(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
The Devils opened conference play against the Buffaloes and immediately received two punches from the Colorado offense.
Running back Alex Fontenot punched it in from a yard away after quarterback Steven Montez led a ten-yard play, 75 yard drive in just five minutes. Star wideout Laviska Shenault only touched the ball once that drive, but it was for a 23-yard completion.
Colorado marched down the field for its second drive on 11 plays and 70 yards, capped off by a 29-yard touchdown to Tony Brown with 1:18 left in the first quarter.
ASU answered back in the second quarter as Daniels found Brandon Aiyuk for a 53-yard touchdown, speeding away from the Buffs’ defense with 13:09 in the quarter.
The ensuing kickoff gave ASU great field position as Case Hatch forced a fumble and the Devils took over at Colorado’s 44.
ASU would turn that turnover into six as Daniels led the offense to a seven play drive in just 2:22, capitalized by a one-yard touchdown by Eno Benjamin and tying the score at 14.
Montez would not let the deadlock last for any longer. He would lead a six play, 61 yard drive in 1:47, finding Brown again from 31 yards out as the Buffs retook the lead 21-14.
The back-and-forth rhythm of the half continued as Daniels drove ASU to the goal line, capped off by a 3-yard touchdown run by Benjamin, his second of the game with 5:23 to go in the half.
The Buffaloes took the lead back to end the half, as kicker James Stefanou converted from 25 to put them ahead 24-21 with under a minute left.
For the half, Colorado outgained ASU 269 yards to 254. Daniels completed 13-21 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown. Benjamin recorded eight carries for 29 yards and scored two touchdowns. Aiyuk led the ASU receiving corps with five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.
