LIVE BLOG: Southern Utah vs Arizona State
Pregame
#25 Arizona State is ranked in the preseason for the first time since 2015. Herm Edwards has slowly been building a sleeping giants since he came to Tempe back in 2018, and it might finally be time to wake it up.
The Sun Devils will have a great opportunity to flex their muscles in the first game of the season as they open up as a 44.5 point favorite against Southern Utah, according to Caesar's Sportsbook. With offseason controversy still being a dark cloud looming over the program, going over on the spread would be a perfect way to make people forget.
An upset tonight would guarantee a fall from the rankings, and hurt their outlook for the rest of the season if they have real aspirations to get within sniffing distance of the college football playoffs.
Fourth Quarter
0:00 - ASU gets stuffed on third and goal.. time expires. Sun Devils win their first game of the season 41-14.
8:11 - Daniel Ngata walks it in for a 9-yd touchdown run. Featured heavily on that drive. Sun Devils lead 41-14.
14:54 - ASU can't pick up the third down and are forced to punt.
Third Quarter
1:22 - David Moore runs through ASU's defense for a 21-yd touchdown.
11:03- Ricky Pearsall with a 26 yard TD run on a reverse! However, the extra point was no good. ASU leads, 34-7.
11:26-Rachaad White keeps the chain moving with a nice spin move, and ASU are now in field goal range!
15:00-The Sun Devils receive the ball to start the second half! D.J. Taylor takes the return back to the 39 yard-line and the Sun Devils are in business.
Halftime Thoughts
First half thoughts:
— AllSunDevils.com (@AllSunDevils) September 3, 2021
ASU able to maintain pretty solid lead despite a lot of unwanted penalties, which led to Southern Utah eventually scoring.
Give Darien Butler whatever award he wants
ASU can damn sure run the ball.
Second Quarter
0:16- Darien Butler intercepts ANOTHER pass, bailing out ASU's defense from allowing more points. The Sun Devils kneel and that's the end of the first half. ASU 28, SUU 7.
0:22- SUU down inside the 20. Looks like Arizona State is content with allowing a field goal here. We'll see if the defense can hold.
2:34- Southern Utah now finds themselves in ASU territory...
5:15- DeaMonte Trayanum finds the end zone from 20 yards out to extend ASU's lead. 28-7 with a handful of minutes left in the first half.
7:56- D.J. Taylor also finds a nice return after Southern Utah punt before a holding call brings it back. LB Dylan DeVito went down on the field and had to be helped off to the medical tent.
11:05- Ricky Pearsall on a WR pass puts ASU in goal-to-go territory! Rachaad White punches it in two plays after and the Sun Devils expand their lead. Sun Devils 21, Thunderbirds 7 with over 11 minutes left in the first half.
12:32- Rachaad White nearly scores on a punt return, putting ASU deep in enemy territory! 13-7 ASU leads, but Daniels looks to change that soon.
After some Pac-12 Network technical difficulties, we are back!
First Quarter
14:40 - Deandre Pierce picks off Justin Miller to the 3-yard line. DeaMonte Trayanum runs it in for a 3 yard TD.
First touchdown of 2021 belongs to @Chipperrz_ 🍪🔱
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 3, 2021
🎥 https://t.co/HKwpED3ERA pic.twitter.com/ue823lucum
