ASU blown out at Texas Tech as critical weaknesses remain on offense and defense

Arizona State did not stay competitive for very long in a 53-25 loss at No. 10 Texas Tech on Saturday, as it was unable to correct large areas of concern that are now characteristic of the group.

Even before ASU quarterback Cutter Boley threw an early pick-six that would be his first of two interceptions in the half before getting benched, the defense was porous in coverage and at times looked helpless when trying to bring down Texas Tech ball carriers.

The offensive line wasn’t doing its part to give Boley time, but the first interception was well behind his intended receiver and the second was a forced throw near the end of the first half.

The issues with protection, coverage and tackling were not new, but ASU has been unable to correct them to this point.

“At the end of the day, our guys didn’t quit in the football game,” head coach Kenny Dillingham told reporters postgame. “It’s disgusting to measure a game off of your guys’ quit ’cause it means you got your butt kicked. But it does tell you what the locker room thinks.

“Nobody’s coming to save us. We got to get better in a hurry. It’s a broken record from me up here but there’s nothing else to say. … We can’t miss that many tackles. We can’t not make the trip on some things. We can’t turn the ball over like we did. We just got to get drastically better in the key areas of the game.”

The Red Raiders (6-0, 3-0 in Big 12) had 404 total yards in the first half, while the Sun Devils (3-3, 1-2) had less than half that (173). Despite being only two minutes behind Texas Tech in time of possession for the half, ASU ran 14 fewer plays.

It was 21-0 after less than 12 minutes, and ASU pulled within 24-10 before that ballooned to 43-10 by the end of the half. It could’ve easily been 50-10 because Texas Tech fumbled as it neared the goal line on its opening drive.

ASU’s lone first-half touchdown was a 74-yard connection between Boley and Raiden Vines-Bright on a play that accounted for nearly half of ASU’s offensive production with Boley at the wheel.

The protection issues were not fixed by switching Tana Alo-Tupuola and Wade Helton at center and right guard, with the pair returning to the lineup after missed time.

Veteran backup Mikey Keene replaced Boley in the second half and led a much smoother offense, albeit against a defense that was rightfully on cruise control, one that didn’t have any film on Keene in an ASU uniform.

Keene threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns on 74% passing to outdo Boley’s 124 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on 50% passing.

Dillingham said he’ll assess the starting quarterback for ASU’s next game against Kansas State after reviewing the tape, declining to name a starter postgame.

Freshman standout Cardae Mack was limited in what he could do on the ground at seven carries for 27 yards, but he ran in a touchdown pass that he caught from Keene. Derek Eusebio, who had nine snaps on the year before Saturday as he dealt with injuries, caught seven passes for 89 yards to lead the team in both categories.

Just about every Red Raider gashed ASU every touch they had (7.8 yards per play), led by career days for running back J’Koby Williams (165 yards and two touchdowns) and wide receiver Kenny Johnson (120 yards on seven catches).

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