ASU defense turns in multiple 2nd half stops in upset win vs. Washington

While its offense was clicking all game, Arizona State’s defense delivered many key stops in the second half of Saturday’s 45-38 upset win vs. Washington at Sun Devil Stadium.

Trailing 24-17, the Huskies boldly went for it on 4th-and-1 at their 32-yard line. ASU defenders Khoury Bethley and Merlin Robertson turned an end-around run into a 3-yard loss and the Sun Devils took over on downs.

On ASU’s ensuing possession, backup quarterback Trenton Bourguet tossed his second touchdown pass of the game, a 10-yarder to Elijah Badger, to give the Sun Devils a 31-17 lead.

Bourguet entered the game after starting quarterback Emory Jones was removed following a hit to the head by Washington’s Asa Turner in the second quarter. He finished 15-of-21 for 182 yards, three passing touchdowns and one interception.

The first major defensive stop of the game for the Sun Devils came when the team forced a pick-six in the second quarter to stretch their lead to 14 points.

DB Jordan Clark took a deflected pass off a helmet and walked the ball into the endzone.

Bird's eye view of the @Jclark21_ pick six 🤌#ForksUp | #O2V pic.twitter.com/FNyZlJguqe

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) October 8, 2022

In one of the final stands, ASU’s defense forced Washington into a 4th-and-10 at the Sun Devils’ 45-yard line. ASU blitzed QB Michael Penix Jr. and forced an incomplete pass.

ASU punted on the next possession giving Washington a chance to tie the game with just under three mins left. On the 1st-and-10, the Sun Devils sacked Penix Jr. for a 10-yard drop and forced the Huskies to burn much of the clock without a timeout.

After Washington drove much of the field, a wild snap forced the Huskies into a 4th-and-35 with five seconds left, which they did not convert.

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