COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Arizona State Falters, Stanford Still Unbeaten

Eric Abrams kicked three field goals and No. 19 Stanford converted two turnovers into 10 points in a 2:09 span of the second quarter, then held on to beat Arizona State, 30-28, in a Pacific 10 Conference game Saturday night.

Stanford, 4-0-1 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-10, was projected by many to finish last in the league, but is off to its best start since the 1951 team won its first nine games.

It was the second loss in a row for the Sun Devils (2-4, 1-3), who had beaten Stanford in eight of the previous nine meetings.

Arizona State, which trailed, 20-14, at halftime and, 23-14, after Abrams’ 20-yard field goal late in the third quarter, closed to 23-21 on Keith Poole’s 39-yard touchdown run off a double reverse with 10 minutes remaining.

Mike Mitchell’s nine-yard scoring run with 6:12 to play gave Stanford a 30-21 lead, but the Sun Devils answered with sophomore tailback Michael Martin’s second one-yard touchdown run of the game with 3:50 left.

Arizona State drove to the Stanford 37 in the final minute, but quarterback Jake Plummer was tackled for no gain on fourth and five. Stanford took over and ran off the final 27 seconds for its first victory here since 1978.

Stanford went ahead to stay at 14-7 on Brian Manning’s 11-yard touchdown run off a flanker reverse 1:33 into the second quarter. It came two plays after safety Josh Madsen returned an interception 27 yards to the Arizona State 15.

One minute later, Kwame Ellis blocked a punt by the Sun Devils’ Lance Anderson and Nicodemus Watts recovered at the Arizona State six. That set up Abrams’ 39-yard field goal.

Abrams added a 29-yarder with 6:39 remaining in the half for a 20-7 lead.

Arizona State closed to 20-14 on Martin’s first collegiate touchdown 1:51 before halftime.

The Sun Devils converted on fourth and one but the play was wiped out by an offside penalty at midfield early in the third quarter and Arizona State was forced to punt. Stanford took possession and drove 87 yards in 13 plays and 6:44 before settling for Abrams’ 20-yard field goal and a 23-14 lead.