(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
The Arizona State Sun Devils (5-4, 3-3 Pac-12) host the UCLA Bruins (2-7, 2-4) for senior day this Saturday afternoon.
Some key figures that will be playing at Sun Devil Stadium for the last time include QB Manny Wilkins, offensive lineman Quinn Bailey, safeties Jalen Harvey and Demonte King, defensive lineman Renell Wren, and likely junior wideout N’Keal Harry- who is expected to declare for the NFL draft next year.
“I know it’s going to be very emotional,” Wilkins said. “I grew up tremendously here, so this place will forever be special to me. I know when I walk out that tunnel for the last time it’s going to be hard to comprehend it.”
Of course, the Sun Devils season is far from over with visits to Eugene, Oregon and Tucson, Arizona in the ensuing two weeks. ASU controls its own destiny in the south division even though it trails three teams (Arizona, USC, Utah) by half-a-game for a spot in the Pac-12 championship.
“I think for the most part our guys understand where we’re at- we got to win a game, this is real important,” Edwards said. “(UCLA) is a good football team…they have good athletes, they move the ball, they can do some things on defense that discourage you.”
UCLA is amongst the worst in the Pac-12 in most major statistical categories, but as defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales points out, they have improved a lot over the past four games in which the Bruins are 2-2.
“They are turning the ball over as a team which is really killing them right now,” Gonzales said. “But if they don’t turn the ball over they’re really scary.”
One of the Bruins biggest threats is junior running back Joshua Kelly, whose 102.5 yards/game ranks fifth in the conference. Another one is their leading receiver- junior tight end Caleb Wilson (36 rec, 554 yds, 2 touchdowns).
“I think he’s the best tight end we’re going to play this year,” Gonzales said. “He blocks on the line of scrimmage, he’s physical, he’s mean- he would look great in a Sun Devil uniform.”
UCLA has scored over six points more per game in its last four compared to its first five during which the team was winless.
However, a Bruins defense that has allowed 30+ points in all but two of its nine games this season will meet a Sun Devil offense coming off of consecutive 30+ point games at USC then vs. Utah, respectively.
“The consistency of us completing drives,” Edwards said referring to what the offense needs to continue to do well. “Offenses, like anything else, they get confidence once they run more than three plays. You can start getting the six-play, seven-play drives, you’ve got the defense on their heels now, and so that’s the key.”
“And then we’re able to make some big plays. We’ve had some explosive plays throwing the ball and running it.”
ASU will look to its star sophomore running back Eno Benjamin, currently the Pac-12’s leader in rushing yards per game (123.7), as well as Harry (3 receiving touchdowns in victory over Utah) to continue leading a high-flying offensive attack.
On defense, the Sun Devils will try to make it through their tenth game of the season without allowing more than 28 points in a single game. This effort follows a 2017 season in which ASU’s defense allowed 30+ points in 8 of its 12 regular season matchups.
“Being a southern California school, they won’t relax, they don’t think they’re not good,” Gonzales said. “I don’t think there’s a single guy on our football team that thinks it’s going to be easy.”
Saturday’s matchup kicks off at noon and will be televised on Pac-12 Network.
