2014 in 12 - Game Five

Relive the 2014 regular season as we spend the next 12 days counting down toward the team’s departure to El Paso. Every day, from Dec. 12 through Dec. 23, we will take a unique look back at all 12 games this year. Visit thesundevils.com as well as all of Sun Devil Athletics’ social media outlets daily.

GAME 5
Arizona State 38, #16 USC 34
Los Angeles (Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)
Oct. 4, 2014

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Jael Mary Caps Comeback As Devils Stun USC In Los Angeles 

Jaelen Strong hauled in a 46-yard Hail Mary from Mike Bercovici as time expired to highlight a career night and the Sun Devils pulled off an improbable 38-34 upset over No. 16 USC on Saturday evening at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

It was Arizona State's first victory in the Coliseum since 1999, ending a streak of seven consecutive losses in the historic stadium. 

The catch capped a monumental comeback for the Sun Devils, who scored three touchdowns in the final 3:53 of regulation to stun the home Trojans, who appeared well on their way to victory when ASU took over on their own 28-yard-line with 23 seconds remaining and no timeouts left.

Following an incomplete pass, Bercovici found wide receiver Gary Chambers over the middle for 26 yards to the USC 46-yard line to give ASU one shot at a miracle with seven remaining. On the next play, Strong adjusted his body, leapt and picked the ball out of the air in front of three members of the USC secondary at the goal line and secured the ball in the end zone for the win.

Strong tallied 10 catches on the evening and he finished with 202 yards and three touchdowns to set a career high in the latter two categories. It was the first time a Sun Devil receiver eclipsed 200 receiving yards in a game since Shaun McDonald had 204 against Oregon in 2002 and just the eighth time in ASU history a receiver has gone over 200 yards.

Bercovici became the first quarterback in ASU history to pass for more than 400 yards in his first two career starts as he finished 27-for-45 for 510 yards and five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Safety Jordan Simone made 20 tackles for the Devils, the most for an ASU defensive player since Mark Tingstad in 1988.

USC running back Buck Allen rushed for 143 yards and two scores for the Trojans, including a 53-yard touchdown run with just over three minutes to play that appeared to put the game out of reach.