ASU Vs. Boise State Recap: ASU Gets Throttled By Broncos, Lose 56-24

From the opening kickoff the rout was on. Doug Martin took the opening kickoff 100-yards and ASU quickly found out they were in over their heads. The Broncos outplayed the Sun Devils for four complete quarters and pounded the Devils by a final score of 56-24

Some fans were fooled into thinking that ASU would come out fired up and would "win one for the gipper," they did not. It was the same Sun Devil team that we saw too much of under Dennis Erickson. Undisciplined, uninspired and unsuccessful. 

Credit must be given to Boise State, who played like it had something to prove all night. Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore capped off one of the best careers in college football history in fashion. Moore went 23-30 with 266 yards and two touchdowns. With the victory over ASU, Moore finishes his career with 50 wins, the only quarterback ever to do that. 

Doug Martin finished with over 300 all-purpose yards for the Broncos, including 154 rushing yards and two total touchdowns. Boise State also had two defensive touchdowns on top of the kickoff TD. The Broncos defense held ASU to -6 yards total rushing. Cameron Marshall only had 12 yards on 11 carries. 

The lone bright spot of the night for the Sun Devils was senior WR Gerell Robinson. Robinson had 13 catches for 241 yards and a touchdown. Robinson finished nine yards shy of breaking ASU's single-season record for receiving yards. 

This game was a microcosm of ASU's season. There were penalties (9 for 87-yards), there were glimmers of hope (ASU on the Boise State one yard-line down 18) and there were missed opportunities (too many to count).  

ASU started the third quarter off with a 98-yard kickoff return from Rashad Ross. The defense force turnovers on the Broncos first two third-quarter possessions. However, the ASU offense could not come through with points and was stopped on fourth down twice in the third (including a 100-yard INT return from Boise's Jamar Taylor). 

The ASU defense looked baffled by Boise State's trick plays and complex formations, giving up 460 yards in total offense to the Broncos. 

Dennis Erickson finishes his five years at ASU with a 31-31 record, which is fitting because the Sun Devils have been mediocre at best since 2008. Arizona State did not live up to expectations all year and did not live up to expectations tonight. 

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ASU Vs. Boise State: Third Quarter Recap, ASU Trails 35-10 Heading Into Fourth

Rashad Ross told Doug Martin "anything you can do I can do better." Ross took the second half kickoff 98-yards for a touchdown to give ASU its first touchdown of the night. This after Martin took the opening kickoff 100-yards to set the tone for the Broncos. This time, Ross set the tone for ASU.

Dennis Erickson tried to catch the Broncos napping by attempting an onside kick after the score. Boise was not fooled and the Broncos recovered with good field position. ASU got its first big defensive play of the second half as Will Sutton pressured Kellen Moore and forced an interception into the hands of senior Colin Parker who returned it 40 yards. 

ASU however could not move the ball on the Broncos defense and was forced into a three and out. With the punt team coming on the field Brock Osweiler called them off and adamantly told his team they were going for it on fourth down. The move fired up the ASU fans and his teammates but ended up backfiring as Osweiler threw incomplete intended for Rashad Ross. 

On the next Broncos offensive possession ASU received a gift from the football gods as Kellen Moore fumbled the snap and Jamaar Jarret recovered for ASU. After a pass interference penalty on Boise State Osweiler then pierced the Broncos defense with completions to A.J. Pickens, Gerell Robinson and Trevor Kohl.

ASU was set up on the Boise State two yard-line with three chances to get a touchdown. Cameron Marshall ran the ball twice for one yard total. On fourth down and goal from the Boise State one yard-line Osweiler threw a fade for Aaron Pflugrad, the pass was intercepted by Jamar Taylor and returned over 100-yards for a touchdown. Dennis Erickson tried to run down an official to call timeout before the play but the official did not see him and the play commenced. After a review to see if Erickson got the timeout in time, the play stood as called. 

On the next ASU drive, Osweiler connected with Gerell Robinson on two straight passes that got ASU into Boise State territory. However, the drive stalled after two incompletions and an Osweiler sack. ASU punted for the first time in the quarter. 

