ASU got the kind of response it needed Saturday night: a steadier, cleaner performance and a 30-12 win over Hawaii at Mountain America Stadium after last week’s loss to Baylor had raised real questions about where the team was headed.
Freshman Cardae Mack was the spark. He broke loose for a 67-yard touchdown in the third quarter and finished as the Sun Devils’ top runner with 13 carries for 154 yards and two scores. It was the most touchdowns by an ASU freshman since Keegan Herring in 2005.
"Truly a blessing," Mack said about his performance. "Everybody did their part. I've been practicing hard, doing everything right in practice; it's paying off."
ASU’s passing game settled in around senior wide receiver Reed Harris and senior wide receiver Omarion Miller. Harris got the Sun Devils on the board with an 18-yard catch for the first score of the game, and the duo accounted for 14 receptions combined by the end of the night. Harris posted 91 yards and two touchdowns, while Miller finished with 78 yards.
Junior quarterback Cutter Boley had a productive night as well, going 21-for-31 for 189 yards and two touchdowns while adding 40 yards rushing. With more time in the pocket and no offensive penalties slowing things down, ASU kept drives alive and scored on more than half of its first-half possessions, putting up two touchdowns and a field goal before the break.
"Our guys were a lot more (intentional) in how we played," coach Kenny Dillingham said. "I thought we played harder.
I thought that was clear. I still think we're trying to figure us out, though.
That's just being transparent."
The game’s rhythm changed when lightning in the area delayed the start of the second half and rain hit hard enough to clear much of the crowd into shelter. Hawaii never found its footing after that pause, and ASU held the Rainbow Warriors without a point in the third quarter.
The defense also produced its only takeaway of the night when junior defensive back Kyan McDonald was in position for a turnover after Hawaii wide receiver Kainoa Carvalho popped the ball back up to him midway through the third.
"Going out there and playing with passion," junior linebacker Martell Hughes said about the defense's improvements. "That was the biggest thing that was missing last week."
Still, Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado was a problem throughout the night. He extended plays by rolling left and opened the game with a 47-yard completion on the first snap. Later, he hit junior wide receiver Audric Harris for a 32-yard touchdown, the Rainbow Warriors’ only score.
The fourth quarter turned messy for ASU’s defense as back-to-back pass interferences and a personal foul gave Hawaii a chance to tighten things up. But the Sun Devils answered by forcing a turnover on downs, taking the ball back and closing the door.
"I thought we communicated better," Dillingham said on defensive improvements. "We had people on people.
I know that sounds boring and fundamental, but that wasn't always the case last week. So, that was a step forward."
ASU now turns to a road test in Lubbock against No. 11 Texas Tech, the reigning Big 12 champions, on Oct. 17.
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