Senior Day is a celebration of maturation and growth. To beat UCLA, ASU football needed its veterans and young players to display both.
On the football field, the difference in experience one year can make is tremendous. Players add weight and gain speed among other physical improvements.
Often overlooked are intangibles such as maturity, poise and resilience.
Leading UCLA 10-7 in the second quarter of Arizona State’s 31-28 win, quarterback Manny Wilkins misfired just beyond the outstretched arms of wide receiver N’Keal Harry and into the hands of Bruins’ defensive back Darnay Holmes. With blockers upfield, the sophomore went untouched into the end zone from 33 yards out to put the visitors ahead.
The scenario was all too familiar to ASU. Exactly one year ago, the Sun Devils were ahead 14-0 in Pasadena when Wilkins had a ball intercepted by defensive back Nate Meadors returned 27 yards for a touchdown.
Momentum shifted in favor of UCLA for good, ultimately winning that game 44-37.
Unlike the implosion sustained in Rose Bowl Stadium, Wilkins and the Sun Devils (6-4, 4-3 Pac-12) handled adversity with composure on Saturday, holding off the Bruins (2-8, 2-5 Pac-12) to win their third straight game, the longest streak under coach Herm Edwards.
“That’s what football is, a game of inconvenience,” Edwards said. “Any time Manny throws an interception, I go over and hug him and say, ‘Hey man, you’re okay.’
“Just keep playing, we’re going to be fine.”
To outlast UCLA, several obstacles tested ASU, but the Sun Devils overcame each with a bigger statement than the last.
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Possessing an offense that ranked 118th nationally in scoring ahead of Saturday, the Bruins came out firing on all cylinders. A sack of quarterback Wilton Speight on the final play of the first quarter marked the sole occasion UCLA did not gain yards in the opening period.
However, this resulted in just a 7-3 lead for UCLA after ASU freshman Darien Butler made a pivotal stop on fourth down in the red zone.
Trailing early in his final home game, Wilkins orchestrated a seven-play drive and capped it with a 13-yard run on a zone read option.
Following his turnover two drives later; the redshirt senior marched downfield against the clock as first downs on three consecutive plays set up a touchdown pass to running back Nick Ralston inside the first half’s final minute.
In addition to Wilkins’ interception, the defensive depth of ASU was tested throughout the afternoon due to injuries sustained by senior starters Jalen Harvey and Demonte King as well as a targeting call on freshman Merlin Robertson.
Despite Edwards and defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales adjusting schemes to aid less experienced players in adjusting to increased snaps, the unit showed cohesion and maturity beyond its years.
Following Robertson’s disqualification, redshirt sophomore Chase Lucas intercepted Speight in ASU territory, leading to a one-yard counter by running back Eno Benjamin to extend the Sun Devils’ advantage to 24-14.
During the drive, the sophomore broke the school’s single-season rushing record in the Pac-10/12 era, surpassing Ryan Torain’s mark of 1,229 yards set in 2006. He finished with 182 yards.
After the game, Benjamin was unaware of the record but received praise from his teammates at the podium.
“I just want to play football. I just want to win games,” said Benjamin.
Still, in the midst of the pomp and circumstance on Senior Day and the Sun Devils’ perpetual drive to overcome adversity, UCLA would not allow itself to fall out of contention.
Wilkins’ last drive in Sun Devil Stadium went 15 plays for 80 yards, wiping over eight minutes off the clock before he scored his second rushing touchdown.
An emotional leader, Wilkins, a three-year starter, showed his emotion after the game as well, expressing gratitude for his time with the program.
“Been a lot of opportunities for people to turn on me … all my teammates, they always have my back and to them I’m forever grateful,” Wilkins said. “This place will be forever special to me.”
Facing a 10-point hole, Speight swiftly erased the deficit down to three and ASU punted after recovering an onside kick. But redshirt freshman Tyler Johnson‘s second sack of the afternoon and two penalties coupled by clock runoff erased any chance of a comeback.
With the victory, ASU maintains control of its destiny in the Pac-12 South. But to represent the division at the conference title game, the Sun Devils will need to win two games on the road.
First up, the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium.