Frank Darby with 111 receiving yards in first half, sets up ASU touchdown

ASU's Manny Wilkins and Frank Darby connected twice for long completions in the first half as Darby helped set up a touchdown.

BY LOGAN NEWMAN

Sep 15, 2018, 8:52 PM Updated: Sep 16, 2018, 12:53 am

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Arizona State wide receiver Frank Darby hauls in a pass as San Diego State safety Tariq Thompson defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Early during practice Wednesday, ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins completed a deep pass to receiver Frank Darby.

Three days later, the two ran a similar play. Though Darby was lined up on the opposite side, it ended in the same result.

A long completion.

Wilkins’ 51-yard pass to Darby set up a quarterback keeper touchdown as ASU answered San Diego State’s first touchdown and take a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.

They are COOKING now. Manny Wilkins leads back-to-back TD drives from the @ASUFootball offense. pic.twitter.com/HPorpDthvN

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) September 16, 2018

It looked as though ASU might stall on the drive, but a false start from SDSU on third-and-five gave the Sun Devils five yards and a first down.

On the very next play, Wilkins took the shot.

The completion was ASU’s first of the day that went more than 18 yards.

It wasn’t the last.

With the ball on their own six-yard line, Wilkins connected with receiver N’Keal Harry, who did an impressive job getting his toes in before falling out of bounds on a 21-yard completion.

Wilkins had another long throw in him.

He connected with Darby again one a 43-yard pass to put ASU at the Aztec’s 20-yard line.

It was Darby’s fourth reception of the game. He had 111 yards at that point, which tied him for the most in his career.

His other 111-yard performance? Last year against SDSU.

FRANK. DARBY.@_SavageSZN8 out here with a career-high 111 yards…in the FIRST HALF. pic.twitter.com/D64crt3Px0

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 16, 2018

He finished the game with five receptions and a team-high 127 yards.

ASU couldn’t convert this pass into a touchdown, though. On fourth-and-one, Wilkins was forced to scramble and was sacked.

It was the first red zone visit in 64 tries in which ASU did not score, according to the CBS Sports broadcast. The previous time was in 2016.

The failure cost ASU. The Aztecs got the ball back at their 15-yard line with 1:41 remaining and drove for a touchdown with eight seconds remaining in the second quarter.

At the end of the half, the teams were tied at 14.

Wilkins was 18-for-23 with 235 yards, one passing and one rushing touchdown at that time.