(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
Herm Edwards and No. 18 Arizona State returned home on Saturday after a bye week to face Mike Leach and his Washington State Cougars. This is the first time Washington State has played Arizona State since 2016.
The Cougars did not hesitate to start the scoring. Quarterback Anthony Gordon found Travell Harris for a 35-yard touchdown over the middle on blown coverage to open scoring. The Cougars took advantage of the Devils’ three-and-out on its first drive by tacking on three more points, a 33-yard field goal by Blake Mazza.
Gordon finished the first quarter going 11-17 with 111 yards and a touchdown. The Devils defensive line did not put any pressure on Gordon, allowing him much time in the pocket to find receivers in Arizona State’s zone coverage. Meanwhile, ASU’s offense put up only 23 yards on 11 plays in the entire quarter.
After two defensive stops by ASU’s defense, however, Jayden Daniels responded with an 8-play, 73 yard drive in 4:19, finding Brandon Aiyuk for a 40-yard touchdown.
Gordon and the Cougars would respond by going on a seven-play, 87-yard drive in just 3:30. Dezmon Patmon capped off the drive by catching a two-yard touchdown wide open in the back of the end zone, making the score 17-7.
After both teams traded punts, Aiyuk showed again why he’s one of the best receivers in the Pac-12 on a week-to-week basis. He took an inside slant 86 yards for a touchdown to bring the game back within one possession 17-14.
With a 1:29 left in the half, Daniels led the offense on an eight-play, 62-yard drive that ended in a Cristian Zendejas 31-yard field goal as time expired.
Better defensive line pressure and secondary coverage the last seven to eight minutes of the quarter allowed the offense to put up points and even up the score at halftime, 17-17.
For the first half, Arizona State leads Washington State 271-236 on total yardage. Daniels went 14-20 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Eno Benjamin rushed for 34 yards on six carries. Aiyuk caught four passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
