By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Arizona Sports
Arizona State Sun Devils’ season comes to a bittersweet end as they fall to the Duke Blue Devils, 42-39, in the Sun Bowl on Wednesday afternoon.
The Blue Devils recently won the ACC championship. As for the Sun Devils, it’s been a season with lots of ups and downs, key injuries too. The Sun Devils finished year three of the Kenny Dillingham era with an 8-5 record.
Sun Devils and Blue Devils are put on a show in El Paso, Texas. It was a high-scoring game. The Sun Devils defense played well to start the game, but they couldn’t maintain that same aggression and consistency. The Sun Devils’ secondary couldn’t slow down the Dukes’ offense. However, much credit to the Blue Devils because that’s an outstanding team.
Both teams combined for 28 points after the first quarter. Sun Devils quarterback Jeff Sims and Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah threw two touchdown passes. Both men were off to a great start in this game.
One of the biggest plays of the game for the Sun Devils was when Sims ran for 38 yards for the touchdown in the second quarter. Suns finish the game completing 27-of-38 passes for 375 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Jason Brown Jr ran for 120 yards on 12 carries. He had a strong third-quarter performance.
Wide receiver Jalen Moss also showed up for the Sun Devils. Moss recorded five receptions and 129 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Mensah had four touchdowns for Duke with 327 passing yards. Running back Nate Sheppard ran for 170 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown, which came in the third quarter. Wide receiver Que’Sean Brown led the Blue Devils’ receivers with 10 receptions, 178 yards, and two touchdowns.
The Sun Devils had two costly fumbles, a late interception, and were not effective on third down (3-for-10). It’s a tough pill to swallow for the Sun Devils. They had chances to seal the game. Duke never lost hope. Duke seized the opportunity.
There were many penalties, especially unsportsmanlike conduct. Players need to be more disciplined and careful in a game of this magnitude, such as a bowl game.
The game marked the final broadcast call for Gary Danielson after a 36-year career.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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