ASU Football: Manny Wilkins, Sun Devils come alive on offense to end first half as Colorado leads 17-14

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

Inconsistency dominated the script in the first half of Arizona State’s tilt with Colorado, as neither team was able to find any sort of sustainable groove on offense.

Still, Colorado leads ASU 17-14 at the intermission.

Neither defense played particularly well either, but it was the miscues on offense that kept the scoring low. Even then, the Buffaloes stayed afloat on offense by way of opportune chunk plays to keep drives alive.

UC Boulder totaled five gains of 15 yards or more through the air, three of which went for third down conversions.

Even with the occasional success through the air, the Buffs stayed with their bread-and-butter approach — feed the Pac-12 leader in attempts, Phillip Lindsay.

Lindsay touched the ball 16 times in the half for 65 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense, Arizona State was the beneficiary of multiple drops by Colorado receivers, particularly on two deep balls that would have gone for touchdowns.

The passing game was non-existent throughout most of the half for the Sun Devils, until Manny Wilkins exploded for two touchdown passes — to N’Keal Harry and then Kyle Williams — in the final six minutes of the half to bring ASU within three points. He completed 11 of his 21 attempts in the first two quarters.

Wilkins also led the team in rushing, carrying the ball eight times for 71 yards.

As for the rest of the rushing attack, Kalen Ballage continued to deal with an illness that limited him to just one carry. In his place, it was all Demario Richard, who managed 31 yards on nine carries.

ASU recovered an onside kick in the final seconds to set up a 55-yard Brandon Ruiz field goal attempt for the tie, but it went down as Ruiz’s second miss of the night. His first miss came in the first quarter from 45 yards.

That being said, the ASU offense has been — almost exclusively — all Manny Wilkins.

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