ASU Football: Arizona State vs. Michigan State Instant Recap

Led by a stellar defense and a late touchdown drive from freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels, Arizona State (3-0) upended No. 18 Michigan State (2-1) 10-7 in East Lansing.

After a few faltered drives, a forced fumble by ASU in the first half, and a missed Michigan State field goal in the second quarter, the Devils were able to sustain a 10-play, 48-yard drive that resulted in a 41-yard field goal to put the first points on the board.

Redshirt sophomore kicker Christian Zendejas split the uprights, as he was replacing junior kicker Brandon Ruiz for the third week in a row.

On the scoring drive, junior running back Eno Benjamin got his first two carries of the game midway through the second quarter, rushing for 18 yards on two touches.

Michigan State followed the field goal with a drive that got into the red zone, but after an ASU defensive stand near the goal line, an MSU delay of game penalty led to a second missed field goal of the half from junior kicker Matt Coghlin from 31 yards out.

The Devils would go into the locker room up 3-0 at the half.

On MSU’s first drive of the second half, the Spartans got into ASU territory near midfield. On a 4th and one, the Sun Devil defense stuffed a run off the left side with a one-on-one tackle courtesy of junior defensive back Evan Fields.

Despite the strong three quarters of shutout football from the Sun Devil defense, the Spartans eventually broke through with a 10-play, 70-yard drive that was capped off by a nine-yard touchdown run from redshirt freshman running back Elijah Collins at the 8:37 mark of the fourth quarter.

The Sun Devil offense sputtered throughout the contest, but when it mattered most, Daniels found a way to come through. He orchestrated an 11-play, 75-yard drive over two minutes and 44 seconds, including a 40-yard completion to Brandon Aiyuk down the sideline. Then with his back against the wall on a 4th and 13, Daniels scrambled for a first down to keep the drive moving.

He then scampered on 3rd and five to get a first down, and Eno Benjamin punched in a one-yard touchdown run from the goal line on an afternoon where he was bottled up for most of the day.

MSU still had 50 seconds to respond, and they did so with a completion over the middle and a pass interference call on a 3rd and 10 that led to a 42-yard field goal from Coghlin. However...head coach Herm Edwards challenged the play with 12 Spartans on the field, and it paid off.

The Spartans had to replay fourth down, and the next kick was wide. The Devils prevailed.