TEMPE, Ariz. – Conference play arrived in Tempe on Saturday night and Arizona State started things off in style, using multiple big plays and instant-highlight touchdowns en route to a 37-35 victory over No. 24 Oregon.
No moment was bigger, however, than a 41-yard Brandon Ruiz field goal that reclaimed a decisive two-point lead with two and a half minutes remaining. The victory gave the Sun Devils (2-2, 1-0 Pac-12) back-to-back wins in Pac-12 openers for the first time since 2011 and 2012 and gave head coach Todd Graham his 90th career victory.
"I knew we were getting better and I knew we were getting close," said Graham after the game. "We just knocked off one of the top-25 teams in the country. I couldn't be more proud of our players."
Quarterback Manny Wilkins continued his impressive play to start the season, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for another to lead a potent Arizona State attack. The junior ended the night with 382 total yards of offense.
The first of those touchdown scampers came on the team's first possession of the night. After quickly marching down the field, Wilkins took the fifth snap of the drive and called his own number, evading multiple defenders before crossing the goal-line for an eight-yard run.
"We just executed a little better all night," Wilkins said after the win. "Guys make big time plays in big time situations."
The Sun Devils kept making plays on their next drive, promptly answering a Duck (3-1, 0-1) touchdown that had tied the game at 7-7. A methodical 15-play, 75-yard possession eventually ended in a house call for Chandler-product N'Keal Harry, who found himself wide open for a three-yard touchdown after Wilkins rolled out and brought nearly all of the opposing defense with him.
That score was just the start of a huge night for Harry, who finished with seven receptions for 170 yards.
It was the freshman Ruiz who provided a sign of things to come late in the first quarter, ending another trip to the red zone with a 29-yard field goal. The kick capped a 17-point first quarter for Arizona State, a number that would ultimately stand up to the tune of a 17-14 lead at the halftime break.
"We talked about finishing," said senior linebacker A.J. Latu. "We just wanted to build off of each other's energy and get it done."
Latu and company did just that, using some clutch third down stops to get the ball back into the hands of the Sun Devil offense. The defense ultimately held the nation's No. 2 offense to just one third down conversion in 11 tries by the end of the night.
A crazy third stanza helped set the scene for an intense final quarter, as both Wilkins and running back Demario Richard found the end zone just five minutes into the second half. Those two touchdowns gave the home team a 31-14 lead, but that advantage would be trimmed to just three points by the start of the fourth quarter.
That last quarter belonged to Ruiz, who hit a 24-yarder at the start of the fourth and the winning 41-yard bomb with 2:33 to play.
At that point it was the defense's time to shut the door and turn off the lights. Phil Bennett's bunch stopped two separate Oregon drives in the final two and a half minutes, sealing the deal with a pair of determined fourth down stops to give Arizona State a 37-35 victory.
"The defense really got after the quarterback there," Graham said when asked about being aggressive in the final moments. "They went out and did a tremendous job."
A huge day in the passing game paid off for the Sun Devils, as both Harry (170) and Jalen Harvey (133) finished the night with over 100 yards. The team now has five receivers with at least one 100-plus yard game for the first time in school history.
Arizona State ended up out-gaining the Ducks, 489-401, and once again won the penalty battle, getting flagged just six times as opposed to Oregon's 14.
The Sun Devils now hit the road, where they will look to keep the momentum going next Saturday against Stanford.
"To come out of here 1-0 feels great," said Graham. "It's a great night to be a Sun Devil."
No moment was bigger, however, than a 41-yard Brandon Ruiz field goal that reclaimed a decisive two-point lead with two and a half minutes remaining. The victory gave the Sun Devils (2-2, 1-0 Pac-12) back-to-back wins in Pac-12 openers for the first time since 2011 and 2012 and gave head coach Todd Graham his 90th career victory.
"I knew we were getting better and I knew we were getting close," said Graham after the game. "We just knocked off one of the top-25 teams in the country. I couldn't be more proud of our players."
Quarterback Manny Wilkins continued his impressive play to start the season, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for another to lead a potent Arizona State attack. The junior ended the night with 382 total yards of offense.
The first of those touchdown scampers came on the team's first possession of the night. After quickly marching down the field, Wilkins took the fifth snap of the drive and called his own number, evading multiple defenders before crossing the goal-line for an eight-yard run.
"We just executed a little better all night," Wilkins said after the win. "Guys make big time plays in big time situations."
The Sun Devils kept making plays on their next drive, promptly answering a Duck (3-1, 0-1) touchdown that had tied the game at 7-7. A methodical 15-play, 75-yard possession eventually ended in a house call for Chandler-product N'Keal Harry, who found himself wide open for a three-yard touchdown after Wilkins rolled out and brought nearly all of the opposing defense with him.
That score was just the start of a huge night for Harry, who finished with seven receptions for 170 yards.
This ?????? catch-and-run by @NkealHarry15 set up a @FootballASU TD and is our pick for @OpusBank #12Best Moment! pic.twitter.com/amezA4M44n
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 24, 2017
It was the freshman Ruiz who provided a sign of things to come late in the first quarter, ending another trip to the red zone with a 29-yard field goal. The kick capped a 17-point first quarter for Arizona State, a number that would ultimately stand up to the tune of a 17-14 lead at the halftime break.
"We talked about finishing," said senior linebacker A.J. Latu. "We just wanted to build off of each other's energy and get it done."
Latu and company did just that, using some clutch third down stops to get the ball back into the hands of the Sun Devil offense. The defense ultimately held the nation's No. 2 offense to just one third down conversion in 11 tries by the end of the night.
A crazy third stanza helped set the scene for an intense final quarter, as both Wilkins and running back Demario Richard found the end zone just five minutes into the second half. Those two touchdowns gave the home team a 31-14 lead, but that advantage would be trimmed to just three points by the start of the fourth quarter.
That last quarter belonged to Ruiz, who hit a 24-yarder at the start of the fourth and the winning 41-yard bomb with 2:33 to play.
Right down Mill Avenue. Brandon Ruiz puts @footballasu back on top with a clutch FG.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 24, 2017
Watch the conclusion: https://t.co/ZLABag9Ytt pic.twitter.com/oiedvoL0TF
At that point it was the defense's time to shut the door and turn off the lights. Phil Bennett's bunch stopped two separate Oregon drives in the final two and a half minutes, sealing the deal with a pair of determined fourth down stops to give Arizona State a 37-35 victory.
THAT'S A DUB!!! pic.twitter.com/gEdt7WMyix
— Sun Devil Athletics (@TheSunDevils) September 24, 2017
"The defense really got after the quarterback there," Graham said when asked about being aggressive in the final moments. "They went out and did a tremendous job."
A huge day in the passing game paid off for the Sun Devils, as both Harry (170) and Jalen Harvey (133) finished the night with over 100 yards. The team now has five receivers with at least one 100-plus yard game for the first time in school history.
Arizona State ended up out-gaining the Ducks, 489-401, and once again won the penalty battle, getting flagged just six times as opposed to Oregon's 14.
The Sun Devils now hit the road, where they will look to keep the momentum going next Saturday against Stanford.
"To come out of here 1-0 feels great," said Graham. "It's a great night to be a Sun Devil."