Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham’s team made numerous plays throughout all four quarters of the Sun Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

However, following the game, Dillingham repeated the same eight-word phrase.

“[Duke] just made one more play than us.”

That one-play deficit ended up being the difference, as the Blue Devils (9-5) prevailed in a 42-39 track meet over the Sun Devils (8-5) on Wednesday afternoon at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The win capped off a historic season that saw Dake take home its first ACC outright title since 1962 and deliver payback for the 2014 Sun Bowl, when ASU beat them 36-31.

Yet, Wednesday’s victory did not come without mistakes, as Duke turned the ball over on downs inside the Sun Devils’ 10-yard line with three minutes remaining.

However, Blue Devils sophomore linebacker Kendall Johnson forced Sun Devils freshman running back Jason Brown Jr. to fumble, as freshman safety Ma’khi Jones jumped on the loose ball, giving Duke possession on the ASU 22-yard line.

Two plays later, Blue Devils sophomore quarterback Darian Mensah found sophomore wideout Que’Sean Brown on a quick pass to the left. From there, Brown found a lane all the way to the endzone and eventually to the inflatable bowl of Frosted Flakes on the sideline to celebrate Duke taking the lead with just over two minutes in regulation.

Mensah and Brown gave the Sun Devils' defense nightmares all game.

Mensah finished 29-for-51 with 327 yards passing, four touchdowns and an interception on a last-ditch throw at the end of the first half. Likewise, Brown hauled in 10 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite Duke’s late-game heroics, ASU senior quarterback Jeff Sims had another chance to lead his team down the field to either tie or retake the lead with 2:10 left in regulation, trailing 42-39. 

However, after a quick first down, Sims’ pass over the middle sailed past his intended target and into the hands of Blue Devils sophomore linebacker Luke Mergott. 

A completion from Mensah to senior wide receiver Sahmir Hagans later converted a fourth-and-4 to seal the bowl game and Duke’s ninth win. 

Dillingham cited the late slew of ASU turnovers as a key factor that ended the Sun Devils’ hopes of a ninth win.

“You’re not gonna win many games when you lose the turnover battle like that,” Dillingham said.

Outside of the late pick, Sims was impressive for ASU, going 27-for-38 for 375 yards passing, three touchdowns and an interception through the air while picking up 70 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Despite that, the ending still left Sims disappointed.

“When the time came for me to make a play, I didn’t,” Sims said. “That’s probably gonna be the only thing I’m thinking about.”

Sims led the Sun Devils offense to 619 total yards, setting a single-game record for yards by a single team in Sun Bowl history.

That wasn’t the only Sun Bowl yardage record broken on Wednesday, as the two sides combined for the most yards in a single Sun Bowl with 1,158.

Both squads gave the bulk of their carries to freshmen, and both reaped the benefits. 

Blue Devils freshman running back Nate Sheppard turned 22 carries into 170 rushing yards and a score, while Brown ran for 120 yards on just 12 carries for ASU.

The Sun Devils also got a big game out of junior wide receiver Jalen Moss, who grabbed five catches for 129 yards and was able to find the endzone once.

Mensah and the Duke offense did damage in large chunks through the air, taking advantage of the depleted ASU secondary early and often in the first half. 

In the first quarter alone, the Blue Devils’ reliable connection of Mensah and Brown capitalized on poor coverage over the top for two big plays that both ultimately resulted in touchdowns.

Overall, the two offenses combined for 11 plays that went for 25-plus yards in the contest.

Although the game didn’t end up on the Sun Devils’ side, Dillingham still credited the leaders of this year’s team and their role in the rejuvenation of ASU football.

“Not many people can completely flip an organization upside down,” Dillingham said. “They’ve done that.”