Final
Foster, No. 16 ASU down Colorado
Sep 14, 2014 - 7:16 AM Boulder, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - D.J. Foster ran for 147 yards and a score and caught a touchdown pass as No. 16 Arizona State defeated Colorado, 38-24, in the Pac-12 opener for both teams on Saturday night.Taylor Kelly was 13-of-21 for 195 yards and three scores and added a 50-yard TD run before exiting with a right foot injury. Mike Bercovici finished the game at quarterback for ASU while Kelly was shown on the bench with a protective boot on his foot in the fourth quarter.
Foster added 59 receiving yards on four catches and Jaelen Strong hauled in six receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown for the Sun Devils (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12), who improved to 6-0 all-time against the Buffaloes.
Sefo Liufau was 31-of-46 for 278 yards and three touchdowns for Colorado (1-2, 0-1), which has lost 15 straight games against ranked opponents.
Colorado outgained ASU, 545-426, but turned the ball over three times.
The Buffaloes trailed 38-17 early in the fourth and were pinned down at their own 1-yard line following a Matt Haack 42-yard punt.
Christian Powell broke a 42-yard run on the first play of the drive and Liufau fired a 31-yard TD strike that Nelson Spruce came down with in the end zone despite tight coverage from Armand Perry. The score capped the seven- play, 99-yard march and cut the gap to 38-24.
Colorado's defense then forced a quick Arizona State three-and-out, but Sun Devils linebacker Christian Sam intercepted a Liufau pass on a 3rd-and-3 from the ASU 40 to quell the momentum with 4:44 to play.
Earlier, Arizona State raced out to a 17-0 second-quarter lead.
Foster concluded the Sun Devils' opening eight-play, 69-yard sequence with a 15-yard TD run and they got the ball right back when Jordan Simone picked off Liufau on the first play of Colorado's ensuing drive.
Kelly hit Kalen Ballage for a 38-yard score three plays later to give ASU a quick 14-0 cushion.
Zane Gonzalez's 31-yard field goal early in the second made it 17-0.
The Buffaloes, though, responded with a pair of touchdowns.
Liufau fired a 4-yard TD pass to Shay Fields in between three defenders after hitting Tyler McCulloch for a 26-yard gain two plays prior on Colorado's next offensive touch.
Following an ASU three-and-out, Colorado found the end zone again when Liufau hooked up with Spruce for a 15-yard score to whittle the deficit to 17-14 at the 5:39 mark of the second.
The Buffaloes defense forced another Sun Devils three-and-out, but Simone stripped the ball away from Michael Adkins II on the very next play and D.J. Calhoun pounced on it.
Kelly hit Foster in the flat for a 5-yard score three plays later to increase the ASU margin to 24-14.
Kelly finished off ASU's opening possession of the second half with a 1-yard TD pass to Strong before Colorado responded with a 27-yard field goal for a 31-17 Sun Devils advantage.
Kelly's 50-yard TD run made it 38-17 midway through the third.
Game Notes
The Buffaloes were 8-for-18 on third down, while Arizona State finished 4- for-13 ... Bercovici was 2-of-4 for 8 yards ... The Sun Devils totaled 223 yards on the ground.
- Will Oliver extra point is good.
Sep 14 1:38 AM - ARIZONA STATE: 38
COLORADO: 24
End of Regulation
Sep 14 1:37 AM - Sefo Liufau pass to Nelson Spruce for 31 yards.
Arizona State(16) 38, Colorado 23 4th - 8:38Sep 14 1:07 AM - ARIZONA STATE: 38
COLORADO: 17
End of 3rd
Sep 14 12:46 AM - Taylor Kelly pass to Jaelen Strong for 1 yard.
Arizona State(16) 30, Colorado 14 3rd - 13:08Sep 14 12:10 AM - ARIZONA STATE: 24
COLORADO: 14
Halftime
Sep 13 11:44 PM - Taylor Kelly pass to DJ Foster for 5 yards.
Arizona State(16) 23, Colorado 14 2nd - 2:46Sep 13 11:34 PM - Sefo Liufau pass to Nelson Spruce for 15 yards.
Arizona State(16) 17, Colorado 13 2nd - 5:39Sep 13 11:25 PM - Sefo Liufau pass to Shay Fields for 4 yards.
Arizona State(16) 17, Colorado 6 2nd - 10:06Sep 13 11:10 PM - ARIZONA STATE: 14
COLORADO: 0
End of 1st
Sep 13 10:50 PM - Taylor Kelly pass to Kalen Ballage for 38 yards.
Arizona State(16) 13, Colorado 0 1st - 8:39Sep 13 10:30 PM - ARIZONA STATE: 0
COLORADO: 0
1st Quarter - 15:00
Sep 13 10:12 PM
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