COLLEGE STATION, Texas— The little things held Arizona State (1-1) back from taking an early lead before three fourth quarter turnovers resulted in a 48-20 blowout loss to No. 10 Texas A&M (2-0).

 

Turnovers, penalties galore

 

Sophomore receiver Cory Butler muffed TAMU’s second punt following their second consecutive three-and-out. The Aggies scored the first touchdown of the day two plays later.

 

The Aggies scored following every turnover they got, a total of 24 points. Another touchdown was scored when ASU got a stop on fourth down, but a defensive holding penalty extended the TAMU drive.

 

The Sun Devils ended with nine total penalties.

 

“There was a lot of little plays out there that stacked,” ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham said.  “So I need to go watch the tape because it wasn’t like discipline penalties just off the start.”

 

Later in the game, a pick six after junior quarterback Cutter Boley was hit shifted momentum. Dillingham took responsibility, saying he called a shot play that he shouldn’t have.

 

Boley’s second interception was a communication issue, according to Dillingham.

Boley said the loud environment didn’t affect him, and that it was “same old football”. He’s experienced in the hostile SEC environments, playing at Georgia and Auburn last season with Kentucky.

 

Harris shines again

 

Boley leaned on senior wideouts Omarion Miller and Reed Harris once again. The duo accounted for all but three of Boley’s 21 completions.

 

Harris continued to dominate, building on his 139 yard first half against Morgan State with another 108 first half receiving yards against the Aggies, including ASU’s lone touchdown.

 

He added a second touchdown on a 58-yard catch-and-run that put the Sun Devils within four points of TAMU. His day ended with nine catches and 189 yards receiving.

 

Harris was limping during on ASU’s second-to-last drive. The drive after, he did not come on the field. The score was 48-20 at that point, so there’s a chance it could be a “better be safe than sorry”, but it wasn’t entirely nothing.

 

will now head across the pond to face Kansas at Wembley Stadium in London, and hope to flush the loss in College Station.

 

“Stats are for losers and our stats showed that we played well tonight and that’s there for losers and that’s a great example of it,” Dillingham said.

 

But it does show that we can be competitive. 
It does show that we can hang and shows we have a good football team, and we gotta clean up the important things and we can do that.”