The Arizona State Sun Devils (1-1) struggled again to score in the second half when hosting the Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-0) Saturday night. The Sun Devils entered halftime leading 15-10, only to ultimately lose 27-15.
The Sun Devil defense entered the game taking control of the trenches, allowing zero rushing yards in the first half of play, especially when the Cowboys faced a crucial third-and-2 at midfield.
The Devils’ offense returned to the field after a quick 3-and-out drive to open the game. Junior wide receiver Elijhah Badger carried a jet sweep for a 17-yard gain, marching the Devils into Cowboy territory.
On a crucial 3rd and 9, freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada dumped the ball to junior running back DeCarlos Brooks for a significant 3rd down conversion, setting up the Devils in the red zone.
In the red zone, junior running back Cam Skattebo took the direct snap from Wildcat formation and punched in the ASU’s first score in the game.
The Devils ran 11 total plays in their scoring drive, controlling the game’s tempo well.
After the scoring drive, the Devils’ defense took the field to prevent an answer from the Cowboys.
On a crucial 3rd and long at midfield, junior defensive end B.J. Green swallowed up senior quarterback Alan Bowman, forcing a punt from the Cowboys.
Entering the 2nd quarter, the Cowboys responded with a 2-yard rushing touchdown from shotgun, tying the game 7-7.
Shortly after, the Devils’ offense took the field, and Rashada unleashed a 65-yard touchdown pass to Badger. Sun Devil Head Coach Kenny Dillingham then opted for the 2-point conversion, which was successful.
The Sun Devils led 15-7 at that point; that was the last time the Devils found the endzone.
To end the half, the Cowboys settled for a 52-yard field goal to bring the score 15-10 still in favor of the Devils.
The Devils faced a 4th and inches scenario in the opening second-half drive. With Skattebo taking the direct snap from the Wildcat formation, he was stuffed at the line, giving the ball back to the Cowboys in a favorable field position.
“We felt like we had a pretty good plan going into those scenarios and we just didn’t convert,” Dillingham said.
Sophomore running back Ollie Gordon ignited a scoring drive for the Cowboys with an explosive 31-yard run, bringing the Cowboys offense to the 3-yard line.
Replacing Bowman at the quarterback position, sophomore quarterback Gunnar Gundy completed a 3-yard pass to junior wideout De’Zhaun Stribling, putting the Cowboys up 17-15, good for their first lead of the game.
The Devils’ offense took the field to take back the lead, but they quickly turned the ball over after Rashada threw an interception on a pass intended for Badger.
“The offense could have had the defense’s back more,” freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada said, “but that’s why we’re here, we learn from it.”
In the final frame, the Devils offense only saw the field for 4 minutes and 43 seconds and went 0-4 in 3rd down conversions.
“We’ve got to be more consistent in the 2nd half,” Dillingham said, “we didn’t put together a drive.”
After the Sun Devil defense forces a 3-and-out, the offense returns to the field with an answer.
To take the lead on 3rd and 4, Rashada lasered the ball down the middle of the field to junior wideout Xavier Guillory in the open field, only for the ball to bounce off the chest plate of Guillory, which forced the punt team to take the field.
Although the dropped pass was early in the 4th quarter, the Sun Devils did not find a spark for the rest of the game, which resulted in their first loss of the season.
The Sun Devils left the field taking a 27-15 loss. Even after an electrifying 1st half, the Sun Devils did not find success in the 2nd half for the second game in a row.
“We’ve just got to be able to run the ball better in the second half,” Dillingham said, “we’re not establishing drives.”
The Sun Devils will play in Tempe again next week, September 16th, hosting the Fresno State Bulldogs (2-0).
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