FEAR THE FORK - An Arizona State CFB27 Dynasty - Presented by BigJDotCom01

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Roster is looking nice

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SUN DEVILS ESCAPE!
Arizona State Wins Sloppy Game in 17-10 Victory Over Bowling Green


Ashton Stamps takes this one back for a score right after halftime.

Media Ranks: Arizona State 45th, Bowling Green 114th
Overall: Arizona State 79, Bowling Green 64
Offense: Arizona State 79, Bowling Green 64
Defense: Arizona State 81, Bowling Green 66
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 90F
TV: National TV
Site: Mountain America Stadium - Tempe, AZ (53,599)

9/5/26
Tempe, AZ (AP) – The debut of new Arizona State head coach BigJDOtCom was not pretty, but in the end it was a victory, and we will take it. The two teams combined for three turnovers and 23 penalties in an ugly 17-10 victory for Arizona State over Bowling Green.

After the teams exchanged punts in the blazing heat during an unreal 3:30PM early September kickoff at Mountain America Stadium, the Sun Devils put together a drive, moving from their own 30 to the Bowling Green 23. But a holding penalty, and a sack left Arizona State with a 51 yard field goal attempt that came up just short, keeping it scoreless.

Following another Bowling Green punt, their third in three possessions, the Falcons defense made a play as Jo Jo Johnson picked off Cutter Boley, setting up Bowling Green at the ASU 29 yard line. Six plays later, Austin Novosad ran a play-action pass on the goal line and found a wide open Leo Kemp for a three yard touchdown to give the underdog Falcons a 7-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter, the Sun Devils were driving, but the Bowling Green defense came up with another big play. This time it was Kal-El Pascal, who picked off Cutter Boley at the Falcons 40 yard line, just as Boley was getting hammered by Armahn Hale. Bowling Green's offense could do nothing and punted it back to Arizona State for a fifth time.

Arizona State moved the ball to midfield, but on fourth and three, a Cutter Boley pass to Khamari Anderson was dropped and the Falcons had the ball in great field position. Once again, the Falcons could not turn the gift into points. This time Travis Kenner's field goal from 45 yards out was blocked, keeping it a seven point game.

After another Bowling Green punt, the Sun Devils took over on their own 46 yard line. Six plays later, Cutter Boley hit Reed Harris on a slant, that Harris turned into a 30 yards score to tie the game at 7-7 in the final minute of the first half. Harris, a much heralded transfer from Boston College, made a big play when the Sun Devils needed it, to go into the half tied.

Bowling Green had nine first half possessions: seven punts, one blocked field goal, and a 29 yard touchdown drive. Arizona State outgained the Falcons 161 to 122, but had two critical turnovers, and turned it over on downs twice.

Arizona State opened the second half with the ball, but had to punt it away after a holding penalty stalled the drive at midfield. Two plays later, cornerback Ashton Stamps made the play of the game, jumping a wide receiver screen, intercepting the pass, and returning it 17 yards for a score to put Arizona State in front 14-7.

On the Falcons ensuing possession, they drove the ball down to the Sun Devils 11 yard line, facing a fouth and one. Instead of kicking a short field goal, the Falcons decided to go for it with quarterback Austin Novosad running an option keeper that was stuffed for a one yard loss.

The Sun Devils put together a 15-play drive ending in a 46 yard Carson Smith field goal, to extend their lead to 17-7 late in the third quarter. A key play on the drive was an 18 yard completion to Omarion Miller on third and eight from their own 14 yard line. Arizona State was called for three penalties on the drive, but still managed to come away with a big three points.

Bowling Green followed with a long drive of their own, and looked like they had a big touchdown on a pass from Austin Novosad to Nick Sowell, but the Falcons were called for holding and had to settle for a 35 yard Travis Kenner field goal to cut it to a one score game early in the fourth quarter.

On the Sun Devils next drive, they faced a fourth and five from the Bowling Green 35 yard line. Cutter Boley tried hitting tight end Khamari Anderson, but the pass was knocked away by Dorian Pringle, with Bowling Green taking over on downs at the 35 yard line. Pringle had five pass break ups in the game, keeping the Falcons alive.

As Bowling Green took over, they got a huge third down conversion as Austin Novosad hit Blaine Cleaver for a gain of 25 on third and 22, setting up the Falcons at the ASU 31 yard line. But a wide receiver screen to Ke'Marion Baldwin went for minus one yard, and then Austin Novosad was sacked for a loss of seven. A third down incompletion led to a punt instead of a long field goal attempt.

Arizona State took over at their own eight yard line with 3:53 left in regulation. They would run it ten straight times, bleeding out the clock to secure the victory.

Arizona State outgained Bowling Green 362-262, but had 13 penalties for 125 yards. Cutter Boley struggled, going 22 of 44 for 169 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Halfback Kyson Brown ran it 27 times for 168 yards and caught six passes for nine yards.

The Sun Devils (1-0) will travel to Logan, Utah next Saturday as they open Mountain West play with a game at Utah State (1-1).

Arizona State special teams blocked a field goal.


Jo Jo Johnson's first half interception setup Bowling Green's only touchdown.

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Week #1 saw the opening of conference play for a few Mountain West teams with #12 BYU putting a whooping on New Mexico State 52-14 down in Las Cruces. Colorado traveled to Colorado Springs and blasted Air Force 52-7. Colorado State traveled to Laramie and beat Wyoming 38-20 in the Border War to reclaim the Bronze Boot. North Dakota State picked up their first Mountain West victory with a 32-30 double overtime victory over UTSA in the Alamodome.

#19 Utah beat up FCS opponent Southern Utah, and UTEP was blown out in Norman by the tenth-ranked Sooners. UNLV claimed the Golden Pineapple as they traveled to Honolulu and blasted Hawaii 42-6.

In the Top 25 this week, BYU jumped three spots to #9 in the Media Poll, with Utah moving up one spot to #18. Arizona received votes but was outside of the Top 25. In the Coaches Poll BYU jumped to #15 and Utah moved up to #19. Arizona and Arizona State both received votes.

Week #1: Scores:
#19 Utah 48, Southern Utah 15
#10 Oklahoma 45, UTEP 14
Colorado State 38, Wyoming 20 (Border War - Battle for the Bronze Boot)
Utah State 27, Idaho State 19
#12 BYU 52, New Mexico State 14
Western Kentucky 35, Nevada 21
North Dakota State 32, UTSA 30 (OT)
Colorado 52, Air Force 7
New Mexico 52, Central Michigan 14
UNLV 42, Hawaii 6 (Ninth Island Showdown - Golden Pineapple)
Arizona 34, Northern Arizona 10

National Game of the Week: #9 Ole Miss 24, #24 Louisville 13

MOUNTAIN WEST Players of the Week:
DEFENSE: Jay'vion Cole (CB, Arizona) 9 tackles, 2 INT, PBU
OFFENSE: Zhaiel SMith (WR, New Mexico) 9 rec, 150 yds, 2 TDs