(Tempe, AZ) The Sun Devils had their work cut out for them as they hosted the fifth ranked Southern California Trojans in their opening game in the Pac-12.
On paper this game shouldn’t have been close, but fortunately the game is played on the grass and not off the clipboard.
ASU is ranked #129 in scoring only averaging thirteen points a game compared to fifty nine plus points a game from the Trojans.
Head Coach Kenny Dillingham took over the play calling duties tonight. That’s in his comfort zone as he was the OC at Oregon until coming to Tempe.
USC won the toss and elected to get the football first. After a couple of motion penalties, the Trojans settled down and moved the ball with ease down the field. On a third and goal from the one, Caleb Williams sprinted to the right pylon to score the games first touchdown and a 7-0 lead for Southern Cal. The drive took twelve plays and went seventy five yard in 6:14.
The Sun Devils got their first opportunity after a touchback on the kickoff. Arizona State went three and out and didn’t gain a yard except for an offsides penalty on the Trojans.
A bad exchange on a handoff gave the ball back to ASU, Tate Romney recovered the fumble on the Trojan fifteen yard line.
Cam Skattebo busted off left tackle to bolt into the end zone to tie the score at 7-7. Off the turnover, the offense took three plays that covered fifteen yards in 1;18.
On the ensuing kickoff, Arizona State thought they had recovered a second Trojan fumble, but the play was reviewed and Southern Cal retained possession.
USC was tentative on their next drive as they were whistled for three motion penalties, but on a fourth down and seven, Williams found a wide open Brenden Rice for a forty three yard touchdown reception. Trojans back on top 14-7. It took nine plays for eighty seven yards that took 5:30.
As the second quarter progressed, Pyne seemed to settle down and moved the Sun Devils into the red zone.
Arizona State settled for a thirty five yard field goal to cut the Trojan lead to 14-10 and 10:28 left in the first half.
Southern Cal’s strength is their offense and it showed as they had little trouble moving the ball. Their Achilles heel was the penalties that would negate big plays.
Williams snuck the ball over for their third touchdown to put the score at 21-10. The drive took five plays for forty three yards in 1;57.
The Devils marched down the field with a purpose and used Scattebo at quarterback in three sets with success on passes back to Pyne and Badger.
The Trojan defense stiffened and forced a thirty yard field goal. The drive took 6:02 on thirteen plays covering sixty four yards. Devils cut the lead again to 21-13 with 2:21 left in the half.
ASU got the ball first in the second half. After a initial first down, the Devils were forced to punt.
The USC drive was shut down on a timely sack by Prince Dorbah, but a fifty three yard field goal that barely cleared the crossbar made the score 24-13 with 11:13 left in the third quarter.
That defensive effort spurred on the offense as the Sun Devils scored on a Pyne touchdown pass to Badger. Dillingham rolled the dice on the two point conversion that was ruled good upon review. The scoring drive took five plays for seventy five yards in 1:48. Still 9:25 left in the third quarter and the Devils were keeping pace 24-21.
The ASU momentum woke up the bear as the Trojans took the ball downfield in a hurry chewing up big chunks of yardage but once again, the Devil defense shut it down and SC was forced to kick a thirty six yard field goal to make the score 27-21.
Trying to even the score, Pyne threw an interception to Calen Bullock and a golden opportunity went down the drain.
Arizona State got their revenge as they stopped the Trojans on a fourth and three, when a field goal would have put them up by two possessions.
The third quarter ended with the Sun Devils in prime position for a big upset but there was still fifteen minutes left.
Pyne’s arm was hit causing him to fumble the ball back to USC and the Trojans took advantage and two plays later Williams found Rice in the back corner of the end zone for the touchdown. With the two point conversion, Southern California went back up by two touchdowns.
On a fourth and seven from the Devil forty eight yard line, Skattebo converted on a swing pass in the flat that caused him to pinball ricochet off two would be tacklers down the sideline and into the end zone to bring ASU back within a touchdown 35-28 and still 8:05 left in the game.
Big Play Williams found Tahj Washington open on the near sideline in the end zone for a forty five touchdown to put the lead 42-28 back to two touchdowns. Thee plays seventy five yards in :48.
The last gasp drive by Arizona State went nowhere as the ball was turned back over to the Trojans who ran out the clock.
What kept the Devils in the game was the outstanding performance by Cam Skattebo (a transfer from Sacramento State) with 111 yards on 20 carries, passing 2-3 for 42 yards, receiving 4-4 for 79 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. He even had a 52 yard punt to get ASU out of a jam.
One glaring deficiency that needs to be addressed, is that Drew Pyne was sacked eight times. His inability to scramble and avoid the Trojan pass rush often times were drive killers. The offense has been hit hard with injuries from the first three games. As the injured players return, especially at quarterback and the offensive line some of these issues will be resolved.
Even though Southern California had 535 yards of total offense, the Sun Devil defense rose to the occasion several times allowing the team to stay close and even gave them a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
Photo – Matthew Martell/602 Sports Talk
A sellout crowd of 54,166 witnessed a great effort by the Sun Devils and also saw that USC isn’t invincible.
ASU hits the road for the first time this season as they travel to play the Berkeley Bears at noon on September 30th to be shown on the PAC-12 Network.
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