The ASU football team went into Camp Randall Stadium looking for a breakthrough win. They left without catching a break.
In a measuring stick game, the Sun Devils lost by a single point to No. 11 Wisconsin — the difference no more than a ruler’s length.
“There were a lot of missed opportunities,” ASU coach Dennis Erickson said.
Saturday’s 20-19 loss contains a long list of coulda’, woulda’, shoulda’ plays for the Sun Devils.
1. After ASU went 67 yards in 14 plays on its first drive and moved the ball to UW’s 7-yard line, former Lou Groza Award-winner and senior kicker Thomas Weber missed a 25-yard field goal — the shortest miss of his career.
Result: Three-point swing.
2. After ASU drove 82 yards to the UW 8-yard line on its second drive, junior transfer receiver George Bell dropped a would-be touchdown on second down. On the next play, he made what appeared to be a touchdown catch on the sideline, but video replays (from one angle) did not conclusively reveal if he dragged his foot in bounds. The pass was ruled incomplete. The Sun Devils settled for a field goal.
Result: Four-point swing.
3. After ASU nearly intercepted Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien inside UW territory, sophomore Jamal Miles took the ensuing punt 80 yards for a touchdown. A block in the back, which was more to the side of the Wisconsin defender and was seemingly unnecessary for the return, was called against ASU, negating the return and putting the Sun Devils back at their own 10-yard line.
Result: Seven-point swing.
4. Down 13-10 with 10 seconds left in the half, freshman Kyle Middlebrooks returned the ball 95 yards before being caught at the half-yard line.
On the previous touchdown from Wisconsin, which was set up by a pass interference penalty, it appeared that at least two extra seconds were burned from the clock after the reception was made. Video replay showed that Lewis did not reach the end zone on his return.
Result: Seven-point swing.
5. The Sun Devils took their first drive of the second half to the Badgers’ 18-yard line.
On third and three, redshirt junior transfer quarterback Steven Threet had redshirt junior receiver T.J. Simpson open in the back corner of the end zone. It appeared that the Badger defender interfered with Simpson as the ball came near, but despite the side-judge standing in seemingly perfect view of the play, no interference was called.
The Sun Devils settled for a field goal.
Result: Potential four-point swing.
6. After ASU was pinned at their 2-yard line, freshman Deantre Lewis once broke into the open field, taking a run from four yards deep in the end zone.
With just one defender to beat and a blocker in front of him, Lewis tripped on Simpson’s feet at the 33-yard line. The Sun Devils’ drive stalled three plays later.
Result: Potential three to seven point swing.
7. It seemed ASU had finally converted a seven-point score on offense when it took what appeared to be game-tying drive 77 yards with just over four minutes remaining in the contest.
Weber’s point after try was blocked. It was only the third extra point missed in over 100 tries during Weber’s career.
Result: One point swing.
Total: 29 to 33 points.
“One play here or there and the score could have been a lot different,” Threet said.
While many points were left un-scored by what could be deemed bad luck, Erickson believes Saturday’s showing was indicative of a newfound confidence, which could eventually lead to a change of fortunes.
“I feel like we are almost there,” Erickson said. “There is a feeling in our football team and I told them that too, for the first time in a couple of years our team felt like we would come in here and win. Not just come in. They had confidence in themselves and believed in each other.”
Reach the reporter at nick.ruland@asu.edu
