Arizona State Rules Early but Has to Rally for Victory

Chris Hopkins ran six yards for the winning touchdown Saturday night as Arizona State came from behind to defeat Oregon State, 22-16, in the season opener for both Pac-10 schools.

Hopkins, who gained 135 yards in 24 carries, bounced off a tackler at the line of scrimmage, veered left and lunged for the score.

The Sun Devils got their first touchdown early when Jake Plummer, who started with eight consecutive completions, found Clyde McCoy for a 58-yard score on his first attempt. Plummer found McCoy crossing midfield.

Jon Baker kicked 33-, 24- and 37-yard field goals for Arizona State, which took a 9-0 lead but was up only, 9-7, at halftime after Don Shanklin raced 83 yards to score with 23 seconds left.

Oregon State’s other points came on Randy Lund’s 28-yard field goal and a 68-yard run by J.J. Young.

Oregon State got the ball on its 44-yard line with 3:02 left, but Shanklin was sidelined with a strained right shoulder after gaining 120 yards in 10 carries, and backup Rahim Muhammad couldn’t move the Beavers.

Arizona State’s defense dominated in the first half.

Eric Schmidt ended two possessions with recovered fumbles, and Arizona State kept the Beavers out of the end zone on back-to-back drives.

Oregon State marched from its 20 to the Arizona State 13 in the first quarter. Then Ken Talanoa tackled Young for a three-yard loss.

Seconds later, the Sun Devils dropped J.D. Stewart after a one-yard run on fourth-and-two.

One lapse proved costly, however. On a play that began with 35 seconds left in the half, Shanklin sprinted to his right and raced down the sideline for the score.