Boise State started the drive at their own 20 and marched down the field and at quarters end was inside the ASU 10 yard-line looking to extend their lead. 

ASU Vs. Boise State: Broncos Lead 28-3 At Half In Las Vegas Bowl

The final game of the Dennis Erickson era at Arizona State got off to a somewhat appropriate start. 

ASU won the toss and deferred, but the decision immediately proved costly. Doug Martin returned the opening kickoff 100-yards for the touchdown, putting the Sun Devils in a 7-0 hole just 14 seconds in the game.

The Devil offense was unable to generate anything on their opening drive, but thankfully their defense was able to hold back the Bronco offense on their first drive.

However, after ASU's next punt, the results were not as favorable. Kellen Moore capped an eight play drive with a nice touchdown toss to Tyler Shoemaker, his 16th scoring catch of the year to extend the lead to 14-0.

As expected, the Devils punted after another lame possession, but the defense stepped up to bail them out. Moore hit Shoemaker with a great pass, but it was bobbled into the hands of Clint Floyd for the interception. However, after some promising completions, the drive ended after Brock Osweiler missed a shotgun snap and took a huge loss on a third and three, forcing a fourth punt.

The Broncos shook off the last drive failure by once again marching methodically down the field for yet another touchdown, this time a two-yard pass to Matt Miller to extend the lead to 21-0. And in typical fashion, Vontaze Burfict was called for a personal foul penalty after the score.

The teams then traded punts, before ASU was able to generate a drive. A 10-play drive ended with a 32-yard Alex Garoutte field goal to cut the gap to 21-3. Some history was recorded on the drive when Osweiler threw his 484th pass of the season, setting the school record for throws in a season.

It wasn't long before that lone ASU positive was negated. The Broncos again demonstrated their mastery over the Sun Devil defense by marching down the field and had a first and goal. They then ran a wide receiver option to perfection, as Miller tossed to Kyle Efaw for a five yard touchdown and a 28-3 lead at the half.

Boise State vs. ASU: First Quarter Recap, Broncos Lead 14-0

The stage was set for an emotional victory on the Arizona State Sun Devils sideline. Recently fired head coach Dennis Erickson, with tears in his eyes, spoke on national television about his time in Tempe while the team huddled together and jumped with great anticipation of the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas. 

Then, Alex Garoutte kicked the ball to Doug Martin, and within 15 seconds everything changed. Martin ran the ball all the way back from inside his own endzone to give the Broncos an immediate 7-0 lead over ASU.

The Sun Devils were offensively challenged from the onset, struggling to move the chains in an effective manner. Cameron Marshall was stifled on his first three rushing attempts, picking up only four yards. Brock Osweiler's first three passes only went for a total of 15 yards, and the Devils began the game with a 1-for-3 third down conversion rate. 

After stopping the Broncos one time, Kellen Moore led his offense down the field quickly, confusing ASU with a five-wide formation and locating a wide-open Tyler Shoemaker on the right side of the endzone to give Boise State a 14-0 lead.

The first quarter showed how big the chasm is between the Boise State program and ASU. The Broncos have a stable coach, an experienced core of responsible seniors which lends itself to focused leadership.

The Sun Devils have turmoil in the coaching ranks, being coached by several staff members who are already fired or signed up to coach at other programs next season. One of their seniors has been benched for his bad attitude (Vontaze Burfict) and can't seem to play defense.

ASU committed a ridiculous amount of penalties on their next drive (3 for 19 yards) which pinned them back deep in their own end. Once again, they were forced to punt, which allowed Boise to start a drive on ASU's 48-yard line. Fortunately, a Moore pass bounced off Shoemaker's hands and was intercepted by Clint Floyd, giving the Sun Devils a much-needed boost.

After moving the ball nicely for several plays, the Devils committed another big mistake -- a third-down snap from Garth Gerhart whizzed by Osweiler which effectively ruined any shot at scoring. After the loss of yardage, ASU was forced to punt.

