ASU drops 4th straight
Benjamin fumble, failed go-ahead 2-point try, late PI cost Sun Devils at Oregon State
CORVALLIS, Ore. — For as much growth as Oregon State has displayed in year two of the Jonathan Smith era, a signature home victo- ry had eluded the Beavers. That is no longer the case. Jake Luton, one of 16 players honored during pregame festivities on senior day, passed for 288 yards and four touchdowns, leading Oregon State to a 35-34 victory over Arizona State on Saturday night.
“Senior day to come out here and get a win, feeling really good right now,” Luton said.
OSU: 5-5 overall, 4-3 Pac-12 ASU: 5-5 overall, 2-5 Pac-12
Oregon State’s defense came up with two secondhalf turnovers, and a key stop on a 2-point conversion attempt to help preserve the win.
The Beavers (5-5, 4-3 Pac12), who won just two games last season, are one victory away from becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2013. Arizona State (5-5, 2-5) lost its fourth consecutive game after a promising start.
“Honestly, we just kept on fighting,” said OSU linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr., who had two sacks and four tackles for loss. “We finished it and there’s nothing else to say. We did what we had to do.”
The outcome was in doubt until the final seconds.
On fourth-and-8 from the Beavers 12-yard line with less than two minutes left, ASU quarterback Jayden
Daniels delivered a strike over the middle to Brandon Aiyuk for a touchdown.
The Sun Devils elected to go for the 2-point conversion but running back Eno Benjamin had nowhere to go on a pitch left and his desperation heave into the end zone was intercepted by cornerback Nahshon Wright.
OSU recovered the ensuing onside kick and ASU never got the ball back.
“We’re playing to win,” ASU coach Herm Edwards said of going for two.
On fourth-and-2 from ASU’s 44 with 42 seconds left, Luton’s pass intended for Trevon Bradford was incomplete, but cornerback Jack Jones was called for pass interference to give the Beavers a first down to seal the win.
After a slow start, Daniels completed 24 of 36 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns. He missed the Sun Devils’ previous game against USC with a knee injury.
“I felt good. I wasn’t really thinking about my knee,” said Daniels, a true freshman. “I just wanted to win.”
Aiyuk had 10 catches for 173 yards and a score.
The Sun Devils had 408 total yards of offense com