ASU trick play, safety in 3rd quarter puts Sun Devils back in game
Dec 5, 2020, 11:04 PM | Updated: 11:07 pm
(AP Photo/Matt York)
Coming off three straight weeks of cancellations, Arizona State started the game against UCLA out of sorts. The Sun Devils trailed 17-3 at halftime, and they would have been shut out had it not been for a 42-yard kickoff return, 15-yard penalty and 49-yard field goal as the half closed.
They turned it around in the third quarter.
ASU ran a trick play in which Jayden Daniels threw a backward pass to the right to Ricky Pearsall, who then threw it across the field to the left side for a 51-yard catch-and-run by Rachaad White.
This led to a 10-yard Frank Darby touchdown.
🚨 DOUBLE PASS 🚨
🎥 @FS1 pic.twitter.com/7Ctudk6d7W
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) December 6, 2020
Tyler Johnson’s sack, his third of the game, helped ASU get possession back, and the Sun Devils again drove down field. They got to the one-yard line — but they stalled.
ASU botched a snap and UCLA recovered the fumble. The Sun Devils’ momentum appeared to be over.
But, inside the five-yard line, the defense held. The Bruins not only could not drive downfield, but ASU forced an intentional grounding in the end zone to pick up a safety.
With more than four minutes remaining in the quarter, ASU had cut a two-possession deficit into a five-point game.
The Sun Devils are looking to get the win and avoid an 0-2 start to a three-game season.
Listen live to the conclusion at 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.