SUN DEVILS
pared to 393 for the Beavers, who defeated ASU for the first time since 2014.
Luton completed 26 of 35 passes with no turnovers. He did his best work in the first half, connecting on 15 of 18 for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
Fans celebrated with players on the field after the game.
“I ran over to the family section, we were gonna like sing the fight song,” Luton said. “I turned around and saw the huge pile and ran back out there and celebrated with everyone. It was a lot of fun.”
It’s been a long time coming. The Beavers last Pac-12 home win came against Oregon in the 2016 Civil War.
Smith, in his second season, inherited a team that was 1-11 in 2017.
“It starts with the players and then choosing to go to work and believe,” said Smith, who was the starting quarterback on OSU’s Fiesta Bowl team of 2000.
ASU was in position to score the game-tying touchdown with 10 minutes left, but Benjamin fumbled at the 1 after a hit by safety David Morris. The ball was recovered in the end zone by safety Jalen Moore for a touchback.
Tight end Noah Togiai’s 12-yard touchdown reception, which featured a highlight-reel leap over Jones at the 5, extended the Beavers’ lead to 35-21 at 4:14 of the third quarter. He had his best game of the season with a team-high eight receptions for 76 yards and one touchdown.
“I just went out and played the same as I always do,” Togiai said. “I just got a little more opportunity to make plays and Jake was feeding me the ball.”
The score was set up by defensive end Simon Sandberg’s strip sack of Daniels, whose fumble was recovered by linebacker Riley Sharp at the Sun Devils’ 28yard line.
Back came the Sun Devils.
A 56-yard pass to Aiyuk, who got behind OSU’s secondary, led to an 8-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams, cutting the lead to 35-28 at 2:19 of the third quarter.
Artavis Pierce fumbled the ball away after a hit by defensive end Roe Wilkins on the ensuing possession — the Beavers’ first lost fumble of the season — and ASU took over on OSU’s 41.
But the Beavers’ defense stepped up. Linebacker Omar Speights’ 13-yard sack of Daniels on third-and-long forced a punt.
After not scoring an offensive touchdown in last week’s 19-7 loss to Washington, OSU took the opening kickoff and went 80 yards on eight plays, culminated by Luton’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Jesiah Irish.
THE TAKEAWAY
Arizona State: The Sun Devils have to beat Oregon or Arizona to become bowl eligible for the ninth time in the last 10 years. … Benjamin, who rushed for a school-record 312 yards in last season’s 52-24 win over the Beavers in Tempe, Arizona had 70 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown Saturday. … Williams extended his streak to 38 games with at least one reception, the fourth-longest current streak in the FBS.