Stanford beats Arizona State, ends 2-game losing streak.
Stanford snaps two-game slide by edging ASU
As time expired with Arizona State 18 yards from the end zone, Sun Devils quarterback Manny Wilkins threw the ball as high as he could — and not in celebration.
For the first time in three games, it was Stanford’s opponent that was frustrated in the end.
Stanford (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) overcame another slow start to snap a two-game losing streak with a 20-13 win on Thursday night in Tempe, Arizona, keeping its Pac-12 North Division championship hopes alive and avoiding its first three-game losing streak under coach David Shaw.
Leading 20- 6 in the fourth quarter, Stanford went ultra- conservative, running all six times on its next two possessions — including twice on third-and-12.
The Sun Devils took advantage the first time, getting a 5-yard scramble by Wilkins to get within 20-13 with 7:50 remaining. Arizona State got the ball back on its 12-yard line with 2:20 left and moved deep into Stanford territory. On second
down from the 20, Wilkins threw a pass in the middle of the field despite having no timeouts, allowing time to run out.
Asked what was going through his mind during that final ASU drive, Shaw said: “What’s going through my mind is that we played like crap for two weeks, so it would be good to get a win.”
Stanford has been outscored 41-14 in the first quarter this season, and the trend continued as Arizona State led 3-0 after the first quarter. The Sun Devils (3-4, 1-3) completed a 51-yard pass on their scoring drive, giving themmore yards in one play than the Cardinal had in the entire quarter (38).
But after turning it over just twice all season — the fewest in the country — the Sun Devils committed two turnovers in Stanford territory in the second quarter to let the Cardinal back in the game.
First, Bobby Okereke stripped Wilkins on a designed run, and Thomas Booker recovered at the Stanford 34. It was the first fumble in 710 rushing plays for the Sun Devils. Then senior linebacker Sean Barton got his first career interception, snuffing out a trick play and picking off a wide receiver pass byN’Keal Henry at the Stanford 11.
Stanford didn’t force any turnovers during its twogame losing streak. Both turnovers Thursday led to short field goals for the Cardinal, which went into halftime with a 6-3 lead.
After the Sun Devils tied it at 6- 6 on the first possession of the second half, Stanford’s offense finally matched the stellar play of its defense, putting together 75- and 80-yard touchdown drives to pull ahead.
JJ Arcega- Whiteside broke the tie with a 28-yard touchdown catch — his ninth of the season, secondmost inthe FBS— toput the Cardinal up 13- 6 with 7:55 left in the third quarter.
Then on its next drive, Stanford achieved its best run- pass balance of the game. QB K. J. Costello completed all three of his attempts for 46 yards and Cameron Scarlett had four carries for 31 yards, including a 1-yard TD run tomake it 20- 6.
Despite having his hand stepped on two plays into the second quarter, Costello finished 22 of 29 passing for 231 yards.
Arizona State’s Eno Benjamin was coming off three straight 100-yard rushing games — and Stanford’s defense had allowed 100-yard rushers in three straight games — but Benjamin finished with 38 yards on 11 carries.
Still, Stanford couldn’t get much going on the ground either. After missing the previous game with an ankle injury, Bryce Love started against the Sun Devils but gained 21 yards on 11 carries before limping off again early in the third quarter.
Love did not return, though not for lack of trying. Shaw said Love wanted back in, but “I was not going to let that happen.”
Shaw expressed confidence that Love would be ready to go when Stanford returns to action Oct. 27 at home against 25th-ranked Washington State.