The weather at Sun Devil Stadium in the waning minutes before kickoff resembled a typical afternoon game in Eugene.
And the defending Pac-12 champion Oregon Ducks made themselves at home in the first half, crashing in on a 24-yard field goal on their opening drive from sophomore kicker Aidan Schneider with 12:46 to go in the first quarter.
The first two ASU drives each resulted in punts and gained a combined 45 yards on 12 total plays.
Junior kicker Zane Gonzalez missed each of his two field goal attempts in the first half, the first from 26 yards out and the second from 52.
The teams traded punts after Scheider's field goal, setting up the ensuing Oregon scoring drive
Sophomore running back Royce Freeman took a handoff from senior quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and broke through with a burst of speed up the middle, leaving ASU defensive backs in his dust en route to a 64-yard touchdown run with 5:21 to go in the first quarter.
The ASU defense held firm despite an anemic beginning by the Sun Devil offense, with one glaring exception: a 39-yard touchdown catch by redshirt sophomore receiver Darren Carrington, who had been abandoned by the secondary in the middle of the field and hauled in an easy touchdown pass from Adams.
Senior quarterback Mike Bercovici ended an offensive touchdown drought leading back to the team's last possession against Colorado and led the Sun Devils on an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped by a four-yard reception from redshirt senior wide receiver Devin Lucien.
Later, he connected with redshirt senior Gary Chambers on a 39-yard touchdown pass down the near sideline on a wheel route to bring the Sun Devils within three with 2:33 to go in the half.
Gonzalez missed his third attempt of the half, a 54-yarder, with seven seconds left in the half.
The Sun Devils have the option to receive the second half kickoff.
Reach the sports editor at smodrich@asu.edu or follow @StefanJModrich on Twitter.
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