Arizona State Responds with Win over UNLV

Photo Credit: Scott Finkelmeyer

TEMPE, Ariz. – After a 41-14 victory over Southern Utah in week one, ASU’s Herm Edwards, said, “The Sun Devils actually played the Sun Devils tonight. It was bad football. It was sloppy football. It was embarrassing football, to be quite honest. With that being said, I’ve never had a bad win. We ended up winning.”

Tough feedback if you’re a Sun Devils fan, but appropriate considering it was the home opener against Southern Utah. The real question was how would ASU respond.

Enter unranked UNLV, with the Rebels still licking their wounds from a devastating two-point overtime loss to Eastern Washington a week earlier at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Sun Devils offense immediately went to work on the first drive of the game marching 46-yards to the UNLV 11 in just 6 plays–exactly the response Herm Edwards wanted from his offense. But, with sure points in plain sight, Daniels was intercepted by UNLV cornerback Nohl Williams.

UNLV freshman quarterback, Doug Brumfield, took control of the game piecing together a masterful 16-play 70-yard drive, but the Rebels had to settle for a field goal after failing to convert on 3rd down at the ASU 10. Third down efficiency would be UNLV’s downfall in this contest going 4 for 14.

The beauty of Jayden Daniels is his ability to both run and throw the ball. With 4:25 left in the first quarter, he put both abilities on full display, working in tandem with ASU running back Rachaad White, who capped off the first quarter with a 12-yard rushing score. 7-3 Sun Devils at the end of one.

Doug Brumfield, not to be outdone by Jayden Daniels, lead the Rebels into ASU territory, 10-plays over 75-yards, and added magic of his own by somersaulting into the touchdown zone after a 4-yard run to start the second.

It seemed the Sun Devils would have their hands full once again by a non-conference team, but Jayden Daniels remained focused and ASU quickly responded. With 2.56 left in the second, running back Daniyel Ngata rushed for a 13-yard score. 14-10 Sun Devils at the half, UNLV still very much in the game.

It was the tale of two halves for both teams. The Rebels struggled miserably to get much going in the third quarter, while the Sun Devils offense caught fire. After taking a few too many hard hits, UNLV QB Doug Brumfield headed to the locker room, taking the Rebels offense with him.

Throughout the second half, UNLV had the ball seven times, all ending in punts back to ASU. Back-up QB Justin Rogers, who replaced Brumfield, went 1 for 5 passing and was sacked multiple times. UNLV scored zero points in the third and the defense wasn’t much better.

ASU’s Rachaad White took full advantage and continued his running dominance scoring a 9-yard rushing TD in the third and a 1-yard rushing TD in the fourth. This was the second straight game White scored two touchdowns.

Final score 37-10 Arizona State. ASU finishes with 468 total yards (175 yards passing, 293 yards rushing). Jayden Daniels went 20-29 passing and rushed for an additional 125 yards. Rachaad White carried the rock 22 times for 90 yards.

The lone bright spot for UNLV was quarterback Doug Brumfield’s first half, going 6 for 14 passing for 60 yards and 1 rushing touchdown.

The Sun Devils head north to take on the Cougars of BYU on September 18th, while UNLV hosts Iowa State at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Written by Scott Finkelmeyer

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