ASU football used a big first half to beat Oregon State in Corvallis and become bowl eligible for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
The Sun Devils (6-5, 5-3 Pac-12) bounced back after last week's loss to UCLA thanks to a balanced offensive attack and another impressive performance on the ground. ASU's defense produced a safety in the first quarter and held the Beavers (1-10, 0-8 Pac-12) to 10 points through three quarters.
Here is how ASU moved over the .500 mark and won at least six games in a season for the seventh time in the last eight years.
119
Senior running back Demario Richard ran for 119 yards on 17 carries (7.0 average yards per carry).
Richard has now run for 100 or more yards in three straight games.
3
Richard found the end zone three times against the Beavers.
His three touchdowns were a season high for a single game, and he became the first ASU player to run for three scores since redshirt junior quarterback Manny Wilkins accomplished the feat last season against Cal.
286
Four players combined for 286 net rushing yards.
The Beavers came into Saturday's game having allowed their opponents to average 223.2 rushing yards per game, the second-worst total in the Pac-12.
23
ASU led 30-7 after the first two quarters.
The Sun Devils' 23-point advantage marked their largest lead after the first half since Nov. 30, 2013 against UA.
106
ASU held Oregon State to 106 yards on the ground.
The Sun Devils entered the game having given up an average of 179.6 yards per game, the fourth-worst run defense in the Pac-12.
4
ASU finished all four of its trips to the red zone with touchdowns.
Head coach Todd Graham said this week that he was tired of kicking field goals. The Sun Devils have now scored 40 of 41 times in the red zone this season.
1
Freshman wide receiver Curtis Hodges notched his first career touchdown reception on a one-yard pass from Wilkins in the first quarter.
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Renell Wren recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter.
13.9
Wilkins averaged 13.9 yards per completion against OSU.
ASU only ran 19 pass plays, but Wilkins made his 12 completions count.
Reach the reporter at jpjacqu1@asu.edu or follow @joejacquezaz on Twitter.
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