ASU football notebook: Sun Devils’ 'D’ does its job

LOS ANGELES - The last two weeks, Arizona State’s defense has performed more than adequately.

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Read 'Blogging with the Devils'

Some of the scoreboard damage against the Sun Devils has been the result of turnovers and bad field position. And when Southern California on Saturday marched 72 and 80 yards to touchdowns in the first half, ASU adjusted and kept the powerful Trojans under control for the rest of the game.

Most important, the Sun Devils forced five turnovers against USC, one more than their combined total from the first four games of the season.

“We made some mistakes in the first half, but the positive is that we want in at halftime and said that we had to create plays and turnovers to give ourselves a chance,” defensive coordinator Craig Bray said. “They responded wonderfully. We have to build on it and keep the faith. If we keep playing like this, the offense will get better, and we’ll win some games.”

One of the turnovers included ASU’s first fumble recovery of the season, when linebacker Morris Wooten picked up the ball after defensive end Dexter Davis got to quarterback Mark Sanchez. Defensive lineman Paul Unga recovered a fumble, and linebacker Mike Nixon and defensive backs Omar Bolden and Troy Nolan had interceptions.

“I think this is the best we have played all year,” Nolan said. “We started good last week and followed up on what we did at California. We kept rolling with it. Getting turnovers is something we have been trying to do all season. I think we’ve found our identity now, playing hard-nosed defense and getting pressure on the quarterback.”

ASU is getting contributions on defense from a number of young players.

At one point in the game, three of the four defensive linemen were freshmen, with ends James Brooks and Jamaar Jarrett and tackle Lawrence Guy.

WHAT WEBER?

Since having a field-goal attempt blocked in overtime against Nevada-Las Vegas on Sept. 13, kicker Thomas Weber has had a punt blocked against Georgia, a missed field goal at California and two blocked FG tries on Saturday.

“I heard they were low kicks,” said Weber, the 2007 Lou Groza Award winner. “The first time, I came back to the sideline, and coach (Dennis Erickson) said that the ball never got up. The second kick, I thought I hit it well and got it up more.”

USC defensive lineman Fili Moala got his hand on both attempts.

“The films showed that (ASU) had some vulnerability up front, and we were able to take advantage,” Moala said. “I was just fortunate to have my hand up.”

EXTRA POINTS

ASU’s indoor football practice facility was re-inflated on Friday as the school began determining how the fabric roof was damaged in an Aug. 28 storm. The exterior holes and tears on the roof were repaired, enabling the air pressure-supported “bubble” structure to go back up and assessors to enter.

The initial estimate to repair the roof is about $1 million. …

Trojans coach Pete Carroll improved to 8-0 against ASU. The Sun Devils are the only Pac-10 team that has not beaten a Carroll-coached USC squad. …

The victory was the Trojans’ 400th at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. They are 400-123-27 at the facility.