ASU Football: Dominant defense propels Sun Devils past Utah
By Zach Pekale
A stout defensive showing from ASU football proved to be the difference as the Sun Devils defeated Utah 30-10 in Salt Lake City.
For Arizona State, the early season losses of multiple defensive starters to injury left fans questioning an already weak defense. After a dominant 30-10 road victory over Utah, the Sun Devils (4-3, 3-1) have some answers.
Devilbacker Jay Jay Wilson returned Tyler Huntley’s fourth interception of the afternoon for a touchdown, sending ASU fans into a frenzy at a sold-out Rice-Eccles Stadium. For Wilson, the moment serves as the culmination of his adjustment from a tight end to the most challenging position in head coach Todd Graham’s defense.
“Well… talk about a guy that’s unselfish. If he was still offense he would be playing, there’s no question about that,” Graham said. “We had a need when [Koron] Crump went down. You can’t just, in one week, learn how to play devil… It’s been a very meticulous process and he’s still got a long way to go.”
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A week after pulling an upset at home over then No. 5 Washington, ASU didn’t take its foot off the gas against Utah. The Utes were outgained in total yardage 345-265, ran 15 less plays than the Sun Devils and controlled the ball nearly 13 minutes fewer.
The disparity in time of possesion came as a result of ASU extended drives on the ground. As a collective unit, the rushing attack of Arizona State paced the offense with 205 yards and two touchdowns. In the second quarter, seniors Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage broke off runs of 25 and 35 yards during a drive that ended in Richard’s touchdown.
“Their offensive line did a great job… Their plays complemented each other nicely and that is a good job by their coaches,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Their two backs ran it well and were physical.”
The wire-to-wire win sets up a showdown with USC for potentially sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 South. Despite being a younger and less experienced team, ASU’s leaders willingly accept the challenge.
“The biggest thing to look at when teams start to see success, the biggest enemy is complacency. As long as we continue to play like underdogs, continue to play like people don’t show us respect; that’s the biggest part,” quarterback Manny Wilkins said.
In 2016, Arizona State’s seventh game of the season marked the start of a monumental collapse. A year later, game seven appears to be the turning of a corner in Tempe.