U of A vs. ASU Instant Recap: Sun Devils use Tate-less second half to surge past Wildcats, 42-30

The Arizona State Sun Devils used a second half turnaround to power past the Arizona Wildcats, 42-30, at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday.

Khalil Tate injured his throwing-arm shoulder following a Hail Mary play to end the first half. He played little to no snaps in the second half, as backup Brandon Dawkins filled in.

The Wildcats took a demanding 14-0 lead 10 minutes into the contest after Tate and Shun Brown scampered into the end zone on 1-yard carries each.

Then, Manny Wilkins went to work, throwing a 48-yard bomb to Frank Darby. With excellent field position, the Sun Devils scored on an 18-yard touchdown grab from Kyle Williams. ASU trailed 14-7 with 1:16 left in the first quarter.

Arizona opened the second quarter’s scoring gates when Josh Pollack nailed a 24-yard kick, putting the Wildcats ahead, 17-7, with 9:36 to go in the half.

ASU then answered on a 1-yard run from Kalen Ballage. It was his first touchdown since Arizona State beat then-No. 5 Washington. The Sun Devils trailed 17-14 with 5:45 left in the first half.

Tate then unloaded for a 42-yard pass to Tyrell Johnson, which set up a 15-yard touchdown run from J.J. Taylor. Arizona led 24-14 with 3:43 left to play in the half. The Wildcats would hold that lead into halftime.

With Tate absent for the first seven minutes of the second half, the Sun Devils took advantage, scoring 21 unanswered points.

The Brandon Dawkins led Wildcats went three-and-out before Curtis Hodges blocked a punt, which put the Sun Devils at the Arizona 5-yard line. Demario Richard then scored on a 1-yard carry. ASU was down 24-21 with 12:45 to go in the third quarter.

Dawkins then got back on the field and threw an interception.

The Sun Devils converted on a 5-yard touchdown pass to N’Keal Harry. ASU took its first lead, 28-24, with 8:50 left in the third quarter.

Tate then came back in, but traveled 18 yards before giving the ball back to the Sun Devils.

On an 8-play, 75-yard drive, ASU enlarged its lead to nine points after Demario Richard scored on a 6-yard run with 2:18 left in the third quarter. ASU led 35-24.

Finally, Arizona put an end to ASU’s hot streak.

Dawkins scrambled, then ran untouched for 50 yards for a touchdown. The Wildcats trailed 40-35 two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Two drives later, A.J. Latu sacked Dawkins at the 2-yard line, setting the Sun Devils up at the Arizona 33-yard line. ASU then converted on a 9-yard toss up to Harry who grabbed it in the end zone. Wilkins’ touchdown pass brought ASU to a 42-30 lead with 4:51 remaining.

Arizona then took the ball from their own 12-yard line to first and goal. The Wildcats’ drive ended on a fourth down pass deflected by Kobe Williams in the end zone.

The Sun Devils took over and Richard ran 63 yards to the Arizona 34-yard lien to seal the deal.

Arizona State ran out the clock and won, 42-30.