Tempe, AZ – Sun Devil football unveiled a new helmet design tonight for the “maroon monsoon” matchup with the USC Trojans. Fans loved the new sharp look, but the real work had to be done on the field in the Pac-12 South opener for both teams. The Sun Devils added substance to style and crushed the Trojans 62-41 at Sun Devil Stadium.
The new helmet design unveiled by the Sun Devils tonight.
First Quarter
The Sun Devil offense came out of the gate determined, focused and fast, and took the opening drive 75 yards on 10 plays for a touchdown. The drive included two long pass plays to Chris Coyle and a one yard scoring run from Michael Eubank.
The ASU defense held on USC’s first possession and got the ball back with some momentum. Then things stalled out a bit for the Sun Devil offense.
The Trojans put together a scoring drive of their own on an 8 play, 89 yard march that ended with a 26 yard touchdown run by Justin Davis. Score tied at the end of the first quarter 7-7.
Second Quarter
The Trojan offensive line continued to bust open huge holes for the USC running backs as they started to run wild on the ASU defense. Surprising since entering the game, USC ranked last in the Pac-12 in total offense. The Trojans put more points on the board when QB Cody Kessler hit Tre Madden for a 10 yard TD pass, increasing the USC lead to 14-7. The USC drive was 7 plays and 77 yards.
The ASU offense needed to respond badly and they did. Taylor Kelly marched the Devils down the field on a quick 4 play, 79 yard scoring drive, capped off by an 11 yard TD pass to Marion Grice.
The score was tied at 14-14, when Osahon Irabor intercepted a USC pass that was tipped by a Trojan receiver. ASU was able to capitalize with 3 more points on a 28 yard Zane Gonzalez field goal.
With less than 3 minutes left in the half, Alden Darby recovered a USC fumble, their second turnover of the night. Kelly and the ASU offense took advantage and added on another Gonzalez field goal before halftime.
HALFTIME SCORE: ASU 20 – USC 14
Alden Darby had two picks and a fumble recovery tonight.
Third Quarter
USC received the kick in the second half and didn’t waste any time getting to the endzone. They scored on a 3 play, 75 yard drive that only took :46 seconds. Trojan running back Tre Madden took it in on a 26 yard touchdown run. USC took the lead 21-20.
The Sun Devils decided not to waste any time either as Kelly found DJ Foster wide open and deep across the middle for a 74 yard scoring strike to regain the lead for ASU, 27-21.
On the next USC possession, Alden Darby did it again with a 46 yard interception return for a touchdown. Darby did the same thing last year at USC and ASU took a commanding lead at 34-21, the turning point in the game.
The Sun Devil offense continued to apply pressure on their next drive and scored again, this time on a 8 yard pass from Kelly to Marion Grice. ASU was in charge with 9:55 left in the quarter, leading the Trojans 41-21.
Darby wasn’t done. He picked up another interception for his third turnover recovery on the night when the Trojans went for it on 4th down.
Following the turnover, the Devils went 44 yards on 4 plays in 57 seconds to score again, taking a commanding lead 48-21. Grice found the endzone again on a 5 yard touchdown run.
End of the third quarter ASU 48 – USC 21.
Fourth Quarter
USC didn’t give up and scored early in the fourth quarter on a 48 touchdown run to cut the lead to 48 – 27. They followed that up with a recovery of an onside kick, and drove down the field to score again, trimming the Sun Devil lead to 48-34 with 9:54 left in the game.
On the next ASU possession, Marion Grice decided to put this one on ice with a 28 yard touchdown run to increase the Sun Devil lead to 55-34 with 7:09 left.
To finish off the Trojans, Deantre Lewis scored his first touchdown of the season to increase the ASU lead to 62-34.
USC tacked on one more long touchdown run late to make the final score from Tempe, ASU 62-41.
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