Sun Devils Open Conference Play With 51-41 Victory Over Cal

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to top Pac-12 foe California, 51-41, on Saturday night at Sun Devil Stadium.
 
Sophomore quarterback Manny Wilkins completed 21-of-30 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown while adding 72 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Wilkins joins Danny White and Todd Hons as the only Sun Devil quarterbacks since 1970 to start their careers 4-0. The win marks the first time that Arizona State has started the season 4-0 since 2007.

The Devils scored 31 points in the final 9:44 of regulation and did so with extreme versatility, scoring touchdowns rushing, passing, on an interception return and on a kickoff return in the process. The Devils brought their season fourth quarter scoring averaging to 22.3 points per game - more than 25 teams in the FBS are averaging per game this season. 

Wilkins led all rushers with a career-high 23 carries for 72 yards while Demario Richard added 66 yards on 19 carries. Tim White had six grabs for 86 yards while Jalen Harvey had a career-game with five catches for 83 yards to lead the receiving corps. 
 
The Sun Devil defense continued to exhibit its bend-but-don't break mentality, coming up with two interceptions in the fourth quarter including Laiu Moeakiola's first career interception return for a touchdown with 2:52 remaining in the game to give ASU the breathing room it needed to hold on for the victory. The Sun Devil secondary also shut down the nation's leading receiving in the second half in Chad Hansen, limiting him to two catches for six yards after a first half that saw him torch ASU for 104 yards on eight catches with a touchdown.

Salamo Fiso logged an interception in his return to the pitch after missing the first three games of the season, also adding a team-high nine tackles in the effort. Koron Crump caused all sorts of problems in the backfield for Cal, finishing with two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. 

The Bears opened the scoring early in the first quarter as Webb found Deme Robertson for a 19-yard strike to cap a 98-yard Cal drive. ASU responded later in the quarter with a 35-yard field goal by kicker Zane Gonzalez, who notched his 82nd career field goal and subsequently earned sole possession of the school record in career field goals.
 
The Bears continued to outscore the Devils in the second quarter to the tune of 17-7. California recorded a pair of touchdowns and a field goal, while ASU notched their first touchdown of the game on an 8-yard rush by Manny Wilkins.  
 
Looking to build momentum following the break, the Sun Devil offense marched down the field to begin the third quarter with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a one-yard touchdown run by Wilkins to cut the Cal lead to 17-24.
 
After trading field goals, the Sun Devils tied the game with a three-yard rushing touchdown from Wilkins, pulling the score to 27-27.
 
ASU took its first lead of the game in the fourth quarter when kicker Zane Gonzalez laced a 23-yard field goal through the uprights. The go-ahead drive was set up by an interception by linebacker Salamo Fiso, who hauled in a pass thrown right up the middle by the Bears' quarterback Davis Webb, for a 22-yard gain.
 
ASU tacked on another touchdown late in the fourth quarter in yet another pivotal play by the defense as senior Laiu Moeakiola intercepted a pass along the sideline, and returned it all the way to the house to extend the ASU lead to 44-34 with 2:52 left to play.
 
Cal attempted a comeback in the final minutes of the game as Robertson pulled in a 26-yard pass and just got his foot down in the endzone to cut the ASU lead to 41-44.
 
With less than 50 seconds left in the game, the Bears attempted an onside kick that was recovered by linebacker DJ Calhoun who barreled past Cal's defenders all the way into the endzone for a 42-yard kickoff return, sealing the Devils victory.
 
The undefeated Sun Devils will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with a matchup against USC.