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Homecomings don’t get much better than Mike Bercovici’s against USC

Sun Devils quarterback Mike Bercovici passed for 510 yards and five touchdowns against the Trojans last season, including a Hail Mary pass to win the game.

Sun Devils quarterback Mike Bercovici passed for 510 yards and five touchdowns against the Trojans last season, including a Hail Mary pass to win the game.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Homecomings don’t get much better than the one Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici experienced Saturday night against USC at the Coliseum.

Bercovici, who is from Calabasas and played at Woodland Hills Taft High, passed for 510 yards and five touchdowns, including one on a last-second Hail Mary, to lead the Sun Devils to a 38-34 victory.

“I know I needed to get like 150 tickets if I could,” said Bercovici, who started in place of injured senior Taylor Kelly. “I had friends in the USC student section telling me they were cheering for me.

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“Wow, I can’t wait to see my mom, dad, sister, girlfriend. It’s going to be amazing.”

Here’s how Bercovici burned a Trojans’ secondary that had not given up a touchdown pass:

--A four-yard pass to receiver Jaelen Strong in the second quarter tied the score, 7-7.

--A 77-yard pass to Strong – and two-point conversion pass to Kody Kohl – in the second quarter gave the Sun Devils a 15-7 lead.

--A 21-yard pass to running back D.J. Foster pulled Arizona State to within 27-25 with 3 minutes 53 seconds left.

--A 73-yard pass to receiver Cameron Smith with 2:43 remaining cut USC’s lead to 34-32.

--A 46-yard Hail Mary to Strong as time expired gave the Sun Devils the victory.

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