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Osweiler helps Arizona State down Utah

Oct 9, 2011 - 12:36 AM Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Brock Osweiler threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns as the 22nd-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils rallied in the second half to defeat the Utah Utes, 35-14.

The Sun Devil defense forced five Utah turnovers.

"We've been getting turnovers the last three or four games, and that's what it's all about. You look every year at the stats and the best teams are ahead in the turnover margin. That's what happened today. They had five and we didn't have any. Usually you win football games like that," Arizona State head coach Dennis Erickson said.

Matt Willie scored twice for Arizona State (5-1, 3-0 Pac-12) and caught seven balls for 98 yards, while Gerrell Robinson picked up 101 yards receiving on seven receptions.

Cameron Marshall had a score and 47 yards on the ground on 21 rushes for Arizona State, which has won its past three games.

Jon Hays made his first-career start for the Utes (2-3, 0-2) due to a Jordan Wynn left-shoulder injury in last Saturday's game against Washington. Hays threw for 199 yards and a score on 18-of-30 passing, but he was intercepted three times.

"I played okay, beside the turnovers," Hays said. "The offense goes as I go and when I turn the ball over three times, it's not going to help. That pick at the end of the first half took three points off the board. I put the defense in a terrible spot. That could have been a 14-point swing. You never know what could have happened on that drive. I'm just disappointed in how I played."

John White IV ran for 85 yards and a score on 17 carries, while Reggie Dunn caught four balls for 55 yards as Utah dropped its second straight.

The Utes capped off their opening five-play, 46-yard march when White scampered 30 yards on the right side for the game's first touchdown.

Osweiler found Jamal Miles for a five-yard score on a quick slant to tie the game later on in the quarter. Earlier in the drive on a 3rd-and-8, a critical 15-yard personal foul penalty on Matt Martinez kept Arizona State's possession alive.

The Sun Devils tacked on an Alex Garoutte 27-yard field goal with 1:22 to go until halftime. Marshall ran for 30 yards on three carries on the drive, while Osweiler found Kevin Ozier for a 19-yard completion on a 3rd- and-11.

Hays led the Utes to the Arizona State 16-yard line on their ensuing possession, but Eddie Elder intercepted a Hays pass in the endzone with 28 seconds left in the half.

A holding penalty by tackle John Cullen on Utah's opening possession of the third quarter negated a 73-yard catch-and-run by DeVonte Christopher down the left sideline. But two plays later, punter Nick Marsh ran for 15 yards to pick up the first down on a 4th-and-2.

Utah used more trickery on the next play using a flea-flicker to gain 46 yards when Kenneth Scott got free down the middle of the field on a deep post. A roughing the passer penalty on the play put the ball on the Arizona State five-yard line. Hays completed the nine-play, 79-yard march when he found tight end Dallin Rogers in the endzone for a two-yard score to give Utah a 14-10 advantage.

Osweiler picked up a pair of fourth downs with his legs to set up Garroutte's second field goal of the game, this time from 35 yards out, to make it 14-13. Osweiler moved the chains on a 4th-and-1 in Utah territory with a quarterback sneak, and then scrambled for five yards on a 4th-and-3 on the next set of downs.

White fumbled on Utah's next possession to set up Arizona State in prime field position at the Utes' 44-yard line. The Sun Devils capitalized when Osweiler found Willie for a 14-yard touchdown reception. Aaron Pflugrad hauled in a pass from Osweiler to convert the two-point conversion. Willie had a 32-yard reception earlier on in the drive.

The Utes turned the ball over for a fourth time on their first offensive play on their ensuing possession. Hays threw late and behind his intended receiver in the flat, and Clint Floyd came up with the pick. The turnover led to a four-yard touchdown run by Marshall to give Arizona State a 28-14 lead late in the third quarter.

Osweiler found Willie for his second score on a back-shoulder fade from 12 yards out early in the fourth to break the game open.

Game Notes

Arizona State leads the all-time series 17-6, including a 4-3 mark in Utah, although the schools hadn't met since 1993...Both schools were conference rivals in the WAC from 1962-1977...Osweiler ran for 34 yards on seven carries.