In the span of 10 seconds, the ASU football team entered uncharted and undesired territory.
The Sun Devils fell to UCLA 23-13 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, and with a record of 4-7 (2-6 Pac-10) ASU is guaranteed a second straight losing season for the first time since 1946-1947.
It will mean back-to-back losing seasons for Dennis Erickson for the first time in the ASU coach’s career.
With the Sun Devils trailing 10-7 with 1:30 to go in the first half, sophomore quarterback Samson Szakacsy, who started for the first time in his collegiate career, was sacked near his own 10-yard line and fumbled.
UCLA sophomore linebacker Akeem Ayers picked up the ball and scurried into the end zone to give the Bruins a 17-7 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Jamal Miles fumbled as he got hit near the ASU 20-yard line. UCLA recovered and after a field goal by junior kicker Kai Forbath, the Bruins suddenly had a 13-point lead as the first half came to a close.
Turnovers were ASU’s demise on Saturday. The Sun Devils lost five fumbles, and Szakacsy threw an interception on ASU’s first drive that was returned 68 yards for a touchdown by senior cornerback Alterraun Verner, staking the Bruins to an early 7-0 lead.
One of the most costly of the six turnovers came in the second quarter with ASU driving and trailing by just three. Szakacsy completed a pass to tight end Trevor Kohl down the UCLA 35-yard line, but Kohl fumbled the ball and the Bruins recovered, killing a promising drive for the Sun Devils.
Szakacsy showed promising signs with two long touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Kyle Williams.
The first came when Szakacsy eluded the rush and, after rolling to his right, found a diving Williams for a 35-yard score to tie the game at 7 in the first quarter.
In the fourth quarter, on a similar play, Szakacsy found Williams, who had ran behind the secondary, for a 70-yard score.
