ASU Football: Why the offense is clicking at the right time
By Trevor Booth
ASU football returned key pieces from an offense that averaged 31.8 points in 2017. Now, they’re beginning to realize their capabilities.
Entering the fourth quarter with a 21-20 lead over Utah, Manny Wilkins had some options.
The down was second-and-eight, but his choices weren’t limited. Behind him was a red-hot Eno Benjamin, who already scampered for 81 yards and a touchdown. On his right was N’Keal Harry, who muscled through the Utes’ secondary with ease for the past 45 minutes.
Going against a top-20 defense, the quarterback and his team were in control. With the opponent indecisive, Wilkins took the snap, faked a draw to his running back, looked upfield and fired a bullet to Harry across the 45-yard line.
From there, arguably the nation’s best receiver did what he does, intersecting two defenders before stumbling over the goal line for a 61-yard touchdown. It was the first six of 17 unanswered points the Sun Devils posted in the final frame.
For ASU, these plays defined normal expectations before the season began. With the offense’s best playmakers returning to school, the idea of a letdown seemed absurd.
To that point, however, bursts like those came few and far between. So when the Sun Devils dashed through the nation’s No. 3 rush defense, bolted past safeties and recorded 38 points for the second straight week, it brought up the obvious question.
Why did that take so long?
There could be many answers, but three particulars stood out in Saturday’s win.