Since 2006, the Sun Devils have outscored the Buffaloes 245-85 and won all six games against them.
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The Colorado Buffaloes will attempt to win their first Pac-12 conference game in nearly two years as they welcome the Arizona Wildcats to Folsom Field this Saturday night. Quarterback Mike Bercovici threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns, while running in another score. Tim White had a huge game for the Sun Devils, pulling in seven receptions for 144 yards and two TDs. UCLA was also without inside linebacker Jayon Brown due to a back injury, while corner Marcus Rios played only a handful of snaps after spending three nights in the hospital last week. Next week, they pay a visit to No. 5 Utah.
“It’s single-game elimination”, Arizona State coach Todd Graham said. Colorado, however did not get back into the game but left it at a manageable 24 to 10 halftime deficit.
“You never want to put the ball on the ground, but if we do, we practice those situations in fumble drills”, said Bercovici.
Both goals were scored early in the game, with Kodi Lavrusky netting her second goal in as many games at 8:26 to give UCLA the early lead. Richard was injured in his last game for ASU and is questionable for this week.
Richard, a sophomore, later left the field on crutches and his status going forward is unknown, Graham said.
Coming off last Saturday’s victory at the Bruins, Plummer believes the Sun Devils have finally gained that focus that a college football team needs in order to play on an elite level.
“We haven’t beaten these guys, and that’s not OK with us, and we’re going do everything we can this week to change that”, said Utah offensive lineman J.J. Dielman, who hails from Ahwatukee, Arizona, and grew up not too far from the ASU campus.
The biggest struggle for the Sun Devils this season has been defending the run, an aspect that the Bruins tried to exploit. Colorado was able to cut it 14-7 on a Phillip Lindsay touchdown run, but that was as close as the Buffs got. Three CU plays and a penalty set the Buffs back to the ASU 14 and the ensuing punt was blocked, setting up an ASU field goal and 17-7 lead. The score was the first for Lucien-who transferred to ASU after four years at UCLA-as a Sun Devil.
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In the long-term we’ll likely see the Sun Devils settle into an equilibrium like Penn State has as a respectable team, but not necessarily thought of as one of the top programs in the country. UCLA (6-6-1, 2-2-1 in the Pac-12) had two controversial no-calls for potential handballs in the box, one in the first half, the other in the first overtime. “We had a few things to counter that but we didn’t execute tonight and we have to do better at that”. Not exactly known for his mobility, quarterback Mike Bercovici looked quite spry on an untouched 34-yard touchdown run up the middle of the UCLA defense. In order to pull off the road upset, Colorado’s going to need to find a way to limit ASU’s pass rush, while also holding their dynamic ball carriers to a modest output. Colorado, meanwhile, boasts the Sefo Liufau to Nelson Spruce pitch-and-catch combo and has been sneaky good in pass defense, ranking third in the Pac-12.
