PENNY LEADS SDSU FOOTBALL TO 30-20 WIN AT ARIZONA STATE

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

September 10, 2017 (Tempe, Ariz.) - Rashaad Penny accounted for 353 all-purpose yards and scored three different ways, leading San Diego State to a convincing 30-20 victory over Arizona State on Saturday night.

The run-heavy Aztecs (2-0) rolled over the Sun Devils from the start, with Penny bursting through for a 95-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Penny added a 99-yard kickoff return for a score and a 33-yard TD reception to help San Diego State (1-10-1) win for the first time in 12 tries against Arizona State (1-1). He had 216 yards rushing on 18 carries.

The Sun Devils had one of their ugliest losses in six seasons under coach Todd Graham, plagued by defensive lapses, missed assignments on offense and a dropped touchdown pass by John Humphrey.

Manny Wilkins threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns for the Sun Devils.

Arizona State's revamped defense gave up nearly 550 yards against New Mexico State last week and faced a bigger challenge against one of the nation's top rushing teams.

San Diego State was seventh nationally in 2016 and opened this season by running for 276 yards in a win over UC Davis, including 197 and a pair of touchdowns by Penny.

Penny got started quickly against an Arizona State, racing off to a 95-yard touchdown after weaving through a hole on the left side.

Arizona State tied it on Kalen Ballage's 1-yard run , but Penny took off again, this time on a 99-yard kickoff return, his school-record sixth kickoff return for a touchdown.

Penny had 178 yards by halftime, helping the Aztecs to a 20-14 lead.

The Sun Devils gave up another big play in the third quarter to fall behind 27-14. Faced with a third-and-21, the Aztecs caught Arizona State in bad coverage and Penny had to make just one move on a pass out of the backfield to score on a 33-yard touchdown.

Arizona State managed 27 yards of offense in the third quarter, but converted a third-and-37 into a 53-yard touchdown catch by Frank Darby early in the fourth. The 2-point conversion failed, leaving the Sun Devils down 30-20.

San Diego State takes on its second Pac-12 opponent in as many games when it hosts Stanford (1-1) on Sat., Sept. 16. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Box score

Postgame notes

Postgame quotes


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.