After posting 42 first-half points in three consecutive weeks, the Oregon Ducks couldn’t reach that number when the final horn sounded. Instead, the nation’s No. 24 team dropped its first game of the season in a 37-35 thriller to Arizona State.
Freshman placekicker Brandon Ruiz showed that filling the shoes of Lou Groza winner Zane Gonzalez is a task he can handle. Trailing 35-34, the top kicking prospect calmly drilled a 41-yard attempt with 2:33 remaining to put ASU ahead for good. Ruiz also connected on kicks from 24 and 29 yards earlier in the game.
In a matchup of two offensive minded teams, it was the Sun Devils defense that preserved the victory.