had double-digit rushes on the drive.
ASU would double its advantage to 6-0 seven minutes into the first quarter after Ruiz was successful on a field goal from 45 yards. The field goal came four plays after Rhodes' interception on the Utes' third offensive play.
After Utah went three-and-out the Sun Devils would score for the third time in as many possessions after a 14-play, 62-yard drive ended in Ruiz' third field goal of the quarter, this one from 30 yards. A key play on the drive was Wilkins' 11-yard run on third-and-10 at the ASU 45.
The Sun Devils would come through with a workmanlike effort on their second-to-last possession of the first half. After a Utah punt pinned ASU at its own six-yard line, the Sun Devils pounded out 94 yards in nine plays for the game's first touchdown, a one-yard run by Richard that gave the Sun Devils a 16-0 lead with 40 seconds left in the half. Seven of the nine plays on the drive were runs, punctuated by back-to-back dashes of 25 yards (Richard) and Ballage (35 yards), the two longest runs of the season by ASU running backs. Harry also had a pair of catches for 22 yards on the drive, including an 18-yard strike that moved the Sun Devils into the red zone.
After Utah open the second half with a 53-yard field goal the Sun Devils would answer with another long – both in yards (75) and time (12 plays chewed 5:47 off the clock)– drive for their second touchdown of the game. Richard's 15-yard run was the longest of the drive, which ended with a one-yard run by Wilkins to put ASU up 23-3.
After Wilson's touchdown the Utes got into the endzone with under three minutes left in the game to conclude the scoring.
The Sun Devils return to action next Saturday (7:45 pm/ESPN) when they host No. 11 USC in Tempe. The annual Homecoming game will feature the first ever Stripe Out game at Sun Devil Stadium. Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here.
The momentum the Sun Devil defense established in its win over Washington carried over into its game against the Utes. After shutting out the Huskies for the first three quarters (20 plays for 42 yards in the first half) in last week's 13-7 win, the Sun Devils did not allow the Utes to score in the first half on Saturday (24 plays for 93 yards) and allowed only one field goal through three quarters.
As a team, the Sun Devils (4-3, 3-1 Pac-12) rushed for more than 200 yards for the second time in three games as they piled up 205 yards. Leading the way was Demario Richard who had 93 yards on 18 carries while backfield mate Kalen Ballage added 75 yards.
Manny Wilkins threw for 140 yards and N'Keal Harry caught a team-high eight passes for 72 yards for the Sun Devils, who outgained Utah 345-265 in total yards on Saturday – holding their second consecutive opponents under 300 yards of total offense.
ASU intercepted Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley four times – the most since having four against Washington State in 2014. Jay Jay Wilson, making his first career start on defense, capped off the defensive onslaught with his first career interception and defensive touchdown in the fourth quarter – effectively sealing the game as he put ASU up 30-3 with seven minutes remaining in the game.
Christian Sam had 10 tackles in the tilt with one tackle for loss and an interception while J'Marcus Rhodes tied his career best with 10 tackles and his first career interception.
The Sun Devils took the opening kickoff and marched 46 yards in 11 plays. Brandon Ruiz capped the drive, which took 4:23 off the clock, with a 47-yard field goal to give ASU the early lead. Ballage (16 yards) and Harry (11 yards) both had double-digit rushes on the drive.
ASU would double its advantage to 6-0 seven minutes into the first quarter after Ruiz was successful on a field goal from 45 yards. The field goal came four plays after Rhodes' interception on the Utes' third offensive play.
After Utah went three-and-out the Sun Devils would score for the third time in as many possessions after a 14-play, 62-yard drive ended in Ruiz' third field goal of the quarter, this one from 30 yards. A key play on the drive was Wilkins' 11-yard run on third-and-10 at the ASU 45.
The Sun Devils would come through with a workmanlike effort on their second-to-last possession of the first half. After a Utah punt pinned ASU at its own six-yard line, the Sun Devils pounded out 94 yards in nine plays for the game's first touchdown, a one-yard run by Richard that gave the Sun Devils a 16-0 lead with 40 seconds left in the half. Seven of the nine plays on the drive were runs, punctuated by back-to-back dashes of 25 yards (Richard) and Ballage (35 yards), the two longest runs of the season by ASU running backs. Harry also had a pair of catches for 22 yards on the drive, including an 18-yard strike that moved the Sun Devils into the red zone.
After Utah open the second half with a 53-yard field goal the Sun Devils would answer with another long – both in yards (75) and time (12 plays chewed 5:47 off the clock)– drive for their second touchdown of the game. Richard's 15-yard run was the longest of the drive, which ended with a one-yard run by Wilkins to put ASU up 23-3.
After Wilson's touchdown the Utes got into the endzone with under three minutes left in the game to conclude the scoring.
The Sun Devils return to action next Saturday (7:45 pm/ESPN) when they host No. 11 USC in Tempe. The annual Homecoming game will feature the first ever Stripe Out game at Sun Devil Stadium. Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here.