CORVALLIS, Ore. — Jake Luton passed for 288 yards and four touchdowns, leading Oregon State to a 35-34 victory over Arizona State on Saturday night.
Oregon State’s defense came up with two second half turnovers, and a key stop on a 2-point conversion attempt to help preserve the win.
The Beavers (5-5, 4-3 Pac-12), who won just two games last season, are one victory away from becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2013. Arizona State (5-5, 2-5) lost its fourth consecutive game after a promising start.
The outcome was in doubt until the final seconds.
On fourth-and-8 from the Beavers 12-yard line with less than two minutes left, ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels delivered a strike over the middle to Brandon Aiyak for a touchdown.
The Sun Devils elected to go for the 2-point conversion but running back Eno Benjamin had nowhere to go on a pitch left and his desperation heave into the end zone was intercepted by cornerback Nahshon Wright.
OSU recovered the onside kick. On fourth-and-2 with 42 seconds left, Luton’s pass intended for Trevon Bradford was incomplete, but cornerback Jack Jones was called for pass interference to give the Beavers a first down.
Daniels completed 24 of 36 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns. Aiyuk had 10 catches for 173 yards and score.
The Sun Devils had 408 total yards of offense compared to 393 for the Beavers, who defeated ASU for the first time since 2014.
Luton shined on senior day, completing 26 of 35 passes with no turnovers.
ASU threatened to score the game-tying touchdown with 10 minutes left, but Benjamin fumbled at the 1 after a hit by safety David Morris. The ball was recovered in the end zone by safety Jalen Moore for a touchback.
Tight end Noah Togiai’s 12-yard touchdown reception, which featured a highlight-reel leap over Jones at the 5, extended the Beavers’ lead to 35-21 at 4:14 of the third quarter.
The score was set up by defensive end Simon Sandberg’s sack of Daniels, whose fumble was recovered by linebacker Riley Sharp at the Sun Devils’ 28-yard line.
Back came the Sun Devils.
A 56-yard pass to Aiyuk, who got behind OSU’s secondary, led to an 8-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams, cutting the lead to 35-28 at 2:19 of the third quarter.
Artavis Pierce fumbled the ball away after a hit by defensive end Roe Wilkins on the ensuing possession — the Beavers’ first lost fumble of the season — and ASU took over on OSU’s 41.
But the Beavers’ defense stepped up. Linebacker Omar Speights’ 13-yard sack of Daniels on third-and-long forced a punt.
After not scoring an offensive touchdown in last week’s 19-7 loss to Washington, OSU took the opening kickoff and went 80 yards on eight plays, culminated by Luton’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Jesiah Irish.
THE TAKEAWAY
Arizona State: The Sun Devils have to beat Oregon or Arizona to become bowl eligible for the ninth time in the last 10 years. … Benjamin, who rushed for a school-record 312 yards in last season’s 52-24 win over the Beavers in Tempe, Arizona had 70 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown Saturday. … Wide receiver Kyle Williams extended his streak to 38 games with at least one reception, the fourth-longest current streak in the FBS.
Oregon State: Sixteen seniors were honored in a pregame ceremony, including offensive tackle Blake Brandel, who made his 45th consecutive start. … Junior linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr. recorded his two sacks giving him 14, a single-season school record. … Hodgins’ second quarter touchdown reception gave him 13 on the season, the second most single-season mark in school history behind Brandon Cooks (16 in 2013).
UP NEXT
Oregon State plays at Washington State on Saturday.
Arizona State hosts No. 6 Oregon on Saturday.