The first quarter ended with Boise State moving the ball to the BSU 29-yard line, leading 14-0. The Broncos must feel pretty confident after such a lackadaisical display by the Sun Devils.

To join the conversation with ASU fans, head over to House Of Sparky immediately.

2011 Las Vegas Bowl: Game Time, Location, TV Schedule, Radio And More

It's about that time folks, time for the Arizona State Sun Devils and the No. 7 Boise State Broncos to square off in the 2011 MAACO Bowl Las Vegas. Both of these teams look to finish off their seasons on a high note, especially the Broncos who were for the second straight season a field goal away from a possible undefeated season. 

This will be Dennis Erickson's swan song at Arizona State as Todd Graham will take over for him next season, and his players will hopefully give their coach all they've got in their last game with him. 

Date: December 22, 2011

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. local

Location: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

TV Broadcast: ESPN (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Tom Rinaldi will call the action.)

Radio:  Tim Healey (play-by-play) and former Sun Devil quarterback Jeff Van Raaphorst (color analyst) will call the action on 620 AM. Sports USA Radio will have national radio coverage.

Head-To-Head: Arizona State and Boise State have met only once prior to the 2011 Las Vegas Bowl. The Sun Devils stomped the Broncos to the tune of 56-7 back on October 5, 1996 in Tempe. The Sun Devils went on to finish 11-0 and played in the Rose Bowl during that season.

For more in depth discussion and analysis of the Sun Devils, make sure you check out House of Sparky to show off your fanhood.  For more on college football in general, check out SB Nation's College Football Page. 

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2011 Vegas Bowl: ASU Playing For Pride, Face Uphill Battle Vs. Boise State

The 2011 Arizona State University football team will finish its rocky and tumultuous season on Thursday night when they face the 11-1 Boise State Broncos in the 2011 MAACO Vegas Bowl. The Sun Devils lost their final four games to go from BCS contention to this trip to Las Vegas. The Broncos were one missed field goal away from an undefeated season and feel disrespected by not getting invited to a more prestigious bowl game. 

Both of these teams have something to prove, but for good reason it's Boise State that enters the game as a 14-point favorite. They have one of the top offenses in the country led by outstanding quarterback Kellen Moore who put up 43 points per game.

The ASU defense carries most of the blame for the late season collapse. Lacking leadership and suffering from injuries in the secondary they repeatedly gave up big plays at the wrong time. Against the Broncos, the Sun Devil defense will have to play with a lot more pride to keep this game close.

The 2011 Vegas Bowl also marks the final opportunity for Dennis Erickson to coach his team and could be his final game of his long career. Erickson was replaced after the season by Todd Graham but has remained through this final game.

Erickson might have a lot of faults, but he earned the respect and love from his players who are saying the right things:

Erickson era nears end as football faces Boise State | ASU News | The State Press | Arizona State University
Junior quarterback Brock Osweiler: "Coach Erickson has meant everything to me. He’s the man that brought me to ASU. Obviously I want to send him out on a winning note. He deserves that. Coach Erickson has been a father figure so I owe it to him. All the things he’s given to us as players, we understand what’s at stake."

Of course, it's not all positive as Erickson was forced to suspend DE Junior Onyeali for a public outburst aimed directly at his outgoing coach. The Sun Devils will also be without dangerous WR/KR Jamal Miles due to "personal reasons".  

SB Nation's Bill Connelly has a detailed break down of the game with examination of both teams. Here's his conclusion:

Boise State Vs. Arizona State, Las Vegas Bowl 2011: Stable Vs. Unpredictable - SBNation.com
Boise State by 16.7: Boise State holds advantages in all three phases of this game (including, yes, special teams, which cost the Broncos a shot at the national title), and if they show up ready to impress in the final game for one of the nation's most accomplished senior classes, they should not struggle for too long.

They are disciplined in all the ways that Arizona State is not. But the Sun Devils are so deliciously unpredictable and unstable that you never feel confident picking for or against them. Whether a tight game or a blowout, this one should be entertaining.

For more on the Vegas Bowl, visit House of Sparky who posted a detailed podcast breaking down the game as we..

