(Tempe, AZ) ASU came back home after a bye and two road games. The Sun Devils (6-2, 3-2) hosted the Knights from the University of Central Florida (4-5, 2-4).
The Knights were coming off a thrashing of the Arizona Wildcats 56-12 at home. Now, Central Florida now was the one who had to make the cross country trip to the desert.
Both teams had only faced each other once. That game was at Mountain America Stadium in 2002. ASU routed the Knights 46-13.
Kenny Dillingham was the Offensive Coordinator under Central Florida Coach Gus Malzahn in 2019.
Senior Running Back Cam Skattebo did not play in this game due to a shoulder injury. Kyson Brown got the nod to start.
First Quarter
UCF got the football first and used a combination of the run and pass to slice up the Devils defense on 13 plays that went 75 yards with RJ Harvey taking it in from 8 yards out to put Knights up 7-0.
The Sun Devils without Skattebo looked very slugging in the run game and Sam Leavitt was not accurate leading to a turnover on downs back to Central Florida.
Arizona State’s special teams came up big when Martell Hughes got his hand on the punt and Montana Warren took it to the house 46 yards to tie up the score 7-7 with 2:17 left in the quarter. The last time a blocked punt was returned for a touchdown was November 11th 2017 by Eno Benjamin versus UCLA.
Central Florida had 88 yards passing in the quarter and 120 total yards to ASU’s 39.
Photo – Central Florida Athletics
Second Quarter
UCF came back at the begibbg of the quarter to march 47 yards but settled for a Grant Reddick 45 yard field goal to put the Knight back up 10-7 at the 12:39 mark of the quarter.
The ASU offense still couldn’t get on track and looked somewhat lost using their back up running backs and another three and out.
Central Florida had no fear of the Sun Devil defense as they converted third and long and fourth downs as well.
The Knights scored again on an 11 play 66 yard drive with Jacurri Brown with a 6 yard run to extend the lead 17-7 with 4:56 left til halftime.
On the Devils next possession, they moved the ball much better and got a break on facemask call to Sam Leavitt that put them on the Knights 37 yard line.
Now that the offense seemed to be on track, they were picking up big chunks of yardage. With just 56 seconds left on the clock, Leavitt to Charon Matayer from 4 yards out brought ASU back with three
ASU’s kickoff was muffed in the end zone and inexplicably the Knights return player Christian Peterson attempted to bring in out of the end zone and was tacked at the half yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Dylan Rizk threw his second interception to LT Welch who took into score from 9 yards out and the Sun Devils stole points just before the half to take a 21-17 lead.
With a defensive offside penalty on Arizona State, UCF was given an untimed down but their 57 yard field goal attempt sailed wide to conclude the first half.
The Knights owned the first half stats out-gaining ASU 227-103 but the special team and defensive scores counteracted the Knights big offensive effort.
Third Quarter
The Sun Devils got the ball first to start the second half but could do nothing with it and were forced to punt.
Central Florida came out of the halftime locker room with a new sense of purpose and began by reestablishing their run game with Harvey. Their drive stalled and the Knight were forced to punt.
After getting the ball back off an ASU punt, Rizk once again drove the Knights down to the Devils 10 yard line. Harvey did the finishing touches by scoring up the middle from the 8 yard line to retake the lead 24-21 with 5:03 left in the quarter.
Arizona State now behind, seemed to wake up offensively took the ball with a purpose and with help of a facemask penalty scored on Leavitt pass to Jordan Tyson from 9 yards out and ASU was back in lead 28-24.
UCF wasn’t fazed as Harvey popped off a 26 yard gain to put them into Sun Devils territory at the 49 yard line.
Photo – Sun Devil Athletics
Fourth Quarter
A minute and fifty six seconds into the final quarter, Harvey put his team back on top with a 13 yard run and a 31-28 lead.
The Sun Devils offense went back to sleep and quickly gave the ball back to UCF.
Now with the lead, the Knights smelled blood and Harvey took the team on his back, but the drive stalled at the ASU 29 yard line. The Devils caught a break when the 46 yard field goal attempt his the right upright and Arizona State remained just three points down with around nine minutes left in the game.
Devils took advantage of the miss and drove the ball with purpose scoring on 9 play 75 yard drive. Leavitt threw a 13 yard pass to Tyson to get the lead back 35-31 and 4:55 left.
Now it was the Sun Devils turn to control their own destiny. With a third and one, Leavitt got it via the “Tush Push.” From there, and with UCF out of timeouts, Leavitt milked the clock to 5 seconds turning the ball over to UCF.
Final Score 35-31 Arizona State. Tonight’s attendance was 44,940 on Military Appreciation Night.
Defense and Special Teams were very instrumental in the win with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and a Pick 6.
Leavitt’s stats were spectacular, considering he was coming off an injury that caused him to miss last game, he did what was needed to win.
Kyson Brown’s 77 yards had him with a 4.1 yards per carry and adequately filled in for Skattebo.
Up Next
ASU has their toughest opponent next Saturday, when they face the 19th ranked Kansas State Wildcats in Manhattan Kansas. Both teams come in 7-2
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