(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
For the first time in 2019, Arizona State (2-0) goes on the road to take on No. 18 Michigan State (2-0) in a rematch of last year’s 16-13 Sun Devil win in Tempe. The Sun Devils used a 13-point fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Spartans early in head coach Herm Edwards tenure at ASU.
Heading into Saturday’s contest, Arizona State’s young offensive line has struggled through two games. Against Kent State, the offensive line allowed five sacks. In Week 2 against Sacramento State, the Sun Devils only mustered 91 yards rushing. The problems of the offensive line also contributed to Arizona State’s inability to convert on third down. Freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels and company went 6-of-19 on potential drive-extending plays.
ASU will have to deal with a Michigan State rushing defense which has allowed a nation-leading -6 rushing yards in its first two games. Much like the Sun Devils, MSU has had up-and-down performances offensively in its opening two games but come into Saturday following a 51-point outburst against Western Michigan.
With those troubles plaguing them entering the week, offensive coordinator Rob Likens expressed enthusiasm about the challenge ahead.
“This is going to be awesome. We get to go up to Michigan State, nobody thinks we’re any good on offense, and they are the number one rushing defense in the country and we can’t run the football,” Likens joked Monday with reporters. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Through two games, Daniels is 32-for-51 passing with 588 yards and three touchdowns in the air. The Cajon High School product has also added a rushing touchdown to go along with it.
The Spartans are quarterbacked by senior Brian Lewerke, a product of Pinnacle High School in Phoenix. Lewerke, who threw for 314 yards with one touchdown and one interception in last year’s loss to ASU, has completed 44 of 69 passes for 508 yards, four touchdowns and one interception this season.
During last year’s matchup, neither the Sun Devils nor Spartans were able to eclipse 63 yards rushing, and the Sun Devils were held scoreless in the first half. The Sun Devils, who overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit in that game, clinched the win with a 28-yard field goal by Brandon Ruiz. The Arizona State junior missed the Devils first two contests with an injury but was replaced by redshirt sophomore Cristian Zendejas, who went 7-for-7 in Ruiz’s absence and earned Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance against Sacramento State.
A win in East Lansing would be Arizona State’s first road win against a Big Ten school since 2004 when the Sun Devils defeated Northwestern, 30-21. Junior running back Eno Benjamin also has his eye on a milestone. If the junior from Wylie, Texas, can reach 45 yards rushing, he will surpass 2,000 yards rushing for his career.
Kick-off between the Sun Devils and Spartans is set for 1 p.m. MT, with the game being broadcast on FOX.
