Redshirt junior quarterback Mike Bercovici throws the game-winning touchdown pass to Jaelen Strong as time expired in a game against USC on Oct. 4 in Los Angeles.Valedictorian: Redshirt junior quarterback Mike Bercovici
In his second career start, Bercovici shone bright. Playing just half an hour from his hometown of Calabasas, Bercovici completed 27 of 45 passes for 510 yards and five touchdowns, including the game winner to junior wide receiver Jaelen Strong with no time left. The quarterback appeared calm under pressure and brought his team back in the closing seconds for the win. Bercovici was able to cut down his turnovers from three to zero from last week to this week, an important piece of any Todd Graham-coached team.
The game will surely be remembered by the final play hail mary but the other 467 passing yards from Bercovici made this one of the best offensive performances that ASU has had this season. For the second game in a row, the running game was unable to get going, being held to just 31 yards. It is the first time that ASU has been held to under 50 yards on the ground since Boise State made ASU lose 11 yards in the 2011 Maaco Bowl Las Vegas. Despite the lack of ground game, the offense moved the ball well for most of game, aided by 12 plays of 15 or more yards, nine of which came in the second half.
With a much improved effort over last week's loss to UCLA, the defense stepped up big time. Redshirt junior Jordan Simone recorded 20 tackles, the most of any player in the Todd Graham era at ASU. The Sun Devils did not allow as many big plays as it did a week ago, creating longer drives and forcing field goals instead of touchdowns. More dysfunction in formations led to burning timeouts too quickly, which could be problematic moving forward, but the Sun Devils were able to weather the storm and eke out the win.
With sophomore kicker Zane Gonzalez in Phoenix due to personal reasons, the ASU special teams struggled a bit, but admittedly, not in his spot. Senior kicker Alex Garoutte made his field goals and extra points in Gonzalez's absence, which is truly all that can be asked. The night started off well with a 47-yard return of the opening kickoff by redshirt senior running back Kyle Middlebrooks and a punt downed at the one-yard line by Bercovici. Later on, however, the unit struggled, allowing a punt return for a touchdown by junior wide receiver Nelson Agholor and running into USC's redshirt junior punter Kris Albarado, which led to a Trojan touchdown. Other than the big return, sophomore punter Matt Haack kicked well, setting two punts inside the 20-yard line and allowing just five return yards after the touchdown.
Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Tonis_The_Tiger
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