Instant recap: Sun Devils escape Utah 19-16 in overtime

Eds. This is the second half and overtime recap posted on top of the first half recap. Make sure to check out HoS tomorrow for more post-game analysis.

Overtime

Arizona State won the toss and opted to go on defense first, looking to set up the offense with an opportunity to walk away with a win. And that's what the defense did, stopping Devontae Booker on two running plays before flushing Travis Wilson out of the pocket on his way to throwing an incomplete pass. Andy Phillips, widely considered one of college football's top kickers, came out for a 35-yard field goal attempt. He missed the first, but Utah had called timeout before the snap so he got another chance. Phillips blew this one too, hooking it wide left as the Sun Devils needed only a field goal to win.

Rather than risk an interception, the Sun Devils ran three consecutive run plays, working their way down to the Utah 19-yard line to set up a Zane Gonzalez field goal attempt from 37 yards. Gonzalez's kick rang true, and the Sun Devils won 19-16.

Second Half

Utah opened up the second half with the ball, looking to build on its momentum from the first half. Duel-threat Wilson continued to show off his versatility, sharing carries with Devontae Booker as the Utes drove down to the Sun Devil 40-yard line. On a 3rd and 1, Wilson faked a handoff, pulled the ball and scampered 32 yards to the Arizona State 6, which set up Wilson's four-yard pass to Booker that knotted the game up at 13-13.

Arizona State's next drive ended before it could really even start. A holding call that brought back a Deantre Lewis first-down run and a sack of Kelly forced a Sun Devil punt, which was returned by Kaelin Clay 22 yards to the Arizona State 47-yard line. Utah breezed its way to a pair of first downs, but a sack of Wilson by cornerback Lloyd Carrington put the Utes in a 2nd and 20 situation and Arizona State forced another Phillips field goal. Phillips knocked through the 44-yard field goal and Utah took its first lead of the night at 16-13.

Having given up 13 unanswered points, Arizona State received the ball looking to regain momentum. A Kelly scramble for a first down and Demario Richard 8-yard run set the Sun Devils up in Utah territory, but the drive stalled and Kelly botched the pooch punt, giving the Utes the ball back at their own 31.

While they failed to change momentum on offense, the Sun Devils did so on their next defensive series. A pair of first downs set Utah up in Arizona State territory, but the Sun Devil rushing defense that had been gashed all night stepped up, forcing a 4th and 1 decision for Utah at the Sun Devil 41. The Utes chose to go for it, and Booker was stopped short of the marker and Arizona State took over on downs. But the Sun Devils couldn't do anything with their next drive, punting away to Utah to kick off the fourth quarter, down 16-13.

Arizona State's defense forced another Utah punt, but the Sun Devil offense failed again to take advantage. A short Sun Devil drive culminated in a shanked punt, and the time slowly turned into Arizona State's enemy, ticking under the ten minute mark in regulation. Another Utah punt followed, and this time Arizona State's offense capitalized. Kelly orchestrated an eight play, 51-yard drive that culminated in a Zane Gonzalez field goal, tying the game up at 16 apiece with just under six minutes to play.

Needing a stop to keep the game and its hopes alive, Arizona State's defense took the field yet again, and forced a Utah punt yet again. The Sun Devil defense allowed a Utah first down on a read-option play, but Salamo Fiso made the key play to get off the field, tackling Booker for a gain of one that gave Kelly and the Arizona State offense a chance to win the game with 2:30 left.

The Sun Devils mounted a possible game-winning drive, wasting little time in moving down to the Utah 43-yard line, as a pair of Kelly first-down runs and a Strong 26-yard reception set Arizona State up with an opportunity to win the game. But the drive stalled, and a Nate Orchard sack of Kelly pushed Arizona State out of field goal range, forcing another punt. Utah's last-ditch drive resulted in a punt, and the two teams settled for overtime.

First Half

The first half was mostly a war of attrition as Arizona State traded field goals, but thanks to a Jaelen Strong touchdown, the Sun Devils found themselves up 13-6 at the half.

Utah won the toss and elected to defer, making the Sun Devils start with the ball on their own 25-yard line. Taylor Kelly quickly completed a 29-yard pass to Gary Chambers down to the Utah 43-yard line for 26 yards. D.J Foster then gained 23 yards down to the Utah 14-yard line. Kalen Ballage carried the ball another 12 yards down to the Ute three. A false start by right tackle Tyler Sulka moved the Sun Devils back five yards and Arizona State couldn't find the end zone targeting Jaelen Strong twice. Zane Gonzalez knocked a field goal through from 20 yards out to give the Sun Devils an early 3-0 lead.

The Utes began their first drive at their own 15 and a 9-yard run by Travis Wilson got them out past the 40-yard line, but a holding penalty and a huge sack by Marcus Hardison on third down stunted the Utes drive. They were forced to punt and took over at their own 15-yard line.

Demario Richard gained 22 yards out to the 36-yard line. A Cameron Smith catch for 13 yards moved ASU across midfield to the Utah 39 yard line. The Sun Devils got one more first down, but couldn't advance any further allowing Gonzalez to kick another field goal, this time from 45 yards out, giving Arizona State a 6-0 lead.

The Arizona State special teams stood Kaelin Clay up at the 15-yard line, but Utah didn't move at all as they were forced to punt again and the Sun Devils began the next drive at their own 37-yard line. Taylor Kelly used his feet for a gain of nine yards and Fred Gammage drew a pass interference call, moving the Sun Devils across midfield. A holding penalty moved the maroon and gold back but a Deantre Lewis catch for five yards to the Utah 47-yard line ended the first quarter.

Kelly completed a pass to Foster short of the first down, but Kelly nailed a pooch punt down inside the Utah 5-yard line. The Utes failed to move the ball as Jaxon Hood batted the ball on third down and Utah was forced to punt for the third straight drive and the Sun Devils had great field position on the Utah 43-yard line with 13:17 to play in the half. Kelly made his first true mistake of the game on the next drive, throwing an interception returned for seven yards by Gionni Paul to their own 40-yard line.

Utah took the momentum on the next drive, as Travis Wilson ran across midfield and Devontae Booker ran for 16 yards down to the Sun Devils' 40-yard line. Damarious Randall wrapped up Kaelin Clay stopping the Utes drive, but Andy Phillips made a 50-yard field goal to bring the Utes to within three points with 9:13 to play in the half.

The Sun Devils kicked it into overdrive on the next drive. It was highlighted by a long 32-yard run by Demario Richard and a 32-yard catch by Jaelen Strong. Kelly and Strong connected again for a 6-yard touchdown to give the Sun Devils the 13-3 lead with 7:13 to play in the half.

Utah slowly inched their way out to the 47-yard line on the next drive before Armand Perry sacked Wilson to stunt the drive for another Utah three and out and ensuing punt. Arizona State started the next drive on their own 47-yard line and D.J. Foster helped the Sun Devils cause with a 20-yard run but Zane Gonzalez proceeded to miss the ensuing 50-yard field goal.

Utah took advantage on their next drive as time wore down, chipping away with small rushes from Wilson and Booker down to the Sun Devils 19-yard line where the the Utes' Andy Phillips then made a 36-yard field goal to send the game to halftime with the Sun Devils up 13-6 at halftime