Upset in L.A. ASU Beats USC on a 46-yard Hail Mary

By Francisco Romero.-

Picture Courtesy of ASU Athletics

Down by 2 points with seven seconds to go in the game Arizona State needed a miracle, and a miracle they got.

 ASU’s quarterback Mike Bercovici connected with Jalen Strong on a 46-yard Hail Mary to stun No. 16 Southern California 38-34.

“Words can’t express what that felt like. It was one of the hardest fought games I’ve been a part of. I’m so proud of our team and coaches and how hard they worked and prepared.”  Arizona State Coach Todd Graham said after the game, “I don’t know if it gets any better than that. That was awesome,” he added.

Bercovici is playing in place of injured quarterback Taylor Kelly; he finished 27-for-45 for 510 yards and five touchdowns, and did not throw an interception.

“I’ve never been able to throw a Hail Mary before. I’d like to think I’d be good at it. To be honest I didn’t think I threw it well. It looked like a duck but my god, I didn’t know what happened to be honest,” Said Bercovici after the game.

Wide receiver Jaelen Strong recorded 10 catches for 202 yards and three touchdowns, including the 46-yard Hail Mary pass to seal the game.

“It was just a play we work on every week. It’s a game of inches and that’s the things we work for all off season,” mentioned Strong.

The Sun Devils improved to 4-1, 2-1 (Pac-12), while USC’s record stands now at 3-2, 2-1 (Pac-12).

USC’s quarterback Cody Kessler finished 8-45 for 273 yards.  Trojans running back Javorius Allan carried the football 29 times for 143 yards.

This is the second consecutive season the Devils have beaten a top-25 team on the road, and both occurred in Los Angles (38-33 win at No. 24 UCLA on Nov. 16, 2013).