ASU vs. Washington: Halftime Instant Recap

The Arizona State Sun Devils trail the Washington Huskies 17-10 heading into halftime in Seattle,

On the first play from scrimmage senior quarterback Jake Browning threw a screen to junior wide receiver Andre Baccellia. Instead of running, Bacecellia reared back his arm to throw. He tried to force one into double coverage, where sophomore cornerback Chase Lucas came up with the interception.

After the pick by Lucas, the Sun Devils started at Washington’s 20-yard line. From there sophomore running back Eno Benjamin got six straight carries. On the sixth one, Benjamin scored on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. There was no hesitation to go for it after last’s week failed tried that many felt changed the game against San Diego State.

The Huskies erased the turnover from their minds very quickly. Browning and junior wide receiver Aaron Fuller lead a nine-play drive that took 3:51 to tie the game. The two connected three times for 50 yards, including the 11-yard play-action touchdown where Fuller was wide open.

Sophomore kicker Brandon Ruiz made the game 10-7 with 3:53 left in the first quarter on his 48-yard field goal. On that drive Benjamin had three rushes for 24 yards. His biggest contribution was on a third-and-7 when senior quarterback found him on the right side of the field for a first down.

Things quickly turned into a shootout in the first quarter. Browning and crew used five plays to go 75 yards to take the lead. Instead of Fuller, Browning’s very target this time was sophomore wide receiver Ty Jones. Browning found him for a 24-yard gain. Then for the 19-yard touchdown on a seam route where Browning fit the ball over sophomore safety Frederick Langston to Jones perfectly to make it 14-10.

After the first punt of the game from junior punter Michael Sleep Dalton the Huskies started from their own 18-yard line. They drove down the field to ASU’s four-yard line with much ease. But the Sun Devil defense stood tall to hold them to a field goal attempt. After the 16 play drive, redshirt freshman kicker Peyton Henry put through the 26-yard field goal to make it 17-10 with 5:05 left in the half.

The teams traded punts in between the 5:05 and 1:05 marks in the second quarter.

The Sun Devils got the ball back with 65 seconds left in the half at their own 21-yard line. They seemed to be content going into the half down seven as they ran out the clock to end the second quarter They will get the ball back to open the second half.

Benjamin rushed 17 times for 74 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Wilkins went six-for-11 with 32 yards. Browning on the opposite side finished the first half going for 119 yards on seven-for-12 throwing with a pair of touchdowns. His leading receiver was Fuller with three receptions for 50 yards.