GAMBLING DOESN’T PAY
Devils’ 4th-down failure helps seal loss to Beavers
Arizona State interim coach Shaun Aguano has said many times he doesn’t mind rolling the dice and gambling a bit, particularly offensively. But this time it didn’t quite pay off as the Sun Devils lost their regular season home finale against No. 23 Oregon State 31-7 Saturday afternoon.
Most notable was a play in the third quarter in which ASU (3-8, 2-6) went for a fourth-and-9 at its
own 41 trailing 21-7. The Sun Devils hadn’t had many gains on the day for that many yards and the offensive line had been struggling to give Bourguet adequate time to throw. The quarterback was rushed and had no chance to complete the fourth-down pass which was intended for Andre Johnson.
The turnover on downs gave the Beavers a short field, and the ASU defense had not necessarily been doing a good job getting stops. Instead of ASU getting the first down, Oregon State took over and needed just 11 plays, in going the 59 yards for a score that made it 28-7, putting the game seemingly out of reach.
“We didn’t have anything to lose and so a couple of times it was fourth-and-8 and we were way back in our territory and I had to punt it, but there was nothing to lose there so I made the choice to go for it,” he said.
ASU went on fourth time four times on the day, making two.
One of the fourth downs the Sun Devils did convert came on their second possession. It was a fourth-and-6 at the Oregon State 36 and Bourguet scrambled for a gain of 8. ASU worked the ball as far as the 15 on that possession but came up empty when a 29-yard field goal try by true freshman Carter Brown hit the goal post.
The other fourth down ASU succeeded on was a more manageable fourthand-1 at its own 34. That came in the fourth quarter with the Sun Devils down 28-7. Xazavian Valladay gained five yards on the play but the drive ended
with a punt four plays later.
On the season ASU has had some success, converting 10 of 17 tries (58.8%).
The ASU offense managed just 276 yards. Bourguet completed 20 of 37 tries but that went for just 122 yards, evidence that he had little time to find a receiver down field. Badger, the team’s leading receiver, had four catches for only 16 yards. The offensive line was down three starters with center Ben Scott, who dislocated an elbow in last week’s game, unable to play which snapped a team-best steak of 27 straight games started for him. The team’s best lineman, guard LaDarius Henderson (hand) was out for the fifth straight game after getting injured in the Oct. 8 game against Washington.
“They’re a sound defense and they did a good job of taking the deep stuff away, bringing some pressure early which hurt us offensively but we just have to learn from it and get ready for next week,” Bourguet said.
Seniors can’t get the win
Players and coaches said all week that although they weren’t playing for a bowl game they still had incentive because they wanted to end the seniors out on a winning note in their final game on their own field. That didn’t happen though.
The game marked the last home appearance for 16 players — offensive linemen LaDarius Henderson, Chris Martinez and Des Holmes, defensive linemen Nesta Jade Silvera, B’Ahmad Miller, Travez Moore and T.J. Pesefea, wide receivers Charles Hall IV and Bryan Thompson, fullback Case Hatch, linebackers Merlin Robertson and Kyle Soelle and defensive backs Timarcus Davis and Khoury Bethley, running back Xazavian Valladay and tight end Messiah Swinson.
“It’s been emotional, they way the season has gone,” Soelle said. “Never want your last year to go like that but it is what it is. You don’t get to pick the cards you’re dealt.”
Several returned to the field after talking with the coaches and teammates in the locker room to meet the family and pose for pictures on the field.
“Those players I shared a hug with before the game,” Aguano said. “That was special because they want the best for this team and they’ve shown it.”
Valladay the bright spot
ASU’s record means the Sun Devils aren’t likely going to have a lot of allconference recognition come the end of the season. One of the players most deserving however, is Valladay, a two-time All-Mountain West selection previously at Wyoming.
Valladay finished with 109 yards on 13 carries, marking the seventh game this season in which he ran for more than 100 yards.
That showing gave him 1,095 yards (on 191 carries) for the season, making this the third time he has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season. His season best of 134 yards came last week at Washington State.
Valladay scored ASU’s lone touchdown in the second quarter on an 11yard run which tied the score at 7-7. That was his 14th rushing touchdown. He also has two receiving touchdowns with those 16, twice as much as the team’s second-leading scorer in Badger.
Aguano feels particularly close to Valladay since he has been the team’s running backs coach.
“Valladay is special. He’s a workhorse and he’s going to do whatever it takes and I’m proud of him. He is the heart and soul of our football team. I’m proud of the way he goes about playing. He’ll never give up and he’ll always keep fighting.”
Next up
The Sun Devils close out the regular season on Friday with a 1 p.m. game against rival Arizona (4-7, 2-6) for the Territorial Cup, won by ASU the past five years.
The Wildcats were a 31-20 loser to Washington State in Tucson Saturday afternoon.
ASU won the showdown last season 38-10 in Tempe.