TEMPE, Ariz. “”mdash; UCLA overcame another slow start and leads Arizona State 21-17 at halftime.
After forcing the Sun Devils to punt on their opening drive, redshirt freshman running back Steven Manfro muffed his fourth punt of the season which later resulted in an ASU touchdown on a seven-yard pass from redshirt sophomore quarterback Taylor Kelly to redshirt junior receiver Kevin Ozier. Following a Bruin punt, the Sun Devils sustained a long scoring drive that was capped by a two-yard run from junior running back Marion Grice to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
UCLA answered with two long scoring drives ““ of 12 and 10 plays respectively ““ on successive possessions. The first 75-yard drive featured five rushes by redshirt senior running back Johnathan Franklin, the last of which was a three-yard touchdown run.
The second scoring drive was kept alive by a roughing-the-passer penalty against Arizona State on third-and-five. Four plays later, Hundley found freshman quarterback-turned-receiver Devin Fuller for a 15-yard touchdown, Fuller’s first career reception.
Arizona State regained the lead on a 36-yard field goal by junior kicker Jon Mora early in the second quarter but shortly before halftime, UCLA took its first lead of the game. After redshirt senior punter Jeff Locke pinned the Sun Devils inside their own five-yard line, Kelly rushed a pass to escape a safety that was intercepted by UCLA senior safety Dalton Hilliard.
UCLA capitalized on the turnover with another Franklin touchdown run of five yards to close the scoring in the first half.
Compiled by Sam Strong, Bruin Sports senior staff.