Football

ASU Football: High octane offense powers ASU over No. 15 Utah

For the second time this season, Arizona State (5-4, Pac-12 3-3) hosted the No. 15 ranked team in the nation and knocked them off.

This time around, they topped No.15 Utah (6-3, Pac-12 4-3) 38-20 in a divisional matchup that could shape the Pac-12 South as the season’s end draws near.

The Utes came into the contest allowing the seventh fewest average yards per game at 287 yards per game. Arizona State displayed a dominant offense and finished with nearly double that as they accumulated 536 yards in the game.

That offensive production came at the hands of Arizona State’s stars in wide out N’Keal Harry, quarterback Manny Wilkins, and running back Eno Benjamin.

“I saw the look in everybody’s eyes this week at practice that we were going to be ready to roll,” Wilkins said.

They started rolling from the first snap and didn’t show any let up during the course of the game. ASU led 21-17 headed into halftime and continued to power ahead as they outscored the Utes 17-3 in the second half.

Harry, perhaps the team’s best playmaker, paved the way for ASU and showed off his plethora of skills as he racked up 161 yards receiving and three touchdowns on the day.

“No surprise really,” Benjamin said. “That’s N’Keal. That’s what he does.”

Wilkins played the efficient game ASU fans have come to expect from him. He finished the contest 19-24 with 285 yards and three touchdowns.

For Wilkins and N’Keal, two players who have ridden the ups and downs over this program for the last three seasons, the opportunity they see in front of them down the stretch is one they relish.

“We put too much work in together,” Wilkins said. “I’ve worked countless hours with one (N’Keal) and for him to have moments like this, it’s very special for me because I know how hard he works.

“I know how much this sport and this game means to him. I know how much it means to him for his family. Having a guy like that to throw the football to is very special.”

Benjamin added 175 yards on the ground with two touchdowns, just adding to the already high-powered offense this ASU team displayed.

“I think we’re a much more physical and dominating team than we were early in the season,” Benjamin said. “We were still trying to put some pieces together early in the season, and I think now we’re up and going and we’re rolling.”

The offense rolled and showed its ability to put up points in a hurry, but it wasn’t without strong backing from the Sun Devil defense that forced three turnovers on the day.

“I’ve never gone into a contest that I didn’t feel like we were prepared to win,” Edwards said.

Just two short weeks ago, ASU had fallen to the Stanford Cardinal 20-13, its fourth seven-point loss of the season and some began to wonder if the team could close a game.

The team answered those questions with a win over USC and added an exclamation point with Saturday’s win over No. 15 Utah.

For the program, it shows the progression of the Edwards era that began in December 2017.

“Well, I worked on that all week,” Edwards answered when asked if his team was emotionally ready for this contest. “I’m kind of learning my team. I think they’re learning their head coach. I got them.”

In a season full of ups and downs for Arizona State, the Sun Devils now control their own destiny in the Pac-12 South. With UCLA, Oregon and Arizona on deck, ASU needs just one win to claim bowl eligibility.

Running the table against those teams, however, could grant ASU with a higher-tier bowl game fans have been craving.

“We’re just trying to win one game at a time,” Edwards said. “I don’t get involved in that. I don’t talk about that stuff.”

Up next, the Sun Devils close out their home slate when they welcome the UCLA Bruins to Tempe. The game will have added meaning as it will be Sun Devil fan’s last chance to see Manny Wilkins and his fellow seniors play at Sun Devil Stadium.