(San Francisco, CA) Sun Devil Football claimed three of the six Pac-12 Player of the Week honors, the conference announced on Monday afternoon.
Center Leif Fautanu was named the Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week. Kicker Dario Longhetto earned Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Defensive lineman B.J. Green took home Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week. It is the first time that three Sun Devils have been named Pac-12 Player of the Week in the same week since 1993. Arizona State swept the awards when running back Mario Bates (Offensive), linebacker Dan Lucas (Defensive), and kicker Jon Baker (Special Teams) earned the honors after a 32-17 win over No. 19 Washington on Oct. 30, 1993.
The current Sun Devil trio of Fautanu, Green, and Longhetto were all essential to the excellent performance in the annual Homecoming game. Arizona State took down Washington State at Mountain America Stadium, 38-27, on Saturday night. Arizona State’s first Pac-12 win of the season is also the first for head coach Kenny Dillingham. The Sun Devils started the game by scoring touchdowns on three of its first four possessions. Dario Longhetto hit a 51-yard field goal as time expired on the half to give ASU a 24-21 lead at intermission.
Using the momentum of that kick, ASU went 75 yards on 12 plays to start the third and opened a 31-21 advantage with a 6-yard rushing touchdown from Elijhah Badger. DeCarlos Brooks scored his third touchdown of the contest to open the fourth quarter on a drive that lasted 1:05 and covered 75 yards on just three plays, with Leif Fautanu and the offensive line paving the way. Several key stops on the final drives by B.J. Green and Ed Woods late in the game sealed the victory. Cam Skattebo led the team with 121 rushing yards – his most as a Sun Devil – with a career-long 66-yard run in the second quarter. He scored his seventh touchdown of the season to cap the scoring drive. Brooks scored three touchdowns on the ground while gaining 67 yards rushing.
This is only the second time in program history Arizona State has had three Pac-12 Player of the Week honorees in the same week. Since 1983, Sun Devils have won a total of 149 Pac-10/12 Player of the Week Honors. Click here for a full list of recipients.
Dario Longhetto – Special Teams Player of the Week
Sun Devil kicker Dario Longhetto delivered another strong performance handling both the placekicking and kickoff duties. Longhetto nailed a 51-yard field goal at the end of the half to give Arizona State a 24-21 lead heading into the break, one they would not relinquish on their way to a 38-27 victory. He was also a perfect 5-for-5 on extra point attempts and is now a perfect 16-for-16 on the season. It was the first 50+ yard field goal by a Sun Devil since Oct. 8, 2022.
B.J. Green – Defensive Lineman of the Week
Sun Devil defensive lineman B.J. Green was dominant in Arizona State’s 38-27 victory over Washington State on Saturday. Green put forth an extremely productive effort for a defensive lineman, causing problems for the Cougars offense. He finished with five total tackles (four solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback hurries. Green’s presence opened up opportunities for the entire defensive line, as the Sun Devils had eight tackles for loss and three sacks as a team. He now has at least one tackle for loss in five games and at least one sack in four games this season. According to PFF, Green’s six pressures were the fourth-highest total in the league.
Leif Fautanu – Offensive Lineman of the Week
Arizona State’s offense racked up 509 total yards (274 passing and 235 rushing) with Leif Fautanu and the offensive line leading the way. It is the first time the Sun Devils have eclipsed 250 passing yards and 200 rushing yards (234) in the same game since a victory over No. 15 Utah Nov. 3, 2018 (285 passing, 251 rushing). Arizona State finished with 235 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, with Fautanu serving as the mainstay in the middle. Three different players found the end zone via the rush, led by DeCarlos Brooks’three-touchdown effort. The five rushing touchdowns as a team are the most since ASU ran for six in a victory over Southern Utah in the 2021 season opener. It is the most in a FBS game since the Sun Devils ran for six in a victory over Oregon State in the 2020 season finale. This is one of only 16 times since 1996 that ASU has ran for five or more touchdowns in a game. Fautanu did not allow a single pressure according to PFF. He was also the 15th-highest graded center in the nation according to PFF.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Connor Smith
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