The Arizona State offense had over 500 yards in this game, along with five rushing touchdowns. It was enough for ASU to hold on to upset Washington State for their first Pac-12 win of the season, 38-27. This was Kenny Dilingham’s first conference win as a head coach.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!It started quickly for both teams. Arizona State did not allow an offensive touchdown to Washington, but Washington State ended that on the first drive as QB Cameron Ward rushed it in from three yards, then Arizona took the ball and drove down and matched it. It was DeCarlos Brooks.
DeCarlos Brooks gets 🆙 for 6️⃣ 🔱pic.twitter.com/25Fjguvw0V
— RanDynasty (@ran_dynasty) October 29, 2023
The defenses started to step up after that.
Halfway through the second quarter, it was still 7-7.
However, the offenses came alive, as ASU and Washington State combined for four touchdowns and a field goal to end the second half. It started with Arizona State getting another DeCarlos Brooks rushing touchdown from one yard out. Cameron Ward, then, drove right down and got his second touchdown. Cam Skattebo wanted to join the rushing touchdown fun, and after bursting Arizona State’s longest run of the season (66 yards), Skattebo took it in from two yards out to take the lead.
It wasn’t over yet, as Washington State answered back quickly when Cameron Ward scored the first and only passing touchdown of the game on a pass to Lincoln Victor. It looked like it would be tied at halftime, but Arizona State marched down and gave Dario Longhetto, who had missed a field goal earlier in the game and had been very rough the past few games, a chance. He kicked the 51-yard field goal as time expired in the half to give the Sun Devils a 24-21 lead.
51 crushed before half…Let’s Go🔱@DarioLonghetto @SlaterZellers @_joshcarlson_ #activatethevalley pic.twitter.com/eVeGO3NXAH
— Rausch Kicking (@steverausch17) October 29, 2023
Arizona State wasn’t done; they scored on their first drive of the second half, and this time, it was Elijhah Badger with a rushing touchdown. This gave Arizona State a 31-21 lead.
This is where the Sun Devil defense started enforcing the game. Washington State drove down to the Arizona State 14, but the defense set an anchor there. They held the Cougars to a field goal.
The big plays continued for Arizona State as Jalin Conyers caught a 50-yard pass on the next drive. It set the Sun Devils up for a third DeCarlos Brooks touchdown, which gave ASU a 38-24 lead.
Jalin Conyers is TOO strong 💪 pic.twitter.com/39mHgYdli4
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) October 29, 2023
Washington State pounded the ball again and got down to the ASU six-yard line. However, ASU’s defense forced a backward pass, and a B.J. Green sack forced WSU to kick another field goal. This kept it a two-score game. The Cougars had one more chance with four minutes in the game. They brought the ball down the field again, and again, the ASU’s “bend but don’t break” defense stopped them again. This time, they forced an incompletion on fourth down to end the game.
Another massive stop on defense for ASU as B.J. Green takes down Ward on 3rd down (no fumble).
Cougars settle for 3. 38-27 ASU with 8:33 left in the game.@DevilsDigest pic.twitter.com/r9kHaQWNY3
— Nick Borgia (@Nick_Borgia) October 29, 2023
ASU was able to run out the clock and secure their second win of the season. They move to 2-6, while Washington State drops to 4-4. ASU held the #2 ranked passing offense in College Football to 315 yards, almost 100 less than average. ASU’s run game was the best this season, with 235 rushing yards, including 11 yards per carry from Skattebo. It was a bounce-back performance for the Sun Devil offense, who couldn’t do anything right last week versus Washington.
Offensive Explosion Late in First Half Gives ASU a Halftime Lead
