EUGENE, Ore. – A spirited fourth-quarter rally came up just short for the Sun Devil Football team on Saturday night, as ASU (6-5; 4-4) fell to the Oregon Ducks, 31-29, in Eugene, Ore.
Eno Benjamin tied the ASU school record with his eighth 100-yard rushing game this season as the Doak Walker Award semifinalist finished with 149 yards on 29 attempts. The sophomore climbed to third in Sun Devil history with 1,444 career rushing yards as he moves within 121 yards of ASU's school record of 1,565 yards by Woody Green in 1972.
ASU TOP RUSHING SEASONS
1,565-Woody Green (1972/12 games)
1,502-Wilford White (1950/11 games)
1,444-Eno Benjamin (2018/11 games)
N'Keal Harry posted his third consecutive game with over 100 receiving yards, finishing with 7 catches for 105 yards as the Biletnikoff Semifinalist moved to 2,834 career receiving yards.
Aashari Crosswell had a career-best nine tackles and an interception to help key a stalwart second have defensive for ASU as the team limited the Ducks to just three points and 85 total yards after the Ducks racked up 364 first half yards.
The Sun Devils mounted a furious second half rally to keep things interesting, stifling the Oregon offense and cutting a 28-13 halftime deficit to 28-23 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
The Sun Devils took advantage of a muffed Oregon fumble early in the final frame and Wilkins found Brandon Aiyuk for a 25-yard catch and run on the wide receiver screen to make it a one possession game.
A long kickoff return for the Ducks looked like it could prove to be troublesome but the Sun Devil defense held Oregon to just a field goal inside the ASU 10-yard line to keep within eight points.
The Sun Devils would then drive 75 yards on 10 plays, keyed by a pivotal fourth-down conversion by Benjamin as the running back took a direct snap 16 yards to the Oregon 3-yard line. That would set up a Wilkins keeper two plays later to bring ASU back within 31-29 after the failed two-point conversion with 4:35 remaining.
ASU would get one last shot of things, as Aashari Crosswell and Cam Phillips teamed up on the tip drill for the latter's first career interception to give ASU the ball with 3:35 left. However, the fourth Oregon sack of the night also resulting in a fumble recovered by the Ducks with 3:02 remaining in regulation. UO would effectively run out the clock from there to seal the two-point victory.
All five of ASU's losses this season have come by seven points or less – tied for the most in the nation.
ASU scored 10 of their 13 first half points off turnovers, capitalizing on Darien Butler's fumble recovery with a 30-yard field goal from Brandon Ruiz that made the score 14-6.
Crosswell picked off his second pass of the season and returned it 50 yards to set up a quick strike from Wilkins to Darby from 22 yards out on the first play after the interception to cut ASU's deficit to 21-13. However, ASU could find a stop in the two-minute drill to end the half as Oregon drove down the field for one final score before the break to take a 28-13 advantage.
Eno Benjamin tied the ASU school record with his eighth 100-yard rushing game this season as the Doak Walker Award semifinalist finished with 149 yards on 29 attempts. The sophomore climbed to third in Sun Devil history with 1,444 career rushing yards as he moves within 121 yards of ASU's school record of 1,565 yards by Woody Green in 1972.
ASU TOP RUSHING SEASONS
1,565-Woody Green (1972/12 games)
1,502-Wilford White (1950/11 games)
1,444-Eno Benjamin (2018/11 games)
N'Keal Harry posted his third consecutive game with over 100 receiving yards, finishing with 7 catches for 105 yards as the Biletnikoff Semifinalist moved to 2,834 career receiving yards.
Aashari Crosswell had a career-best nine tackles and an interception to help key a stalwart second have defensive for ASU as the team limited the Ducks to just three points and 85 total yards after the Ducks racked up 364 first half yards.
The Sun Devils mounted a furious second half rally to keep things interesting, stifling the Oregon offense and cutting a 28-13 halftime deficit to 28-23 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
The Sun Devils took advantage of a muffed Oregon fumble early in the final frame and Wilkins found Brandon Aiyuk for a 25-yard catch and run on the wide receiver screen to make it a one possession game.
A long kickoff return for the Ducks looked like it could prove to be troublesome but the Sun Devil defense held Oregon to just a field goal inside the ASU 10-yard line to keep within eight points.
The Sun Devils would then drive 75 yards on 10 plays, keyed by a pivotal fourth-down conversion by Benjamin as the running back took a direct snap 16 yards to the Oregon 3-yard line. That would set up a Wilkins keeper two plays later to bring ASU back within 31-29 after the failed two-point conversion with 4:35 remaining.
ASU would get one last shot of things, as Aashari Crosswell and Cam Phillips teamed up on the tip drill for the latter's first career interception to give ASU the ball with 3:35 left. However, the fourth Oregon sack of the night also resulting in a fumble recovered by the Ducks with 3:02 remaining in regulation. UO would effectively run out the clock from there to seal the two-point victory.
All five of ASU's losses this season have come by seven points or less – tied for the most in the nation.
ASU scored 10 of their 13 first half points off turnovers, capitalizing on Darien Butler's fumble recovery with a 30-yard field goal from Brandon Ruiz that made the score 14-6.
Crosswell picked off his second pass of the season and returned it 50 yards to set up a quick strike from Wilkins to Darby from 22 yards out on the first play after the interception to cut ASU's deficit to 21-13. However, ASU could find a stop in the two-minute drill to end the half as Oregon drove down the field for one final score before the break to take a 28-13 advantage.