ASU beat UTEP 84-0 on Saturday, October 21st. The game was played at the SDFC fields at ASU’s Polytechnic Campus in Mesa since the Dorsey Intermural fields were being reseeded. The game kicked off at 4 p.m. at which point it was still 98 degrees.
ASU’s front row remained unchanged Nick Booz started at loosehead, Ethan Walls at Hooker and Isaiah Fatigoni anchored the scrum at tighthead. In the 2nd row, Captain Nick Davies partnered with Carter Carlson. In the back row, Landon Lahodny and Kaden Ellison flanked the scrum while Pearse McNamara played 8.
ASU’s backline was mostly the same as the 1st game. Jacob Hurl returned at 9 to partner Teague Perez in the halves. In the centers, Matt Loeffler played 12 and Bennett Ronay played 13. In the back three Evyeni Gavriilidis and Will Quinn started on the wings, while Graham Ferguson played fullback.
UTEP kicked off to ASU to begin the game and were promptly back under their posts after Ronay returned the kickoff 77 meters to score the game's first try. The next kickoff was a similar result, this time McNamara took the kickoff before offloading to Issiah Fatigoni who in turn offloaded to Lahodny who made the linebreak and passed to Will Quinn who offloaded for Carlson to score under the posts.
ASU would be under pressure for a few minutes after giving away a few penalties in their half. They would then turn the ball over and march down the field after UTEP gave away some penalties. From a lineout, ASU went through the hands and Ferguson put Quinn over in the corner. Hurl would return the ensuing kickoff before putting Ronay through the line, Ronay would go some 78 meters for his 2nd try of the game.
ASU’s forwards scored the next two tries Fatigoni barged over from a tap penalty inside 5 meters. McNamara scored next after he picked and went over from the back of the scrum. The scrum would provide another scoring opportunity, the ball spilled out of the scrum and Hurl scooped and scored from 80 meters. ASU’s threat from broken would make itself apparent when Loeffler scored off the kickoff ensuing kickoff.
Ferguson would be the next try scorer crossing in the corner after a set play from a scrum. Hurl would add his 2nd try repeating his trick scooping and scoring from a loose ball at the scrum.
ASU would continue the pressure throughout the 2nd half Taniela Sikalu would score from a pop pass off the deck. Quinn scored from an offload beating 5 guys on the way over the line. Lahdony scored the next try set by an inside ball from Ferguson, Lahdony stepped a player or two on the way to the line. Gavriilidis scored the final ASU try, going 70 meters after ripping the ball out of the opposing winger’s hands.
All in All, ASU dominated the game from start to finish. The forwards looked powerful in open play and the set piece functioned well. The backline looked slick and was efficient when putting away opportunities.
ASU’s next game will be on Friday, November 3rd back at the Dorsey Intermural fields (510 S Dorsey Ln). The A-side will play Red Mountain and the B-side will play Prescott after the A-side game.
