(Atlanta, GA) Arizona State has been flying sky high for two weeks after disposing of Iowa State in the Big XII Championship Game.
Now reality in Atlanta came to pass as they faced an incredibly sound Texas Longhorn team that was favored by near two touchdowns. Will any rust show with the layoff?
Experts have said all week that the Sun Devils will have to play an almost perfect game and not beat themselves in order to advance to the National Semi-Final game. Others, after weak efforts by some of the other CFP Teams argued that ASU may not have earned their first round bye.
First Quarter
The Sun Devils got the rock first. Texas showed its defensive ability by getting an apparent three and out, but the Longhorns were flagged for running into the kicker and a new set of downs.
Arizoana State converted the second chance by getting their initial first down. Texas was again penalized with a face mask on Sam Leavitt and another first down.
Early on, the Longhorn secondary had gotten good coverage on the ASU receivers. Texas stopped the Devils at the 22 yard line but Carsten Kieffer got them on the board with a 32 yard field goal. ASU up 3-0.
Texas’ first play from scrimmage saw hit Matthew Golden in stride for 54 yards to the ASU 23 yard line. The very next play, Quinn Ewers threw at touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr. and the Horns showed off their offensive power scoring in thirty six seconds taking the lead 7-3.
The Horns secondary continued to befuddle Leavitt and the Devils with blanket coverage forcing a punt.
Kanyon Floyd fielded the put and ASU overran the coverage allowing a 75 yard return for another touchdown and a quick hole for the Devils down 14-3 with just over half of the opening quarter gone.
Confusion continued offensively for Arizona State when receivers ran misroutes and the Horns had bottled up Cam Skattebo forcing another three and out.
Texas on only their third attempt from scrimmage, when Prince Dorian broke through the offensive line and sacked Ewers. A short run gained backed 4 yards but still made it third and twelve. The following play, a long pass was incomplete forcing the Longhorns into their first punt.
Leavitt using the quick release pass, got ASU back to back first downs. Skattebo followed with a 7 yard run. The Devils got a key first down on a reviewed play to keep the drive alive in Longhorn territory.
With Texas size and strength, the Sun Devils needed a touchdown not to settle for three points.
Second Quarter
A fourth down and two was stuffed by the Texas front line and a turnover on downs.
The Horns converted their third and short opportunity early in their possession. A pass interference call against Arizona State put Texas into Sun Devil territory.
The next play, Wisner took a Ewers pass up the sidelines for a big gain down to the twenty one yard line.
Devils defense stiffened but was flagged for an offside and the Texas offense returned for a fourth and two which they converted.
The Longhorns settled for a chip shot field goal ro make the score 17-3, but it could have been much worse for ASU.
Leavitt having to run for his life completed a third and long for 23 yards. Skattebo had two runs combined for 15 yards and the Sun Devils had an opportunity but a big hit Michael Taaffe.
Coach Dillingham was forced to go on a fourth and ten due to a lack of a good kicking game. Leavitt was sacked to turn the ball back to Texas again. Empty possessions were killing ASU.
Keyshaun Elliott came up big tackling Ewers short of a first down for forcing a punt and a good defensive stand by the Devils.
With just over two minutes until halftime, Arizona State had a fourth and nine from their own 29 yard line. A fake punt surprised Texas as Blazen Long-Wong an offensive lineman hauled in a pass from punter Kanyon Floydfor 32 yards on an incredibly risky play for a first down with the Devils needing to score.
In their hurry up offense, Leavitt and Sun Devils stalled. A last second Keiffer field goal attempt was blocked and another opportunity was turned away for a 17-3 Texas lead at the half.
Halftime
Arizona State led in almost every stat category except the score. The Sun Devils controlled the clock only because Texas had their quick strike offense rolling.
Another huge issue for ASU was their inability to flip field possession because of a sporatic field goal game that has plagued the team all season long. Case in point, three times the Sun Devils had to go on fourth down and failed when a proficient kicker could have added nine points.
Texas special teams were key in the first half with the punt return for a touchdown and the blocked field goal.
Third Quarter
Both teams did little to begin the second half, but at the 7:43 mark, Wisner fumbled at his own two yard line as Ewers recovered but in the safety for a safety. ASU trailed now 17-5.
Two big injuries hit the Longhorns as Taafee left the game for the Texas defense and Malik Muhammad was injured tackling Skattebo.
Arizona State began their drive on their own thirty one yard