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ASU Football: No. 23 Sun Devils head to San Diego State

By Ethan Schmidt

TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 08: Quarterback Manny Wilkins #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts during the second half of the college football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Spartans 16-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 08: Quarterback Manny Wilkins #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts during the second half of the college football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Spartans 16-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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ASU football makes its first road trip of the 2018 season as the No. 23 Sun Devils take on the San Diego State Aztecs.

After a tough loss to SDSU in Tempe last season, the Sun Devils (2-0) look to get revenge. But this year’s contest is much different.

ASU football made major changes over the offseason beginning with the hire of Herm Edwards. Then, the program brought in defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales and cornerbacks coach Tony White over from SDSU.

“I wish we didn’t have to play this game because I recruited most of those kids,” Gonzales said. “I know how those kids work. I know how they believe. I know how they feel.”

Interestingly enough, Edwards played his senior season as a defensive back for SDSU and graduated from there in 1976.

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“I understand what that school’s all about,” Edwards said. “That was one of my many alma maters that I actually visited, I graduated from there. But with that being said, they’re a good football team. They have a DNA similar to Michigan State, they want to run the football, they’re gonna play really good defense, they don’t give up a lot of points.”

The Sun Devils will put their top-ranked rushing defense in the country to the test against Aztecs on Saturday night. Last year, ASU allowed 279 yards on the ground in the 30-20 loss.

“It’s gonna be a game and it’s gonna be won at the line of scrimmage,” Gonzales said. “Their offensive line is as physical as anybody in the country. They are going to hit you in the mouth and try and kill you.”

SDSU (1-1) will be without senior quarterback Christian Chapman after he went out with an MCL sprain last week in the Aztecs’ Week 2 win over Sacramento State. Chapman has been a two-year starter.

Backup quarterback Ryan Agnew is set to get the start on Saturday night. The junior stepped in last week for the second half and tallied 179 yards on 11-for-17 passing.

“He’s athletic, he can leave the pocket and make some plays,” Edwards said. “They’re going to rely on their running game and stay out of third and longs.”

The Aztecs handed off their running back torch to Juwan Washington for 2018. After Rashaad Penny rushed for 216 yards on 18 carries against ASU last year, the Sun Devils are going to key in on Washington heavily as he is the fourth-best rusher in the nation.

ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins is coming off a 380-yard game against MSU. Seven receivers touched the ball at least two times in the upset win.

Wilkins is ready for the rematch after last year’s loss to SDSU.

“The scheme that they run is the scheme that we run,” Wilkins said. “I think their front seven is really, really good. We are going to do our best to get into some 1-on-1 situations and our guys are going to beat their guys.”

Next. ASU Football: Three players that have impressed early. dark

Arizona State is now ranked for the first time since the 2015 preseason. The Sun Devils will put their ranking to the test against the Aztecs on national television Saturday night.

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.

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