ASU scores 2 touchdowns in 10 seconds against UCF

TEMPE — Momentum turned in ASU football’s favor at the end of the first half Saturday when cornerback LT Welch grabbed a pick-six after the Sun Devils had scored at UCF less than 10 seconds earlier.

Two touchdowns in the last minute?

The Sun Devils ended the first half in style. pic.twitter.com/wWvoQqML97

– Arizona Sports (@AZSports) November 10, 2024

Welch is coming off a career game against Oklahoma State, after which he was named to the PFF National Team of the Week. In addition to his pick-six, he had three tackles in the first half on Saturday.

“As soon as I looked up, I saw the ball and said, ‘Okay, okay,'” Welch said. “This is my first-ever pick-six, so I’m glad I was able to do it for the team and put our team in the position we were in.”

The interception was the first play of the game after UCF true freshman Christian Peterson blocked a kick that he slowly took out of the end zone before being tackled. The game has been checked for security.

The Sun Devils had just completed a nine-play balanced drive that culminated in a Chamon Metayer touchdown catch.

The special teams already had a productive day as Montana Warren returned a blocked punt to give the Sun Devils their first points of the game.

With touchdowns provided by special teams and defense, ASU outscored UCF 21-17 in the first half and half as many offensive tackles (three to six).

ASU coach Kenny Dillingham has placed emphasis on the “middle eight” throughout his tenure, referring to the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half.

“The game is changing for us,” Dillingham said after the game.

The touchdowns, separated by less than 10 seconds of game time, were instrumental in Arizona State winning the crucial stretch as the Sun Devils were unable to add to the total early in the second half.

According to Sun Devil Athletics, ASU leads its opponents 63-13 in the segment this season.

Arizona State finished the job, defeating UCF 35-31 on Saturday and is now 7-2 on the season.