U of A vs. ASU: Sun Devils trail Wildcats, 24-14, at halftime

The Arizona State Sun Devils (6-5, 5-3 Pac-12) trailed the Arizona Wildcats (7-4, 5-3) 17-14 at halftime at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

ASU was first to touch the ball; however, the Wildcats struck early. Starting from their own 27-yard line, Arizona made it to midfield before ASU safety Chad Adams was tagged with pass interference on a deep pass from Khalil Tate in the end zone.

The penalty pushed the Wildcats to the ASU 26-yard line and punched in points four plays later. Zach Green scampered into the end zone untouched on a 1-yard hand off. Arizona led 7-0 with 8:43 left in the first quarter.

The Sun Devils then went three-and-out, and the Wildcats scored again with help from another ASU defensive penalty.

After a 13-yard rush from Shun Brown, Jay Jay Wilson was called for a horsecaller, which bumped Arizona up to the ASU 22-yard line. The Wildcats scored six plays later on a Tate 1-yard touchdown run. Arizona led 14-0 with 4:38 to go in the first quarter.

The Sun Devils then finally answered.

Manny Wilkins connected with Frank Darby on a 48-yard bomb to the Arizona 39-yard line. After six rushes in seven plays, Wilkins found Kyle Williams in the end zone. The Sun Devils trailed 14-7 with 1:16 to go in the first quarter.

The Wildcats’ next drive bled into the second quarter when Arizona punched in points on a 24-yard field goal. The Wildcats led 17-7 with 9:36 left in the half.

ASU then answered.

Wilkins completed passes for 18 and 21 yards to Williams and Jalen Harvey, respectively, before Kalen Ballage leaped up and over the Arizona line and into the end zone. The Sun Devils were down, 17-14, with 5:45 left in the half.

Two minutes and two seconds later, the Wildcats enlarged their lead to 10. A 42-yard bomb from Tate to Tyrell Johnson put the Wildcats into ASU territory before a 15-yard touchdown run from J.J. Taylor put Arizona ahead, 24-14, with 3:43 left in the first half.

The Sun Devils and Wildcats then traded unsuccessful drives before Wilkins was picked off by Lorenzo Burns.

Arizona took over with one minute left, but ran out the clock before Tate heaved a hail mary that was deflected in the end zone.