The first play of the second quarter of Saturday night's Arizona State-Oregon State game was a pass interference penalty against ASU. The second was was 10-yard touchdown run for the Beavers' Terron Ward, and Oregon State went ahead 13-0.
Then the bad bounces and breaks began to go the Sun Devils' way, as they put together a scoring drive that ended in Brock Osweiler's 17-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Pickens on a crossing route that saw PIckens outrun his defender to the sideline, turn upfield and score.
The touchdown seemed jumpstart the previously mistake-prone Devils. Though they punted on their next possession, the Beavers' Jordan Poyer muffed the catch and Oliver Aaron recovered the fumble to give the ball back to ASU.
That was one big break. The second came moments later, when running back Cameron Marshall was ruled to have fumbled on a carry, but coach Dennis Erickson called time out and the play was reviewed. The call was overturned, and two plays later Osweiler checked down and found Gerell Robinson for a 24-yard TD pass with 7:56 left to make it 14-13 ASU.
Now the Sun Devils were rolling, and soon the crowd was rocking again. The defense forced a three-and-out and OSU was forced to punt.
The ball came down to Jamal Miles, who took off up the middle of the field and sprinted 78 yards for ASU's third touchdown of the quarter.
Safety Eddie Elder dropped a sure interception with 4:06 left that extended an Oregon State drive, but the Beavers, who seemed to find any and every reason to hand the game to the Sun Devils, missed a chance for more points. Trevor Romaine missed a 34-yard field goal.
ASU drove the ball to the OSU 18, Osweiler hitting Robinson for 44 yards on one play, but Alex Garoutte missed a 35-yard field goal try to 1:03 left before halftime.
Still, the Sun Devils ended a dominant second quarter with Orashon Irabor's interception with 40 seconds to go. Osweiler was 14-for-22 for 188 yards, two TDs and two interceptions but was also sacked three times, including on the last play of the half.