College Football

Arizona State vs. Stanford 2013 final score: Cardinal beat back Sun Devils' comeback for 42-28 win

The Cardinal had to hold on to their big first-half lead after a heated fourth quarter comeback from the Sun Devils.

By Peter Berkes Sep 21, 2013, 10:35pm EDT

It looked like it was going to be an easy night for the Cardinal before a furious fourth-quarter rally by Arizona State made things interesting, but the comeback try fell short and Stanford went on to a 42-28 win.

The Cardinal started very quickly, building a 29-0 lead in the first half, and they looked like they could do anything they wanted on offense. However, the mistakes started to build up in the second half, and sloppy play and a turnover allowed Arizona State to climb back in the game. Taylor Kelly went wild in the fourth quarter, tossing three touchdown passes and bringing the score to 39-28.

It wasn't meant to be, however. Stanford took the ball back with 6:18 left to play, and bled the clock dry on a long, grinding drive that ended with a field goal with 31 seconds remaining. It was a valiant effort from the Sun Devils, but ultimately, the hole they dug themselves in the first half was just too deep.

Box Score Hero:

Taylor Kelly had a fantastic second half for the Sun Devils in a losing effort, going 30-54 for 368 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Honorable mention goes to Stanford's Ty Montgomery and Tyler Gaffney, who each scored a pair of touchdowns.

Rankings Ramifications:

The Cardinal came into the game ranked fifth in the AP and USA Today polls, and that probably won't change with the win. Arizona State will drop out of the top 25 from 23rd with the loss.

But Did They Cover?

Stanford was a 6.5-point favorite at kickoff, so they safely covered the spread.

For More On This Game:

For more on the Cardinal, check out Rule of Tree.

For more on the Sun Devils, head over to House of Sparky.

Next Week's Schedule:

Stanford: 9/28, at Washington State

Arizona State: 9/28, vs. USC