Redshirt junior defensive tackle Will Sutton throws up a pitchfork sign after a play during the Sun Devils’ 51-17 win over Colorado on Thursday. (Photo by Kyle Newman)Redshirt senior linebacker Brandon Magee didn’t get the shutout he wanted, but ASU’s defense got its point across in the second half.
“Going out to Colorado, we want to pitch a shutout and make a point on TV,” Magee said during the week on a local sports radio station. The comments caused uproar from a few local media members and were constantly mentioned throughout the broadcast.
The Sun Devils (5-1, 3-0 Pac-12) allowed 17 points in the first half, and Colorado never scored again.
ASU’s defense pitched a shutout in the second half en route to a 51-17-blowout win over the Buffaloes (1-5, 1-2 Pac-12).
Coach Todd Graham must’ve given one heck of a halftime speech.
ASU’s defense looked shaky throughout the first half against — arguably — the worst team in the Pac-12. There were plenty of missed tackles and missed assignments by ASU.
Colorado junior quarterback Jordan Webb went 13-of-26 for 127 yards. His only touchdown pass of the game occurred with 24 seconds left to wide-open senior tight end Nick Kasa for 20 yards.
Colorado scored 17 points on 166 yards of offense in the first half.
Somehow, ASU was only up by three at halftime.
It appeared this game was on its way to becoming another wacky Thursday night ESPN game, but the defense put the clamps on Colorado’s offense.
Graham said there weren’t many adjustments on defense in the second half, yet ASU allowed just 89 total yards.
Junior defensive tackle Will Sutton dominated the trenches. He consistently blew up Colorado’s offensive line to create tackles for lost opportunities. He finished with five tackles, three tackles for loss and rounded-up two sacks.
“Maybe they were looking forward (to Oregon) a little bit,” Graham said. “We really just executed the plan that we had. We did do some things with the delay (blitz) stuff, but we were doing some of the same stuff in the first half. We just weren’t executing them.”
Graham said Colorado was in max protection on offense. The Buffaloes sent more weapons out on pass plays when they fell behind in the second half, which favored the aggressive ASU defense.
Junior safety Alden Darby collected his first career sack to go along with five tackles. Junior defensive tackle Davon Coleman, junior safety Chris Young and redshirt sophomore linebacker Carl Bradford each had a tackle for loss.
Even junior cornerback Robert Nelson had his first interception as a Sun Devil on a poor throw by Webb.
But the leader of the group was Magee. He led the team with nine tackles and had two sacks.
Magee didn’t get his wish of a shutout, but the message was made clear on national television. He was well-known for making comments throughout the week signifying his confidence in his team. While some think what he said is bold, it’s Magee’s nature to say these things.
And don’t think for a moment he won’t say another “bold” comment again, especially with the No. 2 team in the country, Oregon, coming to town next Thursday.
Reach the reporter at mtestfats@asu.edu
