Redshirt sophomore quarterback Taylor Kelly (center) waits to call for a snap at the line of scrimmage during the Sun Devils’ 45-14 win over Illinois on Sept. 8. (Photo by Sam Rosenbaum)Echoes of the Dennis Erickson era rumbled through Memorial Stadium Saturday.
ASU coach Todd Graham doesn’t wear a pitchfork visor on the sidelines, but his first road game appeared like the Sun Devils of old, crippled by mental errors.
Missed tackles. Slip-ups on special teams. Costly penalties.
They all contributed to the Sun Devils’ 24-20 loss to Missouri, but the turnovers hurt them the most.
The Sun Devils (2-1) can’t say they didn’t see this coming.
“(Graham) said, ‘I told you, you guys are going to beat yourselves if you turn the ball over,’” redshirt sophomore quarterback Taylor Kelly said.
Graham got in touch with his inner Nostradamus this week. He has continually preached the importance of taking care of the football since he arrived.
Last week, it was more so than ever.
The Sun Devils had three turnovers during last Wednesday’s practice. On Saturday against Missouri (2-1, 0-1 SEC), they had four.
ASU received another gift right before the game with the absence of Missouri junior quarterback James Franklin.
The Sun Devils still couldn’t capitalize because they beat themselves.
Senior wide receiver Jamal Miles fumbled on a punt return following the Tigers second offensive possession. The turnover placed Missouri’s offense at ASU’s 18-yard line. Redshirt freshman quarterback Corbin Berkstresser scored four plays later from six yards out.
Kelly threw his first interception of the season on the next possession. Fifth-year senior defensive back Kip Edwards jumped the route and picked off Kelly on the second play of the drive.
It was one of three turnovers for Kelly. Redshirt sophomore safety Braylon Webb recovered Kelly’s fumble in the third quarter. Kelly scrambled following a high snap and gained six yards before redshirt junior linebacker Donovan Bonner forced him to fumble.
Kelly’s second interception occurred on the team’s final drive. Down 24-7 after three quarters, the Sun Devils scored 13 unanswered points to make it 24-20.
The offense had the ball on Missouri’s 21-yard line with 1:58 left, but the drive ended three plays later without a score. Redshirt senior safety Kenronte Walker intercepted Kelly’s pass intended for Miles in the end zone.
“I don’t know any game that I’ve won turning the ball over that many times,” Graham said.
In Graham’s eyes, ASU had more turnovers than the box score listed.
Senior punter Josh Hubner botched a snap in the third quarter that led to an 11-yard punt. Missouri started the drive ASU’s 33-yard line and scored six plays later.
Junior quarterback Ryan Woods mishandled the hold on a PAT following junior running back Marion Grice’s nine-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
The costly error made it a four-point game, 24-20, which hurt ASU late in the game.
The Sun Devils failed to score on an eight-play, 66-yard drive that stalled on fourth down. Kelly connected with Miles for 17 yards to set up second and goal at the one-yard line.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Eubank subbed in for Kelly and did not score following two rush attempts. Kelly returned on fourth and goal at three-yard line, but the Sun Devils did not convert.
Graham said ASU should’ve scored. If ASU would’ve connected on the missed PAT, it could’ve tied the game on a field goal attempt in that situation.
“I don’t regret that one bit,” Graham said about going for it on fourth down. “We’re going to win and that’s the way we’re going to play and going to attack. Obviously we called the plays we thought would score and to get the ball down there like that and not score was heartbreaking.”
ASU was 8-19 on the road in five seasons under Erickson. Including bowl games, that includes a 0-5 non-conference record away from Sun Devil Stadium.
The timing of these mental mistakes and turnovers Saturday played out eerily similar to previous ASU teams on the road.
“(The) guys were a little bit down on it (the turnovers) but we just got to bounce back and move on,” Kelly said. “We just got to have better focus this week, and our coaches are going to be preaching it again. We’ve just got to keep that mental focus and come out with intense energy.”
Reach the reporter at mtesfats@asu.edu
