ASU used its running game to overpower the Colorado Buffaloes (5-5, 2-5 Pac-12) by the score of 41-30. The Sun Devils (5-4, 4-2 Pac-12) rushed for 381 yards as a team, 189 coming from senior running back Demario Richard.
The Buffaloes got off to an early 3-0 lead with a 34-yard field goal from freshman kicker James Stefanou in the first quarter. Colorado converted on three third downs on the drive but stalled in the red zone.
ASU used running plays from redshirt junior quarterback Manny Wilkins and Richard to put the team in scoring position, all for freshman kicker Brandon Ruiz to miss a 45-yard field goal. Colorado maintained its slim lead after the first quarter.
The Buffaloes built a 10-0 lead after the miss with a six-yard touchdown run from redshirt senior running back Phillip Lindsay. His untouched score came with 11:46 left in the second quarter.
After stuffing Colorado on fourth and short, the Sun Devils made it 10-7 with a 20-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver N'Keal Harry on a back shoulder fade route. Wilkins scrambled for 28 rushing yards on that drive.
Colorado extended its lead with just over a minute remaining in the first half on a one-yard rush from Lindsay.
But the Sun Devils made things interesting before halftime. ASU quickly drove down the field, ending with Wilkins tossing a perfect pass to sophomore wide receiver Kyle Williams for a 25-yard touchdown.
The Sun Devils almost scored again, as ASU recovered a mishandled squib kick, putting the Sun Devils in long field goal range. Ruiz's 55-yard field goal was no good and ASU trailed 17-14 at the half.
The third quarter began with both teams stalling, but Colorado did not take long to get on the board, this time by punching in a 53-yard field goal, giving the Buffaloes a 20-14 advantage with 11:02 left in the third quarter.
ASU responded with a 15-play, 59-yard scoring drive capped off with a 34-yard field goal from Ruiz.
Colorado retook a ten-point lead when sophomore quarterback Steven Montez threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Shay Fields, who was wide open after bursting past ASU sophomore cornerback Kobe Williams. The Buffaloes led 27-17 after the third quarter.
Once the fourth quarter came around, the Sun Devils were driving deep in Colorado territory, but only came away with a 37-yard field goal after their offense stalled in the red zone.
It did not take long for ASU to find the end zone, however. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Khaylan Thomas blocked a Colorado punt, and the Sun Devils capitalized on the turnover with a five-yard score from Richard.
The Buffaloes knocked in a field goal from 28 yards out to break the 27-27 tie. A 60-yard reception from Lindsay spurred the scoring drive.
On the following drive, ASU used its running game to take its first lead of the game. Richard chipped in with a 40-yard scamper, and freshman running back Eno Benjamin put the Sun Devils ahead on a spinning 19-yard score.
ASU continued to successfully run the ball against Colorado, as Richard belted off a 63-yard run on the team's next possession. Wilkins ran the ball in himself for a one-yard score to put the Sun Devils up 41-30 with less than a minute left on the clock.
Senior safety Chad Adams intercepted a Montez pass in the end zone as time ran out to seal the win for ASU.
The Sun Devils will retake the field on Nov. 11 to face the UCLA Bruins in California.
Reach the reporter at mpharri7@asu.edu or follow @Harris_Mark7 on Twitter.
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