Arizona State Gives Snyder Victory Over His Old Team

Grady Benton completed his first eight passes and threw for a touchdown, and Eric Guliford scored on an 89-yard punt return as Arizona State beat California, 28-12, in a Pacific 10 game Saturday night.

The Sun Devils, 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the conference, ended a two-game skid while handing Cal (4-6, 2-5) its second consecutive loss.

The game was the first for Arizona State Coach Bruce Snyder against Cal, the school he left after its Citrus Bowl victory over Clemson last January.

Guliford, Arizona State’s top receiver, moved into seventh place in Pac-10 career receiving with four catches, but his punt return for a score was the key.

It came after Chris Noonan lofted a 52-yard punt that Guliford took on his 11. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound senior split the first two defenders with a burst up the middle, veered right at midfield and outran Noonan and David Binn to reach the end zone untouched.

Earlier, Jerone Davison’s one-yard touchdown run gave the Sun Devils a 7-3 lead, and Benton threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Snyder. Arizona State led, 21-6, at halftime.