LT Welch nabs pick-6 for second ASU touchdown in 10-second span vs. UCF
Nov 9, 2024, 7:03 PM | Updated: Nov 10, 2024, 12:30 am
TEMPE — Momentum turned in ASU football’s favor at the end the first half on Saturday, as cornerback LT Welch snatched a pick-six after the Sun Devils scored on UCF less than 10 seconds earlier.
Two touchdowns in the final minute?
The Sun Devils finished the first half in style. pic.twitter.com/wWvoQqML97
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) November 10, 2024
Welch is coming off a career outing against Oklahoma State, after which he was named to PFF’s national team of the week. In addition to his pick-six, he had three tackles in the first half on Saturday.
“As soon as I looked up, I saw the ball and I said, ‘Okay, okay,'” Welch said. “That’s my first ever pick-six, so I’m glad I could do it for the team and put our team in the spot we were in.”
The interception was the first play after UCF’s true freshman kick returner Christian Peterson muffed a kick that he slowly took out of the end zone before getting tackled. The play was checked for a safety.
RELATED STORIES
The Sun Devils had just scored on a balanced nine-play drive culminating in a Chamon Metayer touchdown catch.
The special teams were already having a productive day, as Montana Warren returned a blocked punt for the Sun Devils’ first points of the game.
With the touchdowns provided by the special teams and defense, ASU outscored UCF 21-17 in the first half with half as many offensive drives (three to six).
ASU coach Kenny Dillingham has emphasized the “middle eight” throughout his tenure, referring to the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half.
“Game changing for us,” Dillingham said postgame.
The touchdowns, less than 10 seconds of game time apart from each other, went a great deal toward Arizona State winning the important segment, as the Sun Devils were unable to add onto the total at the start of the second half.
ASU is leading the segment 63-13 over its opponents this season, per Sun Devil Athletics.
Arizona State finished the job, defeating UCF 35-31 on Saturday to move to 7-2 on the season.
