Senior running back Marion Grice and senior linebacker Kipeli Koniseti chase after a pass during the Sun Devil's spring game at Fan Fest on April 13. Grice rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown during the scrimmage. (Photo by Dominic Valente)For the first time since Nov. 17, the ASU football team took to Sun Devil Stadium to participate in its annual spring game at Fan Fest as the Maroon team knocked off the Gold team 24-22.
Redshirt junior starting quarterback Taylor Kelly started where he left off last season, taking the Gold side all the way down the field on the first drive. It finished off on senior running back Marion Grice's one-yard touchdown run.
Kelly, who practiced with former Sun Devil quarterback Jake Plummer all week, finished 15-for-21 with two touchdowns and an interception.
After that score, neither side could put up points until the second quarter when Kelly found redshirt senior tight end Chris Coyle for a 2-yard touchdown with just under six minutes to go.
Coyle finished with seven receptions for 82 yards and three touchdowns. He said the entire spring game was a success.
“It was a good day,” Coyle said. “It was a lot of fun. There was a lot of energy out here.”
Senior defensive back Jordan Simone leaps for a catch in warmups during the Sun Devils' Fan Fest on April 13. ASU coach Todd Graham was impressed with the defense during the spring game. (Photo by Dominic Valente)Redshirt junior kicker Jon Mora made a 34-yard field goal to cut the Gold lead to 14-3, then sophomore wide receiver Rick Smith and redshirt sophomore quarterback Michael Eubank connected on a 25-yard touchdown to bring Maroon within a score.
Smith, who is in competition for a starting receiver position, finished with three catches for 54 yards and that touchdown.
“I felt pretty good,” Smith said. “Pretty calm and confident. I was happy, because my family is out here and for the fans of course. I was happy to score.”
Smith also fumbled for one of two turnovers on the day, something coach Todd Graham says he’s conflicted about.
“I wanted to see 100 percent ball security, but I want our defense to get turnovers, so either way things aren’t going to work out right,” Graham said.
Senior defensive back Marlon Pollard, a transfer from Eastern Michigan, came up with the other turnover, intercepting a deflected pass from Kelly.
“Somebody on the d-line tipped it, so I went up and got it,” Pollard said.
Graham said the play was big for undecided defensive backfield and Pollard, who had a good spring.
“Marlon Pollard can really be a player who can come in and help us,” Graham said.
Overall, Graham said the defense "dominated most of the scrimmage" and Pollard agreed.
“You just have to take every play like your last and go out there and execute the gameplan and take what they give us to play at our very best and that’s what we did,” Pollard said.
The Mora field goal was the last points scored with any time on the clock, but Graham simulated the game into an overtime setting, which the offenses dominated.
Coyle caught his second touchdown pass from Kelly for 13 yards to put the Gold up 22-10.
Maroon answered with the final two touchdowns for the win with touchdown passes from backup quarterbacks Eubank and fellow redshirt sophomore Michael Bercovici.
Graham said his backups, who are fighting for the No. 2 spot and finished a combined 16-for-25 for 202 yards and three touchdowns, performed well.
“I think Bercovici and Eubank did some good things while they were in there,” Graham said.
Reigning Pac-12 Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year and senior defensive lineman Will Sutton had only two tackles, but both went for sacks.
No defensive player had more than three tackles on the day, which Graham said that just the plan going into the game.
“Team-wise, we were very basic,” Graham said.
The Sun Devils open up their 2013 season at home on Sept. 5 against Sacramento State.
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu
