/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58028227/16.0.jpeg)
It had been more than a year since redshirt freshman Frank Darby caught a pass in game action.
The Jersey City, New Jersey native was held out of the box score in the Arizona State Sun Devils’ opening victory over New Mexico State, behind a bevy of pass catchers at the offense’s disposal.
That all changed against San Diego State.
Darby’s first career reception was a 42-yard catch toward the end of the first quarter that set up ASU’s first touchdown of the game. He then made another one just after halftime, but his most memorable moment came midway through the fourth quarter.
With the Sun Devils down 30-14 and facing third down and forever, redshirt junior quarterback Manny Wilkins chucked a ball deep down the sideline in the direction of Darby.
On 3rd-and-37, Manny Wilkins hits Frank Darby for a 53-yard TD. SDSU 30, #ASUFootball 20 pic.twitter.com/ozJbeNOZwi
— Richard Morin (@BigRickMorin) September 10, 2017
Darby separated from his defender at about the 5-yard line and found the ball over his shoulder, hauling it in for his first career touchdown.
The score cut San Diego State’s lead to 10 points, but the Sun Devils would get no closer, as they failed on the ensuing two-point conversion and lost the game 30-20.