Arizona State’s trip to Stillwater didn’t pan out, loosing to Oklahoma State 34-17. Senior QB Spencer Sanders had a hand in 60% of the Cowboys scoring, connecting on 21-of-38 for 268 yards and 2 TD’s in addition to rushing 14 times for 54 yards and another score. Junior RB Dominic Richardson added another 131 yards and a score on 27 carries to add to Oklahoma State’s 465 yard total, 100+ more than the Sun Devils. Arizona State Junior QB Emory Jones was 12-of-23 for 223 yards and 1 TD while Senior RB Xazavian Valladay was responsible for 90% of their ground game, rusihing 21 times for 118 yards and 1 TD.
Scoring was at a premium for both teams at the beginning with Arizona State picking up a field goal on their first possession and leading 3-0 at the end of the 1st Qtr. But their next five possessions before the half consisted of 4 punts and a fumble. The Cowboys got going in the 2nd Qtr with 2 TD’s, one off the Sun Devil fumble, and a field goal to go into the break up 17-3. Arizona State got the 2nd half off with a bang going 75 yards in under three minutes to get within 7 points, 17-10, on a Xazavian Valladay TD run. But after holding Oklahoma State to a punt after just four plays Arizona State missed a 48 field goal attempt which was followed by a successful Cowboy 3 pointer at the end of an eight play 63 yard drive to widen the gap to 20-10. After a three-and-out by both teams the Sun Devils would come back to score another TD at the end of a 3 minute, 8 play, 85 yard drive and Emory Jones TD pass to bring it back to within three points at 20-17. But the Cowboys would score TD’s on their next two posssessions against a three-and-out and a fumble by Arizona State leading to the final score of-34-17.
The AP Takeaway for ESPN had this to say about Arizona State; “The Sun Devils struggled with their passing game, completing just 12 of 24 passes. Defensively, Arizona State allowed just 120 yards the previous week against Northern Arizona, but surrendered 465 yards on Saturday.” Like last year something else is starting to rear its ugly head again, the Sun Devils were flagged 10 times for 95 yards in penalties. Herm Edwards and his team head back home for a matchup with Eastern Michigan this next weekend, but had this to say after the game. “You learn a little something about your football team when you have to go through something like this. Those guys are hurting inside that locker room. It had nothing to do with being competitive because they were competitive. They played as hard as they could play but eventually just wore down.”