PASADENA, Calif.– In their final Pac-12 road trip, Arizona State relied on a dominant defense performance and gritty offensive effort to defeat UCLA Bruins, 17-7, Saturday night at the Rose Bowl.
Cam Skattebo accounted for both Sun Devil touchdowns on the night, throwing a 25-yard touchdown to Elijah Badger and rushing for his eighth rushing touchdown of the year. The California native accounted for 61 yards on the ground, threw for 25-yards, compiled 50 punting yards, and even caught three passes back in his home state as his Hornung Award Campaign continues.
Elijah Badger tied a career high 12 receptions with 116 yards on the night and the second time he’s tallied double-digit receptions in a game this year along with it being the redshirt junior’s second career game with 100 or more receiving yards. Badger hauled in his third receiving touchdown of the season.
Graduate Deshaun Mallory was everywhere on the field for the ASU defense, totaling a season high nine tackles, two pass breakups and contributing 0.5 sacks on the night. Chris Edmonds also had seven tackles and Caleb McCullough forced a fumble lead that the ASU defense recovered. UCLA ended the night 0-for-4 on fourth down, with three of those stops by the Sun Devils coming on fourth and one in clutch moments.
ASU held UCLA scoreless in the first half for just the second time since 2016 and are only the second team to accomplish the feat against the Bruins in 2023 (Utah). The win marks the third time since 1993 the Sun Devils have won back-to-back games at the Rose Bowl, last occurring with victories in 2013 and 2015. They also enjoyed a three game-winning streak against the Bruins in Pasadena from 1992-1996.
The Sun Devils (3-7; 2-6) next host Oregon on Nov. 18 and Arizona (Nov. 25) to conclude its 2023 season.
ASU got on the board first with a 10-play, 64-yard drive that led to a Dario Longhetto 29-yard field goal that started with ASU forcing a Bruin fumble at the Sun Devil 11-yard line. Caleb McCullough forced the fumble and Shamari Simmons recovered.
UCLA two red zone drives stopped on downs in the first half, as UCLA had an eight-play drive stopped at the one and a four-play stopped at the nine-yard line.
After three straight punts opened the second half, the Sun Devils accomplished their longest drive of the season, elapsing 99 yards down the field in 14 plays, 7:11. Cam Skattebo finished the drive with a 25-yard toss to Badger to extend the Sun Devil lead, 10-0 late in the third quarter.
UCLA responded with a quick six play, 59-yard touchdown drive that ended with Logan Loya hauling in a 16-yard pass from Collin Schlee cutting the ASU lead to three.
In a hostile environment, the Sun Devils responded with a 12 play, 75-yard drive that featured Bourget slinging a 7-yard pass on 4th-and-4 to Badger who caught a career high 12 catches for 116 yards on the night. The following play, Skattebo scored on a 17-yard rushing touchdown, diminishing any hope for the Bruins to come back.
The ferocious Sun Devil defense forced UCLA to turnover on downs, prompting back-to-back wins at the Rose Bowl for the first time since 2015.
FINAL ROAD VISIT TO ROSE BOWL
This was the final meeting between the two sides for now, with UCLA moving to the Big Ten and Arizona State moving to the Big 12. ASU has now won the past two meetings in the Rose Bowl. After starting 0-6-1 against the Bruins after joining the Pac-12, the Sun Devils are 16-16 over the past 32 meetings.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Zach Wargo
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