ASU vs. Colorado: Sun Devils beat Colorado 48-23

The Arizona State Sun Devils scored early and often Saturday night, dominating the Colorado Buffaloes in route to a 48-23 victory. It is ASU's first conference victory at home and the first time this season the Sun Devils scored over 40 points.

The Sun Devils marched 91 yards on their first offensive possession and scored on a lucky bounce as on second down Demario Richard fumbled as he was being taken the ground. The ball bounced right to Kody Kohl who took it 28 yards for a touchdown to put ASU up 7-0 with 11:02 left in the first quarter.

Colorado turned the ball over on the ensuing drive when quarterback Sefo Liufau was hit as he released a pass on third down. The ball floated in the air and was intercepted by freshman Kareem Orr and returned it to the Colorado 15-yard line. Five plays later, ASU found the end zone for the second time when Mike Bercovici hit Kohl from four yards out to put ASU up 14-0.

On the ensuing drive, Colorado found the end zone for the first time, as Phillip Lindsay capped a 75-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run. Liufau hit his tight end Sean Irwin for a gain of 42 to set up the Lindsay touchdown run.

A Mike Bercovici interception ended ASU's third drive shy of the end zone. After the ASU defense forced a three-and-out, Dasmond Tautalatasi blocked the Colorado punt and recovered at the Buffaloes 10-yard line. ASU was stopped on third down and Zane Gonzalez knocked in a 22-yard field goal to put ASU up 17-7 late in the first quarter.

Following a Colorado punt, ASU took over on the Colorado 47-yard line and needed just two plays to find the end zone for the third time int the half. Following a nine-yard run from Richard, Bercovici found Tim White for a 38-yard touchdown to put ASU up 24-7 with 14:13 left in the first half.

After the two teams exchanged punts most of the second quarter, the Buffaloes drove 72 yards in 11 plays and knocked in a 27-yard field goal with five seconds left in the half to pull within 14, as the Sun Devils took a 24-10 lead into halftime.

The Sun Devils took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 75 yards on eight plays for their fourth touchdown of the night. Bercovici capped the drive by hooking up with White for a 45-yard pitch and catch for a touchdown to put ASU up 31-10 with 11:39 left to play in the third.

The Buffaloes turned the ball over for the second time on the ensuing drive when Liufau was sacked and striped by Antonio Longino. The Sun Devils capitalized off the turnover when Bercovici found Devin Lucien for a 10-yard touchdown pass. It was Lucien's first touchdown as a Sun Devil and it put ASU 38-10 midway through the third.

Colorado used two big pass plays for their two touchdowns of the second half. The first one came in the form of a 68-yard touchdown pass from Liufau to Devin Ross and the second was a 67-yard pass to Shay Fields that set up a two-yard touchdown run from Lindsay.

Bercovici threw his fifth (and final) touchdown pass of the night to to D.J. Foster to put ASU up 48-23 with 10:21 left in the fourth quarter. The redshirt senior finished the game 20-of-31 for 260 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. The five touchdown passes ties a career high.

On ASU's next offensive possession, redshirt freshman Manny Wilkins replaced Bercovici for his first action as a Sun Devil. The ASU offense went three-and-out on their first possession with Wilkins at quarterback.

The Sun Devils ran the football for 221 yards, with five players rushing for at least 20 yards. Tim White led all ASU receivers with seven catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Lucien caught four passes for 39 yards and a touchdown and Kohl and Foster each recorded three catches.

The Sun Devil defense forced two turnovers, racked up 10 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. The Buffaloes managed just 49 rushing yards.

Up next for ASU is a trip to Salt Lake City and a matchup against a top-10 Utah team. Stay tuned for more post game coverage from this ASU victory.