Redshirt senior De'Marieya Nelson rushes UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley in the second quarter of the Sun Devils' game against UCLA. (Photo by Andrew Ybanez)As if ASU's dismal end to the first half wasn't bad enough, it quickly made its own nightmare even worse just 19 seconds into the third quarter.
UCLA redshirt junior quarterback Brett Hundley found junior wide receiver Jordan Payton open on the right side. Payton beat both of ASU's safeties for an 80-yard touchdown, extending the Bruins' lead 34-17.
The ASU offense had a sluggish start in its first drive back, but an 11-yard catch by sophomore wide receiver Cam Smith, a 19-yard catch by redshirt junior Jaelen Strong and a 15-yard reception from redshirt freshman Ellis Jefferson kept the drive going. The 14-play, 68-yard drive ended with sophomore kicker Zane Gonzalez's 24-yard field goal.
But the nightmare still went on. UCLA junior cornerback Ishmael Adams returned the ensuing kickoff for 100 yards. ASU redshirt junior Mike Bercovici fumbled on the Sun Devils' 19 on the first play of the drive, and UCLA cleaned up with freshman running back Nate Starks' 1-yard touchdown two plays later.
Bercovici still kept fighting, as he led ASU on an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman wide receiver Ellis Jefferson. The Sun Devils got UCLA to punt after five plays, but ASU was stopped via turnover on downs at the top of the fourth quarter.
It took six plays for UCLA to move the ball on the ensuing drive as junior wide receiver Jordan Payton got his second touchdown pass of the game for five yards.
The ASU offense continued to work at its normal pace, as it worked up another 12-play drive. This time, it ended in no score as the UCLA defense stopped freshman running back Kalen Ballage on 4th-and-1 on the Bruins' goal line.
With under seven minutes left to go, Hundley stayed in despite a bad left elbow. Redshirt sophomore running back Paul Perkins broke out an easy 81-yard run on the first play of the drive. The Bruins powered their way and and finished it off with a 1-yard score from Hundley that put UCLA up 62-7.
ASU went for one more scoring attempt but got stopped on turnover on downs at UCLA's 40-yard line with 1:22 left.
Sixty-two points is the most ASU has ever allowed at Sun Devil Stadium in one game.
Reach the reporter at jnacion@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Josh_Nacion
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