(Tempe, AZ) Washington came in as the 24th ranked team in the nation but hadn’t beaten the Sun Devils in Tempe since 2001. Their opening drive showed they meant business and did nothing to disprove their high ranking as they sliced up the Sun Devil defense scoring in under five minutes opening up the scoreboard at 7-0.
The Huskies made it look very easy as they established their run game. It took 12 plays going 75 yards in 4:31.
ASU on their first possession, opened up through the air and runs by X Valladay to move the sticks. They came away with a Carter Brown 53 yard field goal to make it 7-3.
The Sun Devils didn’t go down the field with big gains, but rather three to four yards per play and that’s what the Husky defense was allowing.
There was only three possessions in the first quarter (Washington 2-1), as both teams ran the ball efficiently.
Around the nine minute mark of the second quarter, Emory Jones was smacked in the head by Huskies Asa Turner who was called for targeting and was disqualified from the game. Jones left the field under his own power.
AP Photo – Ross D. Franklin
Backup signal caller Trenton Bourguet (Marana HS) came in and the next play handed the ball to Valladay who scampered in from eleven yards out to tie the score at 10-10.
Bourguet’s entrance into game gave the Devils an offensive spark with his crisp and accurate passes that drove ASU down for the go ahead touchdown on a fourteen yards touchdown pass to Valladay that made the score 17-10 with 3:44 left in the first half.
Twenty one unanswered points by the Sun Devils when Jordan Clark picked off Husky’s quarterback Penix for a thirty eight yard pick six and the 17 point underdog Devils had themselves a two touchdown lead 24-10.
Washington made a critical error early in the third quarter with a fourth and one from their own thirty two yard line. The offense stayed on the field and didn’t convert. That showed a very arrogant attitude and little respect for the Sun Devil defense.
That’s all Bourguet needed as he took command and hit Elijah Badger on a ten yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone to cap off a five play drive and ASU had their two touchdown lead restored.
Back and forth went both teams and this game’s scenario looked like it may come down to who had the ball last.
Bourguet continued to impress with his passing highlighted by a thirty eight yard perfect pass to Bryan Thompson who was tacked at the one yard line. The next play Ngata waltzed in for the score 38-24 late in the third quarter.
Neither team wanted to lose this game and Washington didn’t back down as they drove down the field to bring the game back within a touchdown 38-31.
ASU had to defend the Husky offense for eight plays inside the ten yard line due to their own penalties.
On the second play of the final quarter, Bourguet threw an interception and Washington had the break they were looking for. UW cashed in the opportunity to tie the score at 38-38 with 12:09 left in the game.
ASU came right back with Bourguet unfazed after the pick and retook the lead on a 10 play 82 yards in 4;35 showing his ability to sustain a long drive. Scoreboard showed 45-38 with 7:27 left in the game.
With just under four minutes left the Huskies had a fourth and ten and didn’t covert with the pass being incomplete and ASU got the ball back.
Coach Shaun Aguano decided to play it safe keeping it on the ground, but also forcing Washington to use all their time outs. Devils punted the ball back to the Huskies with 2:44 left.
A critical targeting penalty by ASU’s B.J. Green kept the drive alive. Things got weird after that with a botched snap that lost 30 yards but ASU had a defensive delay of game penalty to stop the clock. The last play saw the Hail Mary fall well short of the end zone and incomplete.
Sun Devils win their first game since the opening game against Northern Arizona.
Trenton Bourguet came to Arizona State as a walk-on in 2019 and put his time in while playing on the scout team to moving up to back up Jayden Daniels and Emory Jones.
His senior year at Marana High School, Bourguet set a 5A state record for touchdowns.
With ASU showing little improvement with Jones this season and witnessing Bourguet’s instant leadership and stellar play, Coach Aguano needs to hand the reigns to the redshirt junior. He’s earned the role of starting signal caller.
With a wink of an eye, and a thirty eight yard laser pass, the Devils can still make this a memorable season.
Just after the final tick of the clock, Sun Devil students and fan stormed the field in celebration.
The twenty one year drought continues for Washington in Tempe after being seventeen point favorites.
Final score Sun Devils 45 – 38 over Washington. Tonight’s attendance 39,244.
