Check out a slideshow from the Sun Devils exciting overtime win over the Tigers!
When the ASU football team needed a big offensive play it called on one of its smallest players.At 5’10”, senior wide receiver Aaron Pflugrad is far from an imposing figure on the football field, yet the second year Sun Devil was an indomitable offensive threat throughout ASU’s Friday night matchup against then-No. 21 Missouri.
The No. 22 Sun Devils (2-0) hosted the Tigers (1-1) in a nationally televised contest that quickly evolved into a thrilling 37-30 overtime win for the home team.
While the ASU offense combined for 388 receiving yards to go with 104 yards on the ground, it was Pflugrad who stole the show. The senior wide out finished with eight catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
“Aaron had one of the better football games I have ever had from a receiver,” ASU coach Dennis Erickson said. “I don't know how many catches he had, I don't know the stats, but what I do know is that every time we needed something he made a big play. He was without a doubt the most valuable player in that game and made plays every time.”
The majority, if not all, of Pflugrad’s catches came when the Sun Devils needed them most. It didn’t matter if he was well covered or even well down the field, he still found a way to reel in pass after pass from junior quarterback Brock Osweiler.
“It was a good job by Brock putting (the ball) in there,” Pflugrad said. “I really didn’t notice the defender because he put it in a spot where I could still make the catch. It was good timing and a good ball, and I was able to make the plays.”
With the score knotted at 10-10 at 7:39 in the second quarter, the Sun Devils started their fourth offensive drive of the game at their own 40.
The possession lasted just one play and eight seconds as Osweiler dropped back and unleashed a 60-yard bomb down field to Pflugrad who hauled in the pass and bolted into the end zone.
“I was pretty fired up after Brock put that long one on the money,” Pflugrad said. “I just looked up and the ball was on the money and then just ran it in. So I really didn’t have to do much but I was pretty pumped afterwards.”
The play sent the blacked out Sun Devil Stadium into a frenzy and inched ASU ahead 16-10. But Pflugrad and his quarterback soon realized they were far from finished.
“I think we were just saying that we can’t let up,” Pflugrad said. “That was an early point in the game so we knew it was going to be a long game and we had to keep it going.” ASU’s first drive of the third quarter immediately saw Osweiler hit Pflugrad on a 17-yard pass for a Sun Devil first down. However, that possession would stall and end in a punt. After the Tigers marched downfield and nailed a game-tying field goal, Pflugrad and the Sun Devil offense headed back out on the field. A trio of Osweiler passes combined with a pair of rushes by junior running back Cameron Marshall placed the ball at the Missouri 35.
That’s when Pflugrad struck again.
On first and ten, Osweiler pitched it to junior wide receiver Jamal Miles in the backfield. Miles then dropped back and fired a 35-yard strike into the end zone to Pflugrad for yet another touchdown.
“I think it was a good call in that point in the game when we needed a touchdown,” Pflugrad said. “If it doesn’t work then it’s just an incomplete pass. I think it was a great call by the coaching staff.”
That touchdown catch was Pflugrad’s second of the game, and fourth of the 2011 season. The senior entered Friday’s game with five career touchdowns.
He reeled in a pair of catches for 13 and 17 yards respectively on ASU’s next possession, which ended with a rushing touchdown from Osweiler.
Despite facing a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, UM rallied to tie the game with 2:50 remaining in regulation. With the score deadlocked at 30-30, the “Black Out” headed to overtime.
ASU started things off with an incomplete pass and a short rushing gain. The Sun Devils were in desperate need of a big play on third and seven at the Mizzou 22-yard line. It was Pflugrad who came up clutch once again.
A 13-yard pass from Osweiler to Pflugrad sealed an ASU first down and two plays later the Sun Devils powered into the end zone for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.
It was a marquee performance from Pflugrad, who was instrumental in helping the Sun Devils claim the overtime win.
“It felt good,” Pflugrad said. “I really wanted to get the victory for the team. We all came together and everyone seemed to make plays at opportune times. It was a great team victory and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Reach the reporter at greg.dillard@asu.edu
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