Demario Richard, Kweishi Brown lead ASU to Sun Bowl victory

The ASU football team poses for photos with the Sun Bowl trophy, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014 at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso. The Sun Devils defeated the Blue Devils 36-31. (Ben Moffat/The State Press)

EL PASO-- After being burned all day by senior wide receiver Jamison Crowder, junior defensive back Kweishi Brown got redemption when it mattered most.

With 45 seconds remaining in the game and holding a 36-31 lead, he intercepted a throw from Duke senior quarterback Anthony Boone intended for Crowder.

ASU took a knee to finish the game, winning the Sun Bowl and ending the seniors’ college careers on a positive note.

“For us to line up in victory formation for my last game was unbelievable,” redshirt senior quarterback Taylor Kelly said.

This interception was not Brown’s first impactful defensive play. In the third quarter, with Duke driving down field, Brown forced a fumble from redshirt senior wide receiver Issac Blakeney at the seven-yard line. It allowed ASU to take a 13-point lead and maintain momentum.

ASU needed the momentum. After going up 20-3 in the second quarter on nearly flawless play, Duke made a comeback. In a second quarter stretch lasting for about six minutes, Duke scored two touchdowns.

ASU dominated in the third quarter. The Sun Devils went up 30-17 and looked to be in control heading into the fourth.

Boone was finding his groove, though, and he formed a strong tandem with junior running back Shaquille Powell. Powell rushed for 117 yards on 29 carries and reeled in three catches for 52 yards, including a touchdown.

As much as Duke’s play allowed them to come back, their coaching did too. They needed their entire playbook to catch up to ASU in the fourth quarter.

Trailing 30-24 and in the end zone, Boone started to scramble in the pocket and appeared to be peeling out to make a run. This was not rare: Boone’s footwork and ability to run is as good as any quarterback ASU’s seen.

Instead of passing the line of scrimmage though, he halted before firing a pass on a screen play to sophomore wide receiver Johnell Barnes to make it a one-possession game.

His footwork was not the only impressive Duke quarterback. Sophomore quarterback Thomas Sirk came in for two third-and-one plays. Both times, ASU failed to recognize and stop the run.

They also didn’t recognize a potential fake punt scenario. Duke, trailing 30-24, was fourth-and-long with about seven minutes remaining. Redshirt junior punter Will Monday completed a 30-yard pass to Barnes to keep the team alive.

“I made couple of really bad calls,” Graham said. “But (the players) said, ‘Coach, don’t worry about that. We’re not losing this game.”

Later in the drive, Duke got into the red zone, but on the first play, redshirt senior Damarious Randall appeared to pick off Boone’s throw to Crowder. After review, it hit the ground. Duke lived to see another play.

A trick play later, they took the lead.

Boone handed the ball off to Crowder, who, on the left side of the field, lobbed a left-handed pass to an open Blakeney. Duke took a 31-30 lead.

Everything was changed. Duke had the lead, and it appeared that Kelly would have to lead his team to another comeback victory.

Instead, two freshman running backs took care of the duties. Kalen Ballage returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards

“(Ballage) kind of had this freshman look on his face and I… motivated him,” Graham said.

Ballage described that “freshman look” as him being calm. He said when he’s calm, he’s focused, which often confuses others into thinking he’s not paying attention.

In addition to Graham, the Duke fans and cheerleaders motivated him. He heard their mocks and returned the ball, setting up Demario Richard into a position to put it away.

Richard’s four-yard touchdown was his fourth of the day. He tied the ASU record for most touchdowns in a bowl game, set in the 1972 Fiesta Bowl. For his efforts, Richard was named MVP of the game.

“It’s a great feeling,” Richard said. “It’s a great win, but it’s now the time to get back to work in the offseason.”

Duke did its best to make his trophy meaningless. The Blue Devils drove down the field quickly, and Crowder caught a 43-yard pass. With fewer than two minutes left, Duke could take their time getting into the best position possible.

Powell received three consecutive rushes before Boone turned to Crowder again.

Brown was there.

“(It was a) good-thrown football,” Crowder said. “Their guy just made a play and came down with it.”

Duke head coach David Cutfliffe said that Brown used his physical play and bigger frame to legally get in better position to make the interception. ASU managed to escape with a victory.

“I say it all the time,” Graham said. “The character, the discipline, there’s not way they were going to finish any other way than being champions.”