Two critical interceptions by Arizona State defenders erase a pair of Texas Christian scoring opportunities to seal a 27-20 win for the Sun Devils. Arizona State improves to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2012.
Redshirt sophomore Adrian “Boogie” Wilson intercepted Josh Hoover’s pass early in the third quarter to end TCU’s bid to start the second half 24-14. The stop had a greater impact as TCU came back a series later to score on a 1-yard run by quarterback Josh Hoover. Had it not been for the play by Wilson, the Horned Frogs would have had a 31-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Feel free to insert the “if ifs and buts were…” saying.
ASU’s defense made more plays in the fourth to put the Sun Devils in position to win. Clayton Smith’s sack of Hoover forced the Horned Frogs into second-and-20 from their 34. Martell Hughes made a play to break up a pass to Doze Ezukanma that was a preview of the sophomore linebacker’s second heroics. Prince Dorbah made sure Hoover didn’t pull anything out of his bag by sacking the junior quarterback for a nine-yard loss.
The mania inside Sun Devil Stadium ramped up when Jordyn Tyson clamped down on the pass from Sam Leavitt in the middle of the end zone for a touchdown. Cue Phil Collins’ intro on “In the Air Tonight” because there was definitely something swirling around that the Sun Devils were channeling.
Dorbah was definitely feeling it. Two plays into the Horned Frogs’ next possession, the redshirt senior found Hoover again, only this time he ripped the ball away, giving it back to the offense at the TCU 15-yard line.
Leavitt led the offense back onto the field with less than two minutes remaining. Short field, equals touchdown right? Not so fast. Leavitt got into the end zone, sure enough, but a false start penalty nullified the play to set up fourth and six from the six. Enter Jesus Gomez for the field goal attempt despite the two missed field goals earlier. “I never had a doubt,” said Dillingham in support of his kicker. “If we had to kick a 56-yarder to win that thing, I wouldn’t have bluffed; he would have made it.”
The field goal gave ASU the lead, but it also left time for some Hoover heroics. Hughes had other plans. The Dallas native cut under Ezukanma again and got both hands on the ball for the interception.
“Our guys made plays when the game was on the line,” said ASU Head Coach Kenny Dillingham.
Arizona State has next week off before heading to Rice-Eccles Stadium, where they will face Utah. TCU returns home to Fort Worth, where they will await Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes.