Andrew Walter is being inducted into the Arizona State Athletic Hall of Fame next month.

On Saturday night, ASU needed him -- or someone of his caliber -- on the field. Like in 2002 when Dirk Koetter brought Walter off the bench and the then sophomore quarterback rallied the Sun Devils from 22 points for a 39-28 win at San Diego State.

In just the second meeting against the Aztecs since then, junior quarterback Manny Wilkins played from start to finish, throwing for 298 yards and two touchdowns, but it was not nearly enough to prevent the Sun Devils' first loss to the Aztecs in 12 meetings, 30-20.

Now 1-1 going to Texas Tech (1-0), ASU already is off track on its narrow path to a .500 or better season given a daunting schedule ahead that includes four nationally ranked opponents. For Todd Graham and his coaching staff, there is much to figure out on the fly to have any chance of averting a third straight losing season.

"Obviously there's a lot of things we can clean up," offensive coordinator Billy Napier said. "Execution wasn't great at times. We struggled to protect at times. But it goes back to staying on schedule and finding a way to rush the ball effectively. Overall, not good enough to win."

The Sun Devils were outrushed 279-44 with San Diego State coach Rocky Long flat out saying, "They were going to air it out anyway (in the second half) because they can't run it. It is the style of offense they run."

Ouch.

Senior tailback Kalen Ballage had 12 carries in the first half and only three in the second when he was limited due to an injury. Senior Demario Richard did not play so that left sophomore Nick Ralston as the primary second-half back. Freshman Eno Benjamin likely will get more time going forward.

"Nick did a nice job," Napier said. "We've got to get healthy and have a healthy group so we can have a good rotation."

Down 20-14 at halftime, ASU still trailed by that margin halfway through the third quarter when instead of punting it tried to convert a fourth-and-7 at the San Diego State 42-yard line. Wilkins threw an incomplete pass intended for N'Keal Harry, a gamble compounded further when the Aztecs scored on a 6:28 drive capped by a 33-yard touchdown pass on third-and-21.

"We took a look at what they were in and had what we wanted," Napier said. "N'Keal did a great job on his route. The protection was good. Manny would be the first to tell you he's got to stand in there and make that throw. If we make that play then we're talking about what a great decision that was. We had the look we wanted and we took it."

Defensive coordinator Phil Bennett said the ensuing touchdown -- Christian Chapman throwing to running back Rashaad Penny, who easily juked safety Dasmond Tautalatasi to reach the end zone -- was the "biggest play of the game. Unfortunately Christian (Sam) came off the back, saw the quarterback scramble and it ended up he (Penny) scored on us. That would have put us in position the last drive to win."

San Diego State led 27-14 at that point and added a third field goal early in the fourth after a Wilkins fumble. ASU was fortunate to connect for a 53-yard touchdown on third-and-37 but failed on a two-point conversion pass attempt with 8:34 left.

Penny rushed for 216 yards, averaging 12 yards per carry. He broke through the line for 95-yard touchdown -- third longest in San Diego State history -- on third-and-6 for the game's first score then bested that with a 99-yard kickoff return for another TD.

Penny's rushing touchdown was reminiscent of last week when New Mexico State ran for a 50-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter because of a misalignment. And of mistakes in the previous two seasons.

"We gave up the big play early," Bennett said. "I'm not going to argue, but JoJo (Wicker) says he got tackled. We lost the fit. Then I thought we sort of got in a groove. We got some stops.

"They're methodical. When things start happening, we were closing gaps, you start missing tackles. We had guys right in the hole. Penny is a good back. We probably could have played a few less snaps if we would have made the tackles early. They create gaps (with motion). Some of them are change of strengths. The second half they did some true unbalanced stuff.

"We had some plays behind the line that got us the ball back. We got them off rhythm a little bit."

For a second game, ASU played primarily its defensive starters throughout although Devil back Koron Crump was out at times when Bennett wanted a bigger front that included Renell Wren to stop the run.

On offense, Zack Robertson played some at right tackle with Quinn Bailey shifting to right guard. Wide receiver Ryan Newsome (quad) missed a second game.

"It was good to get Zack back," Napier said of Robertson, who started five games in 2016. "Obviously he's got some experience and that will help us."

On defense, ASU now must shift gears and prepare to defend pass-happy Texas Tech, which threw for 540 yards last season in a wild 68-55 loss in Tempe.

And if the offensive and defensive issues weren't enough, ASU, typically sound on special teams, "dismantled" itself in that phase of the game, Graham said.

"I'm not out here to say they played with grit," Bennett said of the defense. "We're out there to win. Do your job. This won't define us. We'll work to get better."

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