ASU football had gone without a touchdown at California Memorial Stadium since the 8:46 mark of the second quarter.
Then redshirt senior quarterback Mike Bercovici found redshirt sophomore tight end Raymond Epps for his first career touchdown catch to take a 46-45 lead.
California quarterback Jared Goff orchestrated a game-winning drive spanning 69 yards over nine plays to set up sophomore kicker Matt Anderson's first game winning field goal, as the Golden Bears (7-5) edged the Sun Devils (6-6) 48-46 Saturday night.
After taking a 17-point lead into the locker room at halftime, the Sun Devils struggled in the third quarter, Goff caught fire, tossing a pair of touchdown passes as part of a 21-6 run to bring Cal within two, the closest they'd been all game.
ASU senior wide receiver Devin Lucien had six catches,(including three for touchdowns) and 107 yards in the first half alone, but cooled off substantially in the second half. His 51-yard catch brought the Sun Devils down to the 10 yard line, but ASU's red zone struggles continued to plague them.
The Sun Devil offense stalled inside Cal's 20-yard line frequently, as junior kicker Zane Gonzalez set a school record with six field goals, four of which game in the second half.
Goff began to exploit the ASU secondary, hitting sophomore wide receiver Chad Hansen for a 52-yard gain that sparked a six-play, 94-yard scoring drive that elapsed just 1:17, capped by sophomore running back Tre Hanson's five-yard touchdown run.
For every successful Gonzalez try, Goff and Co. responded with an efficient touchdown drive.
Goff burned the ASU secondary for several explosive plays in the second half, two of which went for touchdowns of at least 49 yards – the game-winning score to senior wide receiver Darius Powe and junior running back Khalfani Muhammad, a 58-yarder.
ASU awaits its bowl destination following the College Football Playoff Selection show on Dec. 7.
Reach the sports editor at smodrich@asu.edu or follow @StefanJModrich on Twitter.
Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow @statepressport on Twitter.
