ASU Football: Sun Devils Win Another Shootout

In a game that featured 92 combined points and the top two offenses in the Pac-12, defense was the deciding factor as Arizona State used three fourth quarter turnovers to outlast California 51-41.

Trailing 24-10 at the half, the Sun Devils continued their reputation as a second half team, outscoring the Golden Bears 41-17 in the second half to claim their first home victory against Cal since 2007.

ASU used a balanced attack led by 362 scrimmage yards from sophomore quarterback Manny Wilkins with 250 of those coming in the second half.

“ The defense played a very good game. In the first half, I just have to get rolling a little quicker,” said Wilkins.

Despite the early deficit, Wilkins made several veteran plays on ASU’s opening drive of the third quarter to breathe a new life into the offense.

The spark lit by Wilkins gradually burst into a scorching flame capped by junior linebacker D.J. Calhoun’s touchdown return off an onside kick with just over a minute to play.

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Defensively, head coach Todd Graham’s bread and butter became his worst nightmare in the first half, allowing 368 yards of total offense to the Golden Bears.

“Right before the half we get soft. We have to stop doing that,” said Graham. “I challenged the defensive line to get a four-man pass rush and they did it; there were no halftime adjustments, that was the heart of our players.”

In the midst of another shootout, the ASU defense stepped up forcing three late turnovers, each riling up the crowd more than the last.

After tying the game at 34, senior linebacker Salamo Fiso dropped into coverage and jumped a Davis Webb pass, returning it deep into Cal territory, ultimately giving ASU its first lead of the night.

“They ran that play twice before and I saw it, luckily he threw it in my direction. D.J. [Calhoun] is the reason how that interception was created,” said Fiso.

Following the Sun Devils taking a 37-34 lead with 3:47 to play, night, senior safety Laiu Moeakiola stepped in front another Webb pass and took it 28 yards to the house, igniting the crowd at Sun Devil Stadium.

With just seconds remaining, Cal attempted to mount a last-ditch comeback but it was thwarted by a strip-sack of Webb by junior devilbacker Koron Crump.

The three turnovers in the final six minutes combined with 31 ASU fourth-quarter points proved to be too much for Cal as they dropped to 2-2.

“That was a special game… We appreciate our fans and I’m really proud of our football team,” said Graham.

Next: ASU Football: ASU vs. Cal Rapid Reaction

Now 4-0 and sitting tied atop the Pac-12 South, ASU will head to Los Angeles for a highly anticipated showdown with USC on October 1.