This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Tempe, Ariz. • It's not exactly breathing room, but Arizona State controls its own destiny after beating Utah 19-16 in overtime late Saturday.
Remaining for the Sun Devils: Three Pac-12 games, and two against Pac-12 North cellar-dwellers Oregon State and Washington State. To finish, of course, Arizona.
"We're in the driver's seat," said senior quarterback Taylor Kelly, who was notably pedestrian in his second game back from a foot injury, finishing 18-for-32 for 205 yards, one touchdown and one interception. "That's where we want to be. We just have to keep getting better each week."
The Sun Devil offense may not be doing so, lately — with a dwindling point total in its last four victories — but the defense certainly is. ASU outgained Utah 444 yards to 241, and the Utes, Huskies and Cardinal have combined for just 36 points in three games against Todd Graham's group — thought before the season began to be the team's weakness.
Senior safety Damarious Randall, who finished seven tackles, one for a loss and two pass breakups, credits the improvement to "guys believing in each other and trusting the scheme."
"Basically, just listening to our coaches and doing what we're coached to do. I just think we have a swagger about ourselves. Once that swagger gets established, we just swarm the ball and everybody trusts each other."
The Sun Devils blitzed and blitzed, and Utah was unable to make them pay, recording just 57 yards passing while absorbing three sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Before they return to Pac-12 play, the Sun Devils host No. 10 Notre Dame, "a game that the players are excited about," Graham said.
"These guys are winners," he said. "When you win close games, it makes you better. When we beat Wisconsin [32-30] last year, that game really helped us. It builds character, and it builds belief."
They'd better believe it.
Ready and waiting for a slip-up are the two-loss Utes, Wildcats, Bruins and Trojans.
— Matthew Piper
Twitter: @matthew_piper