Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Devils' Gonzalez Leads Pac-12 in All-Time Points, Scores Big In Win Over Roadrunners

Zane Gonzales has 424 career points, Leads Pac-12 All Time.

By Mike Stockman

Phoenix Area Sports
Special for TexSport Publications
San Antonio, Texas (September 16, 2016) Arizona State University Sun Devils overcame University of Texas at San Antonio's Roadrunners behind the leg of senior kicker Zane Gonzalez (Deer Park, TX) who scored 14 points of the 32-28 victory at the Alamodome, San Antonio, TX on Friday, September 16, 2016.

Zane Gonzalez, the Pac-12 All Time Leader in points, was two for two from 54 yards in the first half for the Devils. He finished the game with four field goals (distances of 54, 54, 45, and 26) and two extra points. This is the sixth time in his college career to make four field goals in a game.

For the Roadrunners, junior quarterback Dalton Sturm, from Goliad, Texas, led the offense with one rushing touchdown and three passing touchdowns. Sturm had 82 yards rushing, his longest was a 34 yard scamper for a touchdown in the beginning of the third quarter. He threw for 229 yards, completed 19 of 37, with three touchdown passes. His first touchdown pass was a 10 yard pass to JaBryce Taylor in the first quarter. At the end of the first quarter, he connected with Jalen Rhodes for 11 yard touchdown. His last touchdown pass came mid-way through the third quarter, after Devils' dropped a punt, which gave the Roadrunners perfect field position at the 24 yard line. On the next play, Sturm hits Shaq Williams for the 24 yard TD that put them ahead 28-12, but it wasn't enough to outscore the Devils. 

The Devils would put up 20 unanswered points: a field goal at the end of the third quarter, a 45 yard touchdown pass from Manny Wilkins to Frederick Gammage III, and a late fourth quarter, two yard bone crushing run up the middle by Kalen Ballage, giving the Devils the go-ahead score of 32-28.


When asked how the mood was in the locker room after such a close loss, Roadrunners' Coach Frank Wilson stated "
Heartbreaking, disappointed. Pointed out to the guys that we're not quite there yet. We're making leaps and bounds by the day. Great teams know how to finish. We're a work in progress. We're not a great team yet, but certainly we're heading in the right direction."

The Devils' Coach Todd Graham, from Mesquite, TX, now has a 37-19 record as head coach in his fifth season. He is 86-48 overall in his 11 seasons as a head coach. After the victory, Graham stated "“Just really proud of our guys. Proud of the leadership. Again, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you win and we figured out a way to do it. I was gratified as I’ve been to win that game because that game was really, really difficult. It showed a lot a heart to come back.”

The Roadrunners travel to Norfolk, VA to play Old Dominion on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 2:30 p.m ET. The game will be available on TV: KMYS-CW 35 & RADIO: TICKET 760.

The Devils host the California Golden Bears (2-1) on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at Sun Devil Stadium.  Game time is TBD.

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