ASU fighting uphill battle with double-digit deficit in Peach Bowl vs. Texas

ASU appeared outmatched for much of the first half of Wednesday’s Peach Bowl, as Texas scored with ease and the Sun Devils struggled to string together successful drives on offense.

After ASU got on the board first with a field goal at the end of a drive that took 6:01 and benefitted from two Texas penalties, the Longhorns needed just two plays from scrimmage to take a 14-3 lead, spurred by a 54-yard catch-and-run by Texas receiver Matthew Golden.

DeAndre Moore Jr. scored the touchdown on a 23-yard catch before Silas Bolden took an ASU punt 75 yards for a score. The Sun Devils responded with back-to-back three-and-outs.

Fourth-down calls critical for ASU in first half of Peach Bowl

The next time ASU had the ball, it took an 11-play drive nearly into the red zone before it was faced with a fourth-and-two well inside range for what kicker Carston Kieffer had established on the first drive.

“We came to win the football game,” Kenny Dillingham told the ESPN broadcast at the quarter break and ahead of the fourth-down decision. “Probably will (go for it).”

The call was a run to Cam Skattebo straight ahead in a jumbo package, which the Texas front bottled up.

The following Longhorns drive was aided by a pass interference penalty by Myles Rowser, who made a massive mistake in timing when the ball would get to the receiver. It was the first penalty of the game by the Sun Devils.

When the drive had stalled and the Longhorns lined up to attempt a field goal, the ASU defense was called for offsides. With a fresh fourth-and-two in front of Texas, it found Matthew Golden for the red zone conversion and eventually tacked on a field goal to make it 17-3.

ASU went for it again its next time out after its offense worked into Texas territory, and Leavitt was sacked on the fourth-down try.

Arizona State started to build momentum with a successful fake punt toward the end of the first half that resulted in a field goal attempt that Texas blocked before the halftime buzzer sounded, taking the 17-3 lead into the locker room.

Follow along with Peach Bowl coverage on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.