Redshirt junior defensive lineman Ami Latu scoops a fumble from WSU quarterback Luke Falk in the 4th quarter. (Photo by Alexis Macklin)As Washington State wide receiver Isiah Myers vaulted into the end zone to give the Cougars a 21-7 advantage with just under five minutes remaining in the first half — reality sunk in for the Sun Devils. Despite WSU being 3-7 on the year, the Cougars fully intended to give ASU a fight, and the Sun Devils had to adjust defensively to regain control of the lead and ultimately the game.
The last time the Sun Devils were at home, they punished turnover-prone Everett Golson and a struggling Notre Dame offense — capitalizing on every mistake that he made. Against a much less formidable opponent in Washington State, however, the Sun Devils failed to pressure rookie quarterback Luke Falk, allowing him to gash the defense early on for big gains to set up scores.
While the offense was sputtering (five three-and-outs on their first six possessions) the defense surrendered over 300 yards of total offense in the first half. Credit the defensive group, however, for they merely bent but did not break, and in fact broke through at the end of the half with an interception from senior defensive back Marcus Hardison that set up the tying score, a touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore receiver Frederick Gammage, 21-21.
Hardison was clearly antsy to get his piece of the senior day fun, perhaps too antsy as he collected two offsides penalties in the first half. The senior would eventually settle in and would have his standout moments that would help turn the tide for ASU.
“I think (Hardison) has really matured,” coach Todd Graham said. “When (Will Sutton) left we challenged (Hardison) … and demanded more out of him. I’ve told him from the beginning what his potential was and it just clicked about four weeks ago — he has just played with unbelievable confidence.”
Coming out of halftime, the Sun Devils completed an about-face on the defensive front. Where Falk had been given all the time in the world to throw the ball downfield in the first half, he was given the pain in the second half, with both freshman Tashon Smallwood and redshirt sophomore linebacker Salamo Fiso collecting sacks on the first three plays of the half. The Cougars would ultimately punt, and the Sun Devil defense would never look back.
When asked about the shift from one half’s failure to another's success, Graham said that the original game plan for how to defend the Cougars had to be trashed after surrendering the 14-point lead.
“(We planned) to rush four and play coverage. We were going to rush DJ, and we scrapped it all when it turned 21-7,” Graham said. “Then we went back to starting to do what we do, and we did a lot better job.”
The pressure would ultimately get to Falk, both physically and mentally. After being sacked early on in the half, the freshman quarterback would start to take chances down field, right where a hyped Sun Devil defense was waiting to capitalize.
And capitalize they did. The defense would blank the Cougars in the third quarter, forcing Falk to throw his second interception of the game to redshirt junior cornerback Kweishi Brown. Marcus Hardison would strip-sack Falk, and 360lb redshirt junior defensive lineman Ami Latu would scoop it up and stumble 51 yards down the field to set up a DJ Foster touchdown run (he had three rushing scores in the game).
The Sun Devils cashed in for 35 points off five Cougar turnovers throughout the game, enough to beat Washington State on its own.
Redshirt senior quarterback Taylor Kelly expressed his gratitude for the defense’s ability to fight through adversity and do their part to set the offense up with good field position, something Kelly emphasized as a key to winning football games.
“They helped us out tremendously,” Kelly said. “I can always count on them giving us great field position … Our defense is an attacking defense and I love to see what they do.”
Ultimately, defense won the game for the Sun Devils; it is also what many say wins championships. ASU will look for some help from USC to give the Sun Devil defense a chance to prove that mantra true next week in a possible Pac-12 South championship game versus Arizona next week in Tuscon.
Reach the reporter at csafran@asu.edu and follow him on Twitter @ChrisSafran
