ASU vs. OSU Instant Recap: Sun Devils hang on to beat Oregon State 40-24

The Arizona State Sun Devils (6-5, 5-3 Pac-12) benefited from a huge performance from senior tailback Demario Richard and a stout defensive effort to route the Oregon State Beavers (1-10, 0-8) 40-24 Saturday afternoon.

The Sun Devils wasted no time getting on the board early in Corvallis, leading two quick scoring drives en route to opening up a 14-0 lead.

It took Arizona State just four plays to march 69 yards down the field during its opening drive to get on the scoreboard first. The drive was capped by a 23 yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior quarterback Manny Wilkins to sophomore Kyle Williams.

After a quick three and out from the Beavers, ASU quickly found the end zone on their ensuing offensive possession, utilizing an 18 yard rush from Richard and a 32-yard scramble from Wilkins, who eventually found freshman wideout Curtis Hodges from a yard out for his first ASU touchdown.

The Beavers finally managed a stop on third down, but would allow a safety on an intentional grounding call during their third drive of the afternoon, shifting the Arizona State advantage to 16-0.

Richard and the Devils would then mount a 54 yard touchdown drive that was highlighted by a wide-open 17 yard score from Richard. The Sun Devils had opened a 23-0 lead six seconds into the second quarter.

Both teams traded blows before the end of the first half to move the score to 30-7 at the break.

Richard managed his second touchdown of the afternoon on yet another long Sun Devil scoring drive and junior running back Ryan Nall punched in a score from a yard out with just under a minute to go.

At the halfway mark, the Sun Devils had jumped out to a 30-7 lead, had out-gained the Beavers 318 to 105 and managed 12 more first downs. Both senior running backs in Richard and Kalen Ballage were extremely effective as well, as Richard tallied 87 yards and two touchdowns while Ballage managed 73 on ten carries.

Wilkins finished the half with just 99 yards on 14 pass attempts, but added two touchdowns.

The third quarter was fairly even offensively, as neither team could manage more than three points and were separated by only 16 total yards.

Junior Oregon State quarterback Darrell Garretson amassed 79 passing yards against the ASU secondary during the period and the Beavers mounted their most impressive scoring drive of the afternoon, going 67 yards on ten plays and adding a 31-yard field goal.

ASU freshman placekicker Brandon Ruiz would add his 18th field goal of the game to move the score to 33-17.

Richard scored his third touchdown of the game to open the fourth quarter, while the Beavers countered with two rushing scores of their own to move the score to 40-24.

The Sun Devils had chances to put the game away, including when redshirt junior defensive lineman Renell Wren intercepted Garretson, but immediately fumbled the ball, allowing the Beavers to recover and keep possession.

The Beavers took advantage, driving into the ASU red zone with the help of two pass interference penalties on senior defensive back J’Marcus Rhodes. But ASU was able to finally put the game away when Garretson put the ball on the turf and it was recovered by junior defensive lineman JoJo Wicker.

ASU nearly gave the ball back to Oregon State with about two minutes remaining, but the Beavers roughed redshirt sophomore punter Michael Sleep-Dalton, extending the Sun Devil drive to the end of the game.

With the win, ASU became bowl eligible for the first time in two seasons. One game remains, the Territorial Cup at Sun Devil Stadium next Saturday against the Arizona Wildcats.