(Tempe, AZ) Arizona State (3-1) had its first home game in a month after going to Texas, London and taking time with a bye week.
Would a two week break give the team an early season rest after three games, or would rust set in?
Baylor came in with a lone loss to Auburn University 17-16 for a 3-1 record. The oddsmakers had the Sun Devils as a 3.5 point favorite.
Quarterback Cutter Boley has had mixed reviews to date. Even with the loss at Texas A&M, Boley looked like the quarterback that was huyped after winning the starting job. In London, Boley looked at best average.
First Quarter
Both teams went three and out to start the game.
On ASU’s second offensive possession, Cutter Boley began to move the team, highlighted Cardae Mack 29 yard reception to gert into Baylor territory.
The drive stalled and Carson Smith 46 yard field goal to put the Devils on the board first, 3-0. This was after a nine play 54 yard drive.
Baylor came back back big as they scored on a 63 run by Ryelan Morris where the ASU defense got crossed up. Bears took the lead 7-3 at the 9:13 mark of the quarter.
The Sun Devils were driving down the field when Boley passed to Omarion Miller coughed up the ball and Baylor recovered
Arizona State’s defense, normally the strength of the team was getting chewed up by big plays on the ground and via the air. DJ Lagway tossed a 3 yard pass to Tony Livingston int the end zone for another Baylor touchdown. Bears up 14-3.
Photo -YouTube
Second Quarter
Now ASU was at a crossroad with the offense moving the ball at times but Boleuy still not converting key plays and the defense giving up big plays.
The Devils’ defense was getting shredded in part because of poor tackling, not wrapping up. the Baylor players would run through arm tackles.
The Bears scored again and made it easy as they took 7 plays 63 yards Lagway to Louis Brown 10 yard pass to make it 21-3
Boley came out with a chip on his shoulder and right off the bat, Miller bolted through the line for 28 yards to get the Devils back on track at least temporarily.
Once again, the drive bogged down and Smith kicked a 32 yard field goal, 21-6 but the Sun Devils were trading field goals for touchdowns for the Bears.
Lagway did then did an ASU thing, moving the ball until they got to the red zone. The Sun Devils caught a break when Rhett Armstrong missed a 38 yard field goal attempt.
With that break, Boley and company did absolutely nothing on the next possession and a three and out.
Getting an opportunity to steal some points before the half, knowing they had to kick the ball off to start the third quarter, Boley drove the team down and after the two minute timeout, Boley connected with Miller on 30 yards hitch route that culminated a 5 play 80 yard drive. Baylor up 21-13 with 1:51 left in the first half.
Baylor still had enough time to get some points before half and had the ball at the ASU 19 yard line with 10 seconds left. An incomplete pass set up the final play a 36 yard field goal to end the half.. Baylor up 24-13.
Photo – YouTube
Halftime
The rust from the bye week was evident in the first half as Baylor racked up almost 300 yards on offense mostly through the air as the Bears had 116
Third Quarter
Baylor got the ball first and picked up where they left off in the first half. Lagway wasn’t rated as one of the top quarterbacks in the Big XII.
A 3 yard pass play to Hawkins-Polley from a 9 play drive and the lead was 31-13 as the Bears scored coming out of the halftime locker room.
Boley threw an interception right to Brian Davis of Baylor and there was no Sun Devil receiver in the area. Baylor again had a short field to work with.
A 28 yard completion to Brown IV and the Bears were again knocking at the door with the ball at the Arzona State 12 yard line. A slant route was on the money to Jadon Porter on a 8 yard pass. Baylor pulling away 38-13.
ASU amost of the night had to work wiht a long field. This time, the Sun Devils moved the ball efectively and found themselves at the Baylor 19 yard line.
Smith kicked a 36 yard field goal when they should have gone for it fourth down. The 3 points barely put it a dent in the deficit at 38-16.
The ensuing kickoff saw Caden Knighten take it 75 yards to the house and 45-16 lead and still in the third quarter.
ASU took the balld down the field but turned it over on downs at the Baylor 12 yard line.
Photo – YouTube
Fourth Quarter
The Sun Devils had to score touchdowns to make the game respective but chose to boot a 40 yard field goal which made the score 45-19 and 11:36 left in the game.
Dillingham called an onside kick which was recovered by Baylor.
All Baylor had to do was run clock, but with Lagway still in they game the Bears scored from the Devil’s 11 yard line to add to the misery 52-19 and 5:58 left.
Following the touchdown, ASU’s returner Jaren Hamilton fumbled the ball and was recovered by Stilton McKeldey at the 11 yard line. Nate Bennett came in for mop up duty for the Beaers. Armstrong kicked 23 yard field goal for a 55-19 lead.
Dillingham chose to keep Boley in the game despite the blowout.
Final Score: Baylor 55 ASU 19.
Wrap Up
Arizona State (2-2) looked unprepared and didn’t play with any passion. The Baylor Bears from the get go took the Devils to the woodshed.
The Bears had 564 total yards, 244 yards on the ground and 320 through the air. ASU subsequently had 409 total yards and if you just looked the stats you would have thought this game was a shootout.
ASU moved the ball well between the 20’s, but every time but once, they faltered and only scored a field goal or turned the ball over.
This game was never in doubt as Baylor hit the gas hard from the onset and never took it off the pedal.
Next week, the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors come to town for a brief respite, but after tonight’ dismal performance, this game is now considered competitive. Again the kickoff time is 7:30 p.m.
Attendance : 54,063 (Sell Out).
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