Arizona State vs. Washington State – Game Recap – November 12, 2022 – ESPN

PULLMAN, Wash. — — Nakia Watson ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns as Washington State beat Arizona State 28-18 on Saturday to qualify for a bowl recreation for the seventh time previously eight seasons.

Cameron Ward accomplished 22 of 37 passes for 219 yards for Washington State (6-4, 3-4 Pac-12), whose protection got here in main the convention in fewest factors allowed per recreation at 20 and managed to stifle the Solar Devils till late within the contest.

Watson rushed for a career-high 166 yards final weekend in WSU’s 52-14 win at Stanford.

“He is given us a spark the final two video games,” Washington State coach Jake Dickert mentioned of Watson. “He is getting powerful, arduous, bodily yards.”

Washington State has gained two straight since enduring a three-game shedding streak midseason.

“They actually need to show the kind of staff they’re,” Dickert mentioned of the Cougars. “This group shall be outlined by how we end.”

Emory Jones relieved Trenton Bourguet at quarterback within the first half and accomplished 15 of 23 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns for Arizona State (3-7, 2-5), which was enjoying in chilly and foggy Pullman for the primary time since 2015.

Xazavian Valladay rushed for 134 yards and a landing for the Solar Devils.

Arizona State coach Shaun Aguano mentioned his staff didn’t execute properly within the first half. “We left our protection on the sector an excessive amount of on these early possessions,” Aguano mentioned.

Washington State scored first, on a 2-yard run up the center by Watson, halfway via the primary quarter.

Washington State’s Leyton Smithson caught a 2-yard landing move from Ward on their subsequent collection, however the conversion kick was blocked and the Cougars led 13-0. Watson had a 20-yard run and a 35-yard move reception on the drive.

Washington State drove to the ASU 2 on its subsequent possession, however Ward’s move on fourth down was damaged up by Ed Woods and the Cougars turned the ball over on downs.

Arizona State punted on its first 4 drives and its fifth ended when Bourguet was intercepted by Chau Smith-Wade, who returned the ball to the 4-yard line. Watson bulled over for a landing and Smithson caught the conversion move to offer Washington State a 21-0 lead.

Jones changed Bourguet on the subsequent drive, however the Solar Devils punted once more.

Watson scored his third landing of the primary half on a 2-yard run on Washington State’s subsequent drive, and the Cougars led 28-0 at halftime.

“They might’ve give up after that first half, however they fought during. It’s simply that enjoying from behind was an excessive amount of. … We will’t let ourselves get down that far,” Aguano mentioned.

The Cougars didn’t rating within the second half.

Arizona State received on the scoreboard when Jalin Conyers caught a brief move from Jones and ran for a 47-yard landing within the closing seconds of the third quarter. The conversion move failed and Washington State led 28-6.

Valladay added a landing run late within the fourth. Jones threw a landing move to Elijhah Badger with lower than a minute left within the recreation, however the conversion move failed.

“That is not ideally how we wished to win that recreation,” Dickert mentioned of Arizona State’s three late touchdowns. “We must be extra mature and deal with leads,” Dickert mentioned. “On the finish of the day we gained it. We gained it ugly.”

Arizona State performed with out injured linebacker Kyle Soelle, who’s the staff’s main tackler.

THE TAKEAWAY

A second consecutive victory allowed the Cougars to grow to be bowl-eligible. Arizona State’s post-season hopes had been extinguished.

UP NEXT

Arizona State hosts Oregon State subsequent Saturday.

Washington State faces former Cougar quarterback Jayden de Laura at Arizona subsequent Saturday.

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