(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
Arizona State (4-4, 2-3 Pac-12) hosted the No. 15 Utah Utes (6-2, Pac-12 4-2) Saturday afternoon in a game with huge implications for the Pac-12 South division race.
The Sun Devils started strong, as sophomore Eno Benjamin’s 6-yard rushing score put ASU ahead five minutes into the game.
The 11-play, 75-yard drive was highlighted by a 31-yard catch down the sideline by junior Brandon Aiyuk, then a targeting call on junior safety Philip Afi’a for a hit to junior receiver N’Keal Harry on a 3rd-and-goal from the 15.
The maroon and gold kept their foot on the gas, as freshman safety Aashari Crosswell picked off a muffed deep ball that would’ve gone for a touchdown to freshman receiver Jaylen Dixon.
He returned the interception from the edge of the end zone to nearly midfield, and the offense would capitalize on a 3-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Manny Wilkins to Harry on a slant route.
The Utes responded though, as junior tailback Zack Moss punched it in from a yard out on a drive that included five rushes of 7+ yards. Nevertheless, ASU took a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.
After a Sun Devil three-and-out, Utah sophomore Britain Covey returned a punt 36 yards to set up the Utes on ASU’s 44.
However, a couple of great tackles on Moss by senior safety Demonte King then freshman linebacker Tyler Johnson was enough to keep Utah out of the end zone, as they settled for a 40-yard field goal.
Leading 14-10, ASU’s offense put together a 56-yard drive that saw three different players make first downs (Benjamin, Aiyuk, Harry). But sophomore kicker Brandon Ruiz pulled a 37-yard field goal- his first miss inside 40 yards this season.
The Utes would capitalize, marching 80 yards in less than five minutes and converting three times on third down. The final one gave Utah its first lead, as junior quarterback Tyler Huntley hit sophomore receiver Samson Nacua for a five-yard touchdown toss.
ASU continued the back-and-fourth though, as Wilkins threw a perfect ball to Harry for a 23-yard touchdown strike which put ASU back in front 21-17. The score came at a cost though, as Harry was injured on the play.
ASU took its four-point lead into the locker room after stopping Utah on the half’s final drive.
