Recap: Arizona State vs UTSA

Well that was a doozy. Arizona State walked into the Alamodome expecting an easy victory and it was all but that. The UTSA Roadrunners gave the Sun Devils everything they could handle but eventually after a very sloppy game ASU would walk away with 32-28.

The sloppiness would show its head early on into the game as ASU would fall in a quick 14-3 hole due to an opening 11 play 75-yard drive by the Runners and a muffed punt by Kalen Ballage. UTSA won the turnover battle in the first half as they would force a Manny Wilkins interception. The Arizona State defense showed it bend not break style as they held UTSA scoreless in the entire second quarter but the offense could not take advantage. Only mustering up nine points via the leg of Zane Gonzalez.

UTSA came out like world beaters in the second half as quarterback Dalton Sturm lead a five play 92-yard drive that ended in a 34-yard touchdown run by Sturm himself. Arizona State was in shock of what happened and continued to play sloppy as the Devil’s muffed another punt which lead to another UTSA score from Sturm. After taking a 28-12 lead UTSA seemed to get comfortable and wouldn’t get into the endzone for the rest of the game.

Arizona State would score 17 unanswered points including two Gonzalez field goals and two long touchdown drives. The most important of these coming with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter; Manny Wilkins showed signs of life as he and the running game would stuff the ball down UTSA’s throat with a nine play 58-yard drive that ate four minutes off the clock. UTSA was given the ball with a chance to win the game at the end but Arizona State’s defense would flex its might again as they forced a turnover on downs and secured a ASU victory. This game was much closer than most would have expected but Sun Devil fans will accept this win and a 3-0 start.