(Photo: Chaz Frazier/WCSN)
Arizona State picked up right where it left off last week in the first half of Saturday’s contest, shutting out Utah 16-0.
In hostile Rice-Eccles Stadium, ASU continued to display the various traits that led to last weekend’s upset over then No. 5 Washington. The offense worked within the system, taking what the defense yielded without trying to do too much. Phil Bennett’s defense, a unit that has now allowed just seven points in its last six quarters, looks like a group that’s undergone a night-and-day-like change after surrendering at least 30 points in the previous five contests.
Particularly, the drastic improvement of corners Chase Lucas and Kobe Williams was at the forefront of the first half. The duo, along with the topside help of safety tandem J’Marcus Rhodes and Dasmond Tautalatasi, stymied the Utes’ passing attack, holding Tyler Huntley to 59 yards passing on 8-14 passing.
Lucas intercepted Huntley to end the half, forcing the Utah quarterback to commit his second turnover of the game.
On the other side of the ball, the ASU offense was harmonious in the first 30 minutes. Manny Wilkins attempted 21 passes, while the collective rushing unit totted the rock a total of 26 times for 172 yards and a touchdown, adding a balance that hasn’t existed on this team all season. For a backfield that has struggled to make an impact, a 6.6 yards per carry average paid dividends in what was a breakout half.
Demario Richard paced the attack, leading the team with 14 carries for 75 yards, a touchdown and 5.4 YPC. Kalen Ballage was right there was well, adding seven carries for 62 yards. The outburst was partially fueled by an excellent half for the ASU offense line, who continued to win in the trenches and get the push that the team had severely lacked in the early going. In pass protection, the group didn’t allow a sack and held Utah to just one tackle for loss.
Still, until the final seconds of the half, the Sun Devils’ only points came via three Brandon Ruiz field goals.
ASU capped the half with the first touchdown of the game, by-way of a Demario Richard one-yard rush.
