(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
Following the largest defeat of the Herm Edwards era, the No. 24 Arizona State Sun Devils (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12) traveled West to take on UCLA (2-5, 2-2 Pac-12). For the second week in a row, the Sun Devils play was marred by penalties and inexecution, as they took a 28-7 deficit into the locker room at half.
UCLA redshirt senior running back Joshua Kelley punished the Arizona State rushing defense, carrying the ball 17 times for 100 yards and three touchdowns. After ASU junior running back Eno Benjamin fumbled – his second fumble lost in 2019 — on the Sun Devils opening possession, the Bruins opened the scoring with a one-yard rushing touchdown with 10:53 left in the first quarter.
Freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels scored the Sun Devils opening touchdown, a one-yard rushing score which came on a quarterback keeper. Daniels was 7-for-10 for 62 yards in the air during the first half, with six rushing attempts for 42 yards and a score. It only took Daniels seven offensive snaps to surpass his offensive output from the Sun Devils’ 21-3 loss to Utah last week.
The Devils opening scoring drive was the result of a Chase Lucas fumble recovery on the UCLA four-yard line. Lucas’ fumble recovery represented his second straight week with a turnover forced, following his interception of Tyler Huntley in last week’s loss to Utah.
Arizona State’s defense allowed 229 total yards. UCLA’s offense was 4-for-7 on third down conversions, including a 21-yard completion from sophomore quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to sophomore receiver Chase Cota.
In total, the Sun Devils were penalized six times for 47 yards, including an unsportsmanlike conduct on sophomore safety Aashari Crosswell, who kicked the ball following an incompletion before the half.
