Arizona State Football: 3 takeaways from victory vs. New Mexico State
Arizona State football notched a much needed victory over New Mexico by a narrow six point margin. Here’s what we learned about the Sun Devils.
The Arizona State Sun Devils took an early lead against the New Mexico State Aggies in their Week 1 contest. ASU carried a 14-point lead into the second quarter, as the Sun Devils looked to blow the game wide open ending the first half.
New Mexico State made a big push in the second quarter that brought the game within one point. With Arizona State being such an overwhelming favorite, by 25.5 points, anything less than a dominant victory would be a disappointment. Only one point down at the half, New Mexico State stayed in the thick of things the entire contest.
Quarterback Manny Wilkins did a good job helping Arizona State extend their lead in the third quarter. Since this was a constant game of catch-up for the Aggies, the Sun Devil lead did not last long. Arizona State was outscored 18-7 in the fourth quarter.
Wilkins ultimately led ASU to a victory. However, a six point victory over New Mexico State is nothing for fans to get excited about. This game should not have been close. The Arizona State defense did not look good, aside from two interceptions. They could have a rude awakening when PAC-12 play begins.
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Post game thoughts
Head coach Todd Graham entered the 2017 campaign on the hot seat. Arizona State has not surpassed expectations in a few seasons. After this game, the outlook for the Sun Devils does not look much better than the last few years.
One positive from this matchup is that the Sun Devils snapped their six-game losing streak that started in the middle of the 2016 season. Arizona State was destined for a bowl berth until things completely fell apart at the end of the year.
Getting back to a winning mindset is the biggest thing for Graham and the Sun Devils. The PAC-12 South is a competitive division that can eat up a struggling team fast. Arizona State needed a victory to build confidence entering their Week 2 game.
Now, let’s take a look at three takeaways from Arizona State’s win over New Mexico State.