ASU vs. UCLA: Sun Devils Triumph 38-33
Nov 23, 2013; Pasadena, CA, USA;Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jaelen Strong (21) celebrates at the end of the game against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Arizona State Sun Devils won 38-33. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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Final Score: ASU – 38, UCLA – 33
8:19 pm: Break open the bubbly! ASU stops UCLA — the Bruins turn over the ball on downs and the Sun Devils take a knee to win the Pac-12 South title. What an incredible game…ASU struggled mightily in the second half, but dug down deep for the resolve to stop UCLA in the final seconds. Congratulations to coach Todd Graham, his staff, and the entire Sun Devil Nation.
8:10 pm: ASU can’t convert — they punt it to UCLA with just over three minutes left in the game. This is for all the marbles…
7:43 pm: ASU drives stalls. Bruins take over with the score 38-33. Now we will find out who really wants this game…
7:43 pm: ASU does not appear to have any answer for Brett Hundley. He’s running, he’s passing, and he’s getting points. The Bruins take it into the end zone for the TD. However, their two-point try is denied by a fantastic interception by Alan Darby. Good heavens…what next?
7:27 pm: ASU marches down the field, but can’t get it into the end zone. Two penalties hamper the drive. Mistakes of this sort can be game changers. Fortunately, Zane “Automatic” Gonzalez tacks on three points. ASU now leads 38-27.
7:11 pm: After a UCLA penalty, ASU tries another punt attempt. The snap is muffed, the Bruins recover at the Devils’ 15 yard line and quick turn good field position into a touchdown. Score is now 35-27. Time for ASU to get its act together. Special teams mistakes have plagued this team all year, and they could cost the win tonight.
6:58 pm: UCLA takes the second half kickoff and marches down the field for a TD. ASU lead is cut to 35-20. Coach Todd Graham must work to keep the Devils’ intensity up in the early going of this half.
6:47 pm: Who would have thought that ASU would have a chance to host the Pac-12 Championship game? Beat UCLA and UofA, and that’s what happens. Such a great opportunity for this program.
6:30 pm: Fantastic catch by Jaelen Strong in the corner of the end zone. Touchdown ASU! Score is now 35-13. This promises to be one heck of a battle in the second period.
6:23 pm: Great stand by the ASU defense, particularly Will Sutton and Osahon Irabor. UCLA is forced to kick a field goal. Score is now 28-13 in favor of ASU. An exhausting game!
6:20 pm: That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you play offensive line. Sun Devil QB Michael Eubank follows his blockers into the end zone to extend the ASU lead to 28-10.
6:07 pm: ASU defensive lineman Davon Coleman just nailed UCLA QB Brett Hundley on a sack. The play forces a Bruins punt. This is how you win ball games!
6:02 pm: Well, that was different! With Kelly on the sideline, Marion Grice takes the snap out of the Wildcat formation and runs for a handful of yards. Mike Norvell might be opening up the ASU playbook.
5:58 pm: UCLA misses 40-yard field goal attempt. Score remains 21-10 in favor of ASU.
5:55 pm: This game is now becoming trench warfare. ASU is dishing up big servings of Marion Grice; UCLA is countering with power rushing by Myles Jack. As predicted, quarterback play may be the deciding factor.
5:43 pm: Just like that, ASU regains the lead on a run by D.J. Foster. Score is now 14-10 in favor of the Sun Devils. Scoring drive was fueled on two great Kelly to Strong receptions, which capitalized on the young UCLA secondary.
5:37 pm: UCLA capitalizes on great special teams play and ASU holding penalty to drive for a field goal. Score is now 10-7 Bruins. Brett Hundley is throwing the ball long; ASU will have to have tight coverage in this game.
5:15 pm: ULCA takes the kickoff back to great field position. And then Hundley strikes with a 42-yard TD pass. Game is now 7-7. Buckle your seat belts!
5:09 pm: Beautiful drive by the Sun Devils capped by a two yard touchdown scamper by QB Taylor Kelly. Crisp play calling by OC Mike Norvell. ASU leads 7-0.
5:00 pm: Showtime! Fans are slow to arrive at the Rose Bowl (a SoCal tradition), but it looks like ASU has a good showing. So much riding on this game for the Sun Devils!
4:44 pm: How will Arizona’s defeat of Oregon affect the game at the Rose Bowl? It presents a tremendous opportunity for ASU to host the Pac-12 Championship game (with a win today), but it also adds pressure to an already-critical match-up with the Bruins. College football is crazy!
4:15 pm: Just about 45 minutes until we get started in Pasadena. Some fans are starting to make their way into the Rose Bowl. ASU has a large alumni base in Southern California, so there should be a good contingent of Sun Devil fans on hand today.
3:00 pm: Just two hours until kickoff. ASU has arrived at the Rose Bowl for today’s game. Many Sun Devil players hail from Southern California, so this will be a memorable homecoming for them.
2:30 pm: The Sun Devils should be making their final preparations by now. Both coaches and players try to enter a big game of this sort with the proper mindset, putting aside distractions and focusing on the task at hand. That’s sometimes easier said than done — especially with so much at stake in the Pac-12 Conference race.
1:00 pm: Anticipation is building across Sun Devil nation for today’s huge showdown with the UCLA Bruins. The forecast for the greater Los Angeles area calls for cloudy skies and highs in the low 60s, so weather shouldn’t be an issue at kickoff.
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The Arizona State Sun Devils face one of their toughest challenges in recent years at Pasadena, Calif., today, as they meet the UCLA Bruins in a contest that could determine the Pac-12 South title. This is a game with many subplots: Will ASU QB Taylor Kelly bolster his team’s passing attack after tough outings against Utah and Oregon State? Can UCLA keep Sun Devil RB Marion Grice out of his familiar territory — the end zone? Will the young Bruins offensive line be able to stand up against the relentless pressure applied by Will Sutton, Carl Bradford, Osahon Irabor and other Devil defenders? And will UCLA’s dual-threat star, Myles Jack, be a major force today?
All good questions that will be answered this afternoon. Live coverage from the Rose Bowl starts at 5 pm MST on FOX.
In case you’re new to us or missed something this week, you can catch up below. And don’t forget to follow our live game Tweets covering all the action from Pasadena.
ASU Athletics This Week:
• ASU Football: Projecting Out the 2014 Class
• ASU vs. UCLA: Key to Victory Over the Bruins
• ASU Basketball: Bright Prospects for 2013 Sun Devils
• ASU Basketball: Carson’s Career Night Leads Devils Past UNLV
• ASU Basketball: Strong Start With Quality Foes on the Horizon
• ASU Football: Analysis of Victory Over the Beavers
What They’re Saying Around the Web
ASU vs. UCLA scouting report, prediction, Doug Haller, azcentral.com
Darby, ASU defense ready for big stage, Ross Dunham, DevilsDigest.com
Preview: UCLA Bruins 8-2 (5-2 Pac-12), Jeff Vinton, asudevilsden.com
ASU at UCLA: Top 10 Categories Where the Devils Have an Advantage, Jeff Alba, DieHardDevil.com
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