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2011 Las Vegas Bowl: ASU Coach Dennis Erickson Suspends Junior Onyeali

The Arizona State Sun Devils are preparing for their BCS bowl game matchup against the Boise State Broncos at the Las Vegas Bowl on December 22. ASU's head coach Dennis Erickson has already been informed that he will not be back with the school for the 2012 season, with the operating agreement that this bowl game will be his Sun Devils swan song.

Erickson had expressed a desire for the bowl game and associated practices to be business as usual for the team, but the news coming out of the ASU camp on Monday is certainly discouraging.

Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic was the first to report that Erickson suspended Junior Onyeali for the Las Vegas Bowl.

The ASU Devils Twitter feed later elaborated a bit on the suspension.

A short time later, Craig Morgan of CBS Sports reported that another ASU player may be in danger of missing the bowl game.

Certainly, this is not the way that Erickson or the ASU administration wanted things to be shaking out as the Las Vegas Bowl approaches. Stay tuned for further updates on this situation.

For news and information regarding all things Arizona State, please visit House of Sparky. To inform yourself about the ins and outs of Boise State, please visit One Bronco Nation Under God. The full bowl pairings can be located right here.

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Outgoing Erickson Hoping For 'Business As Usual' As Team Prepares For MAACO Las Vegas Bowl

TEMPE -- Twelves days from Saturday, Arizona State faces one of the top college football programs in the nation, Boise State, in the 2011 MAACO Las Vegas Bowl. The Sun Devils opened practice for the bowl game Saturday amid the local buzz about star linebacker Vontaze Burfict, outgoing coach Dennis Erickson on the sidelines for his last game and the search for a new head coach.

School officials requested media members refrain from asking Erickson, who was made available after practice, about his future or thoughts on his job and the situation at ASU. But that didn't deter questions to players about Erickson nor about the process of finding a new leader for the program.

Quarterback Brock Osweiler said he was among nine junior-class players asked to meet with Lisa Love, ASU vice president for university athletics, recently. He was asked why he thought current offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone would be a good head coach for ASU.

"Obviously I would like Coach Mazzone to stay here. I'm the first one to admit that I would not be where I'm at today without him," Osweiler said, then called Mazzone a "father figure."

Osweiler added that all of the talk about who will be the new coach has weighed on him a little, but he's trying to stay out of the hiring process and expressed faith in ASU for picking the right candidate.

"I'm going to trust that that's the best coach for the job. I'm going to believe in the coach. So I'm trying to stay out of it and let the professionals do their job," he said.

Erickson was asked about the enigmatic Burfict, whose lasting legacy in Tempe might be the image of him standing on the sideline with helmet in hand late in the season finale at home against Cal, yanked from the game after costly personal foul penalties he incurred. Burfict practiced Saturday but not with the first-team defense.

"There's no plan for anything until we go through practice," Erickson said, not committing to giving Burfict  -- once regarded as one of the top defensive players in America -- back his starting job. 

Burfict will make the trip to Vegas with the team, Erickson said, refuting a report that he refused to go back into the Cal game.

"It's amazing the rumors that are created in your business," Erickson said before labeling Burfict's 2011 season "pretty average. He just didn't play like he did the year before."

"He's here. We'll see how he practices. If he practices hard, then he'll play."

Erickson then turned the focus to the team and the bowl game. 

"It's an opportunity for them to play one of the best teams in the country and finish if off right. Go out and compete and see what we're all about," Erickson said. "We want to finish off the season right and play with pride... We'll prepare the same way that we always have, and we will. It's business as usual but obviously it's the last game of the season, it's a little different situation."

Lost in all of the news of the day was the fact that the Devils had a spirited practice that saw recovering defensive back Omar Bolden take part in individual drills wearing a brace over his left knee, and some good action. Erickson said Bolden should be ready for Pro Day next spring, when NFL scouts come to campus to see what outgoing players have pro potential.

"It was good to be back," Osweiler said. "Great energy, great enthusiasm... These two weeks that we had off were very refreshing."

Osweiler and senior defensive tackle Bo Moos expressed a desire to win the game for Erickson and for themselves and the team.

"I expect us to play with that passion and I expect us to be hungry and ready for a win," Moos said. "Just wiping the slate clean... we're just coming together and trying to get this one for Coach Erickson."

The Devils (6-6) are two-touchdown underdogs to the BCS No. 7-ranked Broncos (11-1) and golden-armed QB Kellen Moore, and are coming off a run of poor play to end the regular season.

"That's fine. There was a lot of games this year where no one gave us a chance," Osweiler said. "But the beauty of football is they put their shoes on the same way we do and we're going to go out there and lay everything on the line."

Note: DE Junior Onyeali was not at practice. He was attending a funeral for a family member.

2011 MAACO Bowl Las Vegas: Arizona State Vs. Boise State Set To Be Dennis Erickson's Swan Song

Dennis Erickson's tenure as head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils has seen more than its fair share of ups and downs. Following a shaky 2011 season in which the Sun Devils finished 6-6 overall, with a 4-5 record in the Pac-12, Erickson was informed that he would be released from his contract before 2012.

Even after losing their last four regular-season games, ASU ended the season as a bowl eligible team, ensuring Erickson would have one final chance to coach the Sun Devils. On Sunday, the bowl pairings were announced, and the Sun Devils are set to face the No. 7 Boise State Broncos on December 22nd at the 2011 MAACO Bowl in Las Vegas.

The Sun Devils will be facing a formidable opponent in Boise State. The Broncos finished their first season in the Mountain West Conference with an overall record of 11-1 and were 6-1 in conference play. The only game they lost in 2011 was to eventual MWC champions TCU.

The Sun Devils would appear to be major underdogs going into this one, but it's clear that the ASU players are looking forward to this bowl game opportunity, reports Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic.

"To be able to go to a bowl game in a city like Las Vegas and play an opponent like Boise State, wow," senior defensive tackle Bo Moos. "One last chance to play on national TV against a ranked opponent . . . that is why you play this game."

For news and information regarding all things Arizona State, please visit House of Sparky. To inform yourself about the ins and outs of Boise State, please visit One Bronco Nation Under God. The full bowl pairings can be located right here.

2011 Bowl Matchups: Arizona State To Take On Boise State In 20th Annual Maaco Bowl Las Vegas

Bowl matchups are set in the wake of the 2011 college football regular season and the Arizona St. Sun Devils have accepted a bid to play in the 20th Annual Maaco Bowl Las Vegas against the Boise St. Broncos. The Sun Devils are 12-10-1 all-time in bowl games and will look to snap a two-game postseason skid against the Broncos in roughly three weeks.

The Sun Devils will make their first bowl appearance since 2007, when the team played in the Holiday Bowl. Of course, ASU had much higher aspirations after beginning the season on a 6-2 run. Four straight losses, however, leave the Sun Devils in the Maaco Bowl.

Arizona State still has a chance to close out the 2011 season with a strong statement against a very good Broncos team. Boise State went 11-1 this season, with their lone loss coming against the TCU Horned Frogs 36-35 on a late two-point conversion.

Head coach Dennis Erickson, who will be coaching his last game as ASU's head coach, had this to say about the matchup:

"The goal at the beginning of the year for any college football team is to play in a bowl game. I am so proud of our players and my coaching staff. We are grateful to the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas and the city of Las Vegas for giving us this opportunity. We are honored to be a part of it. We are playing one of the nation's top teams in Boise State as well."

The game will be played at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas on Dec. 22nd, beginning at 6:00 MST time. It will be covered by ESPN and ESPN3.

2011 Bowl Matchups: Arizona State's Uneven Season Ends With Bowl Game

The Arizona State Sun Devils had a season of ups and downs, but will cap off the 2011 season with a bowl game appearance.

2011 Bowl Predictions: Arizona State Looks To Be Las Vegas Bowl Bound

The Arizona State Sun Devils are bowl eligible, and are waiting to see which bowl they will be selected for on Sunday evening. It's down to one of two choices, and odds are good that the Sun Devils are Las Vegas bound.