Redshirt junior quarterback Mike Bercovici throws the game-winning touchdown pass to Jaelen Strong as time expired in a game against USC on Oct. 4 in Los Angeles.LOS ANGELES — He'd been waiting his entire collegiate career for a moment like this one. But not even the hero himself could have scripted this Hollywood-esque ending.
A last-second Hail-Mary from redshirt junior quarterback Mike Bercovici that fell into the arms of redshirt senior receiver Jaelen Strong erased any doubt that he was the man fit to cap a stunning 38-34 upset of the No. 16 USC Trojans.
Playing in his first ever game in front of his hometown family and friends, redshirt junior quarterback Mike Bercovici appeared initially to be overwhelmed by the spotlight.
He had the chance in the closing seconds to prove he'd earned a chance to play for a chance to bring down a Top 20 program in one of the most hostile environments in college football.
In his second start in place of redshirt senior Taylor Kelly, Bercovici finished 27-45 with five touchdowns and 510 yards.
If the backup decided to put on his accomplished cohort's jersey after halftime, few would have even noticed a difference in his play and what ASU fans have come to expect from Kelly over the years.
Battling the deafening crowd noise at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Bercovici converted on a crucial fourth-and-10 with just under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
The backup-turned-starter leaned on ASU's leading receiver, and rightfully so. The first two scores were to Strong, and ASU held a brief lead that it ceded just before halftime, as redshirt junior running back Javarious Allen scored with just under five minutes remaining in the half to cut to take its first lead of the night.
Individually, there were bright spots on the ASU defense, with redshirt junior defensive back Jordan Simone recording a career-best 20 tackles, and linebacker DJ Calhoun, who recorded a sack of USC quarterback, redshirt junior Cody Kessler.
Strong turned out a monstrous game in his own right — grabbing 10 catches for 202 yards — but it was also his first career multi-touchdown game, with the third one almost certainly his biggest yet.
Clearly the deeper and superior team, the Trojans weren't without their flaws. USC committed several critical penalties that extended ASU drives totaling nine flags for 60 yards, often occurring deep in USC territory and on later downs.
Even when it was able to establish an offensive rhythm, ASU wasn't able to capitalize on critical opportunities, and often settled for a field goal or a punt, after punting just once last week in a 62-27 loss to UCLA.
Special teams errors continued to plague an ASU team struggling to find an offensive identity and establish any semblance of a running game, including a punt return allowed for a touchdown from Nelson Agholor for 53 yards in the first quarter, and redshirt senior defensive back Damarious Randall muffed a punt in the end zone and had to settle for a touchback instead of a return.
An up-and-down game gave ASU plenty of reason to be optimistic about its Pac-12 South chances, with No. 8 UCLA going down at the hand of Utah 30-28 just down the road in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl.
After the Bruins emerged as a clear favorite and even a national championship contender, suddenly, UA is atop the standings of college football's most balanced division.
Understandably so, Graham's questionable timeout calls in the second half will most assuredly be forgiven by the ASU faithful in attendance and watching at home in Tempe.
Reach the assistant sports editor at smodrich@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @StefanJModrich
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