Halftime Hits: Arizona State 16, No. 21 Missouri 10
At halftime in Tempe, Ariz., Arizona State leads No. 21 Missouri, 16-10.
-- A tale of two quarterbacks: ASU quarterback Brock Osweiler has racked up 229 yards and two touchdowns on 11-of-14 passing so far. Meanwhile, James Franklin has kept the Tigers in the game with dual-threat play. Franklin has tossed for 118 yards on 12-of-15 passing to go along with 11 carries for 44 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
-- Penalties Galore: After modest officiating through much of the first half, penalties were a common occurrence down the stretch of the first half. The two teams combine for 11 penalties for 110 yards at the half, several of which were of the personal foul variety. ASU coach Dennis Erickson had a quick discussion with officials immediately as the first half drew to a close.
-- Crowd Energy: The rare Friday night primetime start has brought out a big crowd of Arizona State fans in support of the team's blackout theme. The crowd has offered a substantial home field advantage for the Sun Devils.
-- Missed Kicks: Both teams missed a field goal in the first half. Arizona State also missed an extra point after its second touchdown. Missouri kicker Grant Ressel's miss came on a 54-yard attempt as time expired at the half.
-- A Difference in Styles: Offensive scoring and production has been commonplace for both teams, but in different ways. Arizona State has hit big plays throughout the night, none bigger than a 60-yard strike from Osweiler to receiver Aaron Pflugrad on the first play of a drive in the second quarter. Four ASU passes have gone for greater than 20 yards, including two for better than 50 yards. Missouri, meanwhile, has racked up its yards in small chunks, with Franklin averaging just 7.9 yards per attempt.
-- Injury Woes Continue: Missouri entered the 2011 season with four proven running backs on the roster. Now, only sophomore Henry Josey remains healthy. With Marcus Murphy and Kendial Lawrence already nursing serious injuries, starting tailback DeVion Moore suffered a leg injury early and is out for the game.
Follow Maneater staff members Pat Iversen and Nate Atkins on Twitter for updates throughout the game.