(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
In the first real test of the Herm Edwards era, Arizona State upset No. 15 Michigan State 16-13 in a defensive slugfest.
ASU redshirt senior quarterback Manny Wilkins finished with 380 yards and one touchdown in the victory.
Pinnacle High School alum and junior quarterback Brian Lewerke tallied 314 yards and a touchdown.
The first quarter set the defensive tempo with neither team making any progress up the field.
That was until Michigan State put together an 80-yard drive in the second quarter that ended with a field goal from sophomore kicker Matt Cophlin to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead.
On the ensuing drive, ASU junior wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk recorded his first career reception with a 23-yard catch.
Just plays later, however, ASU tried to convert their second 4thand 1 but couldn’t convert.
The momentum swung back to ASU after Lewerke threw an interception to redshirt senior Dasmond Tautalatasi with 6:23 remaining in the second quarter.
That momentum was short lived as ASU couldn’t convert on 3rdand 11 and punted back to ASU.
The first half closed with ASU redshirt senior quarterback Manny Wilkins throwing his first interception of the year with 34 seconds remaining.
Michigan State closed the half with 174 yards and a 3-0 lead.
The second half featured a faster-paced, higher scoring affair.
The half opened up with another long Michigan State drive, this one a 12 play, 65-yard drive that resulted in another field goal from Cophlin to gives the Spartans a 6-0 lead with 9:37 in the third quarter.
Sophomore kicker Brandon Ruiz got ASU on the board with a 49-yard field goal with 7:48 left in the third quarter, making the score 6-3.
Michigan State responded with the first touchdown of the game when Lewerke delivered a touchdown strike to sophomore wide receiver Cody White to put the Spartans up 13-6.
A few drives later, Arizona State drove 70 yards but stalled and had to settle for a 24-yard field goal from Ruiz to cut the lead to 13-6.
ASU finally got a touchdown with 8:45 left in the 4thquarter when junior wideout N’Keal Harry nabbed a 27-yard touchdown pass from Wilkins.
With just two minutes left in the game, ASU went the conservative route and elected to run the clock out, leaving the game in the ability of Ruiz’s legs.
From 28-yards out, Ruiz nailed the field goal and sent the stadium into a frenzy. From then on, it was pandemonium as ASU fans celebrated the first big win in the Edwards era in Tempe.
ASU will travel to take San Diego State University next Saturday, looking to keep the train rolling.
