Arizona State Sun Devils Take Care of Oregon State While Moving Up to No. 22

Well, it wasn't as easy for Arizona State as some had expected on Saturday night.

The Oregon State Beavers (0-4) were visiting the Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1), and many were expecting Arizona State to take care of things easily after defeating the USC Trojans in Week 4. The Sun Devils won 35-20, but the game was a lot closer then the score told.

Oregon State was missing their leading offensive threat, running back Malcolm Agnew. If Agnew played in the game, who knows how it could have actually turned out.

Arizona State started out the game extremely slow. They started out going with Brock Osweiler and the pass, but the Beavers were expecting it as the game started out with an early pick by OSU in the Sun Devils first series.

That interception led to a Beaver score, putting OSU up 3-0.

After Cameron Marshall had a huge 140-yard, three-touchdown game against USC, the Sun Devils started to rely on the run. That got the offense nowhere, as the rush was stopped twice and led to a second consecutive turnover by quarterback Osweiler when he fumbled on the ASU 25-yard line.

The second turnover led to another Oregon State field goal. The positive note at this point for the Sun Devils was that they were at least stopping the Beavers from scoring touchdowns.

After the field goal, the Sun Devils got the ball back on offense, and perhaps we might as well press replay because the drive once again led to an Osweiler interception. Three straight drives, three straight turnovers. 

In the third drive, the Sun Devils were making progress down the field. They received a 15-yard face mask penalty, and it put them at the OSU 35. The Devils were not able to come through though, and they ended up turning over the ball.

Let's just say the fans were getting restless in Sun Devil Stadium.

The turnover led into the second quarter, where OSU backup running back Terron Ward ran it in for a 10-yard rushing touchdown. This score put OSU up 13-0, and it was not the game that people were expecting.

Arizona State started to figure things out, getting the ball moving on the ground and the air. Jamaal Miles got the ground game going, picking up 12 yards. Throughout the drive, Osweiler connected with Jamaal Miles and AJ Pickens who caught a touchdown pass from Osweiler to finish the drive.

Arizona State started playing better of defense and offense. The Sun Devils, not turning the ball over, shut down OSU on their next two drives.

In the following drives, Arizona State scored a touchdown on a pass from Osweiler to Gerell Robinson, and Jamaal Miles returned a punt for 50 yards to put the Sun Devils up 20-13.

The first half was closed out with missed field goals by both teams, ending the half at 20-13.

Arizona State started out the second half just as they began the first. Osweiler threw a pick in the Sun Devils second drive. This turnover resulted in an OSU touchdown pass from Sean Mannion to James Rodgers.

Arizona State responded though with a few big rushing plays by Miles and passes by Osweiler. The drive resulted in a 37-yard Cameron Marshall touchdown run. This put the Devils up 27-20, and it was all the Devils needed to take the game.

The Sun Devils started the fourth quarter with another Cameron Marshall touchdown, and with a 35-20 lead, the game was out of reach for the Beavers.

Oregon State made an effort to turn the game around, but quarterback Sean Mannion ended up closing the game throwing two picks, eliminating any type of comeback for the Beavers.

Arizona State's defense played decently well. They finished the game with four interceptions and one fumble recovery, but they also allowed 388 total yards.

Osweiler finished with 258 total yards, passing for two touchdowns and three interceptions. It was not his best performance, but he at least kept his composure after so many turnovers.

Marshall didn't have as big of a game as he did against USC, but 80 yards and two touchdowns is great for the star back on his road to recovery.

The Beavers definitely gave the Arizona State Sun Devils a scare, but they at least came out victorious.

The Devils next visit Utah and then No. 9 Oregon. Dennis Erickson will need to keep his players' heads high, and with a victory over Utah, will set up a huge Pac-12 matchup at Oregon.