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Arizona State vs. Colorado final score: Sun Devils hold off Buffaloes, 38-24

By Phil Watson

Sep 13, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back D.J. Foster (8) dives for a touchdown during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field . Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back D.J. Foster (8) dives for a touchdown during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field . Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 16th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils picked up a win in their Pac-12 opener, taking advantage of three turnovers to hold off the Colorado Buffaloes 38-24.

However, the Sun Devils (3-0, 1-0) may have lost quarterback Taylor Kelly to a right foot injury. Kelly left in the third quarter and was in a walking boot and on crutches on the ASU sideline:

On a chilly night in Boulder, Colo., with an early-season snow lightly falling, the Sun Devils jumped out to a 17-0 lead before the Buffaloes (1-2, 0-1) fought back.

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D.J. Foster—who finished with 148 yards on 20 carries for Arizona State—opened the scoring with a 15-yard run a little more than five minutes into the game.

Colorado appeared to be in business after Phillip Lindsay returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards, but Jordan Simone picked off Sefo Liufau’s pass on the first play of the drive and two plays later, Kelly hit Kalen Ballage for a 38-yard score that put the Sun Devils up 14-0.

Zane Gonzalez booted a 31-yard field goal in the first minute of the second period to give Arizona State a 17-0 lead.

Colorado fought back, with Liufau capping a 10-play, 77-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Shay Fields. Liufau engineered another long drive on Colorado’s next possession, capped by a 15-yard TD strike to Nelson Spruce.

The Sun Devils answered with a 5-yard touchdown connection from Kelly to Foster with 2:46 left in the first half that came off another Colorado turnover, a fumble by Michael Adkins II that was recovered at the Buffs’ 9-yard line.

Arizona State got it back to a 17-point cushion on the first possession of the second half, capping a six-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Kelly to Jaelen Strong. After a Colorado field goal, ASU took a 38-17 lead on a 50-yard touchdown run by Kelly. Colorado got it back to within 14 on Liufau’s 31-yard touchdown to Spruce midway through the fourth quarter.

Kelly finished the night 13-for-21 passing for 195 yards and three touchdowns and also ran six times for 70 yards and a score.

Christian Powell had a big night for Colorado on the ground with 118 yards on 11 carries. Liufau went 31-for-46 for 278 yards and three TDs, but also threw two interceptions.

ASU is off until Sept. 25, when the Sun Devils host 3-0 UCLA.

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