This time last week, there were positives to take from Arizona State’s first half versus Northern Arizona; a week later, there are even fewer positives to take from Arizona State’s first half at Mississippi State.
No. 12 Arizona State Football trails Mississippi 17-3 at the half. The team looks to be rattled by the cowbells and not in sync.
Offensively, there are only 72 total yards before the final drive, which had 23 total yards. Redshirt sophomore quarterback is 5-for-15 with 30 yards and an interception. The Sun Devils had only two drives that crossed the 50-yard line. Arizona State is one-for-eight on third downs.
The lone bright spot is junior running back Kanye Udoh, who has six rushes for 40 yards. Junior running back Kyson Brown is dinged up with an injury.
Defensively, there is not much good either. The pass defense has looked suspect. Graduate quarterback Blake Shapen has carved up the Sun Devil defense, going 11-17 with 168 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Anthony Evans III has caught 5 receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. Senior wide receiver Brenen Thompson has caught 4 receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.
The run defense has looked good with the run defense holding the Bulldogs to 2.1 yards per rush. The Sun Devils have three sacks. Redshirt senior defensive lineman Clayton Smith has two of them, with senior linebacker Keyshaun Elliott collecting the other.
There are six penalties for 39 yards, which is a number higher than expected.
Redshirt senior kicker Jesús Gómez made a 51-yard field goal to end the half. Reigning Big 12 special teams player of the week, Kanyon Floyd, has looked good. The sophomore punter is averaging 41 yards on four punts, but if the Sun Devils want to win, they can not see much more of him.