(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
It was the Rashaad Penny show throughout the first half in Tempe as SDSU’s featured running back compiled 284 all-purpose yards.
After a punt that landed the Aztecs inside the 1-yard line, Penny got the scoring started with a 95-yard touchdown run on 3rd and 6. The senior’s scamper put the Aztecs on top 7-0 with 8:04 left in the first quarter.
The Sun Devils answered in the waning moments of the first as Manny Wilkins made big plays under pressure. A 42-yard pass from Wilkins to Frank Darby set up a 1-yard touchdown run on the direct snap by Kalen Ballage. After 15 minutes, the Aztecs and Sun Devils were knotted 7-7.
Penny got back on his horse at the outset of the second quarter. A 95-yard kickoff return touchdown showed off his impressive speed and put the Aztecs up 14-7.
ASU’s offense was stagnant for much of the first half. The Sun Devil offensive line was unable to maintain consistent run blocks or provide Manny Wilkins with enough time to go through his progressions. That changed briefly after an Aztecs field goal made it 17-7 with 7:39 left in the half.
Wilkins commanded the pocket, marched his team down the field and found N’Keal Harry on a 5-yard fade route to bring ASU within three. A defensive stop on the ensuing SDSU drive led to another sub-par drive for Wilkins and company, however.
That drive was capped off by an awful punt by Michael Sleep-Dalton that went out of bounds at the ASU 18-yard line, eliciting boos from Sun Devil fans and allowing the Aztecs an opportunity to score before the half.
John Baron’s 27-yard field goal brought the game to its halftime score of 20-14.
