For days preceding its clash with Oregon, the ASU football team brushed off questions about a possible letdown following an emotional loss to top-ranked USC.
But the energy never materialized for the Sun Devils, and the Ducks were right there to take advantage.
After spotting ASU 10 points, Oregon took over every aspect of the game on its way to a 31-17 win in front of 62,789 on Saturday night at Sun Devil Stadium.
"We didn't show up tonight," senior wide receiver Derek Hagan said. "It seemed like guys minds weren't really into the game too much. Some guys were there, other guys weren't there."
The loss dealt a fatal blow to any chance of a BCS berth, and suddenly turns an ASU squad thought to be on the rise into a .500 team with a losing conference record. The Sun Devils (3-3, 1-2) now sit in seventh place in the Pac-10, a half-game behind Stanford.
"There's plenty of blame to go around," ASU coach Dirk Koetter said. "Tonight, we got out-coached, and we got outplayed. It's not a fun feeling."
ASU seemed to be delivering on its promise to show up after putting up 10 points in the first 10 minutes. Junior quarterback Sam Keller hit Hagan with a 20-yard touchdown pass, and an interception by senior linebacker Jamar Williams resulted in a 34-yard field goal by Jesse Ainsworth for the 10-0 lead.
But Oregon refused to fold, scoring 13 points in the second quarter to go into intermission ahead by three.
"As soon as Oregon came back and tied it up, I thought we really started doubting ourselves," Koetter said. "I could feel our players on the sideline doubting if we were going to be OK. You can't play this game that way."
The Ducks started the second half the same way they ended the first.
Freshman walk-on kicker Matt Evensen hit a 42-yard field goal - his third of the day - and a blocked punt later in the quarter gave Oregon the ball at the ASU 1-yard line. Terrence Whitehead punched it in, and the Ducks had a 24-10 advantage.
ASU answered on a touchdown pass from Keller to Zach Miller, and had a golden opportunity to tie the game. Junior safety Zach Catanese intercepted a Kellen Clemens pass at the Oregon 40, and ASU advanced the ball to the 25.
But like he did against USC, Keller threw a costly interception within scoring distance.
The defense stoned the Ducks twice on the ASU 1-yard line for a turnover on downs, but the Sun Devils would be done scoring.
"Once the offense gets on the field, we expect to make plays," Hagan said. "We just didn't make any plays tonight."
Terrence Whitehead led the charge for Oregon. He gained 122 yards on the ground and another 100 through the air and scored twice.
Oregon outgained ASU 234-53 rushing the ball. A play with 9:05 remaining summed up the day for ASU.
A Clemens pass went directly to ASU linebacker Robert James, who had the ball squirt right through his hands. Safety Jeremy Payton also had a chance at the easy pick, but couldn't corral it. Either player likely would have returned the ball for a score.
ASU gets a much needed bye week next. Two starting offensive lineman, Zach Krula and Andrew Carnahan didn't play, and two others, Stephen Berg and Grayling Love, played hurt. Keller suffered a shoulder injury in the contest, and Koetter said he considered pulling him from the game.
The Sun Devils will return to action at Stanford on Oct. 22.
"(The bye week) would probably be better if we were coming off a win, but it is what it is," Koetter said. "We've got to make the best of it at this point."
Reach the reporter at kyle.odegard@asu.edu.
