There are a variety of misplays that can hinder a football team throughout the game.
Be it a crucial penalty, missed route, dropped pass, or even a sack for loss. But nothing gives the opposing team an edge more than a turnover.
A fumble or interception immediately shifts the game’s momentum to the other side and hands the ball in the opponent’s offense.
Turnovers were the name of the game in the ASU football team’s 35-14 drubbing of Utah this past Saturday. The No. 18 Sun Devils (5-1, 3-0 Pac-12) forced the Utes (2-3, 0-3) offense to turn the ball over an astounding five times.
“We've been getting turnovers the last three or four games, and that's what it's all about,” coach Dennis Erickson said. “You look every year at the stats and the best teams are ahead in the turnover margin. That's what happened today. They had five and we didn't have any. Usually you win football games like that.”
Just one week ago, it was the Sun Devils who were bitten by the turnover bug. ASU’s first three offensive possessions against Oregon State resulted in disheartening turnovers. Junior quarterback Brock Osweiler was picked off twice and fumbled once.
But things were different for ASU in Salt Lake City as the defense managed to wreak havoc on Utah junior quarterback Jon Hays and the Utah offense for the majority of the game.
Three different ASU defenders collected an interception, and the Sun Devils have now tallied 14 turnovers in their previous three games.
“We just talked about it,” senior safety Clint Floyd said. “When we talk about turnovers, we actually get them. So we go out there and we work hard. Everybody runs to the ball and a turnover will happen.”
Sophomore safety Alden Darby reeled in ASU’s first interception of the afternoon by picking off Hays’ pass early in the second quarter. He’s caught three interceptions in the past two games.
“He’s just a playmaker,” Floyd said. “You can put him anywhere nickel, linebacker, corner, safety, it doesn’t make a difference. He just loves the game. He’s trying to make plays.”
Later in the second, senior safety Eddie Elder corralled one of Hays’s passes in the end zone for a touchback. That pick came after Elder worked with wide receivers during the week to improve his catching. He dropped several interceptions against OSU.
“It was a relief, honestly,” Elder said. “I know I don’t have the best hands, but I know I have hands to bring in interceptions. Dropping three was out of the ordinary.”
The ASU defense forced turnovers on three straight Utah drives. It started in the third quarter when senior linebacker Shelly Lyons forced Utah junior running back John White to fumble and junior defensive end Greg Smith recovered for ASU.
Utah’s next offensive possession saw Floyd grab an interception on the Utes’ 32-yard line.
Utah’s fifth and final turnover came in the fourth quarter when junior wide receiver Reggie Dunn fumbled with 14:12 left in the game. Floyd sparked the fumble and Lyons pounced on the loose ball for the Sun Devils.
ASU took full advantage of the recovered fumble by marching downfield on a 10-play scoring drive that resulted in a 12-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Mike Willie.
With Saturday’s win over Utah, ASU solidified itself atop the Pac-12 South. Turnovers, undoubtedly, helped the Sun Devils do so.
"You practice the same way,” Erickson said. “It's a matter of emphasis, there's no question about that. But, we've had some interceptions and our secondary is playing better all the time, and that makes a big difference.”
Reach the reporter at greg.dillard@asu.edu
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