On a blustery evening, where winds reached into the 20-miles-per-hour range at Folsom Field for the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Colorado Buffaloes, senior place kicker Mason Crosby used the wind to his advantage and boomed the opening kickoff out of the endzone. ASU quarterback Rudy Carpenter subsequently threw two incomplete passes to bring up third down and a draw play handoff was fumbled by ASU running back Ryan Torain after he was hit by CU corner back Terrance Wheatley. The Buffs recovered the fumble in ASU territory at the 22-yard line.
The Buffs first two offensive plays netted only five yards, and on third down a slant pass from quarterback Bernard Jackson intended for wide receiver Pat Williams was incomplete. Crosby would come on for a 33-yard field goal and made it to put CU ahead 3-0 with 12:57 remaining in the first quarter.
Arizona State’s second possession saw a second down throw by Carpenter go incomplete, yet a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty gave ASU an automatic first down. After the penalty, ASU running back Keegan Herring burst down the CU sideline for 15 yards and the Sun Devils advanced into Colorado territory for the first time in the game. After two ASU runs gained five yards, the 3rd-down-and-five play resulted in a first down for the Sun Devils after a 10-yard pass to Michael Jones. ASU would enter the red zone with a Carpenter to wide receiver Jammal Lewis for 11 yards and a 1st down. A two-yard swing pass to Torain on 1st down, a 5 yard run on 2nd down, and a 5 yard pass to tight end Zach Miller later, and ASU had a first and goal at the Buffaloes 3-yard line. On second and goal, Carpenter floated a pass to the end zone that was broken up by CU corner back Lorenzo Sims.
On a big third down and goal play, Carpenter kept the ball on a boot leg and raced for the corner of the endzone only to be smacked out of bounds by Buffs linebacker Jordon Dizon at the 1 yard l The play was reviewed by replay officials, and it was ruled that Carpenter fumbled the ball forward and it hit the pylon of the endzone, resulting in a touchback and a turnover that gave the ball to CU at their own 20 yard line.
After the touchback turnover, CU quickley turned to their ground game and running back Hugh Charles, as he burst for 5 yards on first down. Quarterback Bernard Jackson gained another five on a second down scramble, and third down saw ASU linebacker Beau Manutai sack Jackson, forcing CU to punt deep in its own territory. Punter Matt DiLallo’s punt bounced 50 yards.
ASU began their third possession of the game by going down field on first down, and the deep pass was dropped by an ASU receiver. On second down, running back Herring broke outside for a 12 yard gain and an Arizona State first down. Another dropped pass by the Sun Devils on second down brought up a third down and 9 yards to gain play. On the play, Carpenter’s pass was complete to tight end Miller for 10 yards and another first down. On the next play, Carpenter bootlegged to his right and threw to receiver Terry Richardson for 19 yards and yet another first down.
On the next play, Torain ran straight up the middle for a 10 yard gain and another quick first down for the Sun Devils. Another 10 yard burst by Torain was called back because of a holding penalty on the next play. On 1st down and 20, a flase start penalty moved ASU back another five yards for a 1st down and 25. A draw handoff to Torain got ASU 9 yards back. On second and 16 Carpenter completed a deep corner route to receiver Nate Kimbrough for 18 yards and a first and goal to go. The next play, Torain ran into the end zone from 8 yards out to give Arizona State the lead, capping a 65 yard drive that lasted 4:47 for ASU. The point-after touchdown was made, and with four seconds left in the 1st quarter, Arizona State led Colorado 7-3. The ensuing kickoff to CU wide receiver Stephone Robinson was downed in the end zone to conclude the first quarter.
CU ran only six offensive plays in the entire first quarter.
End of 1st quarter: Arizona State 7, Colorado 3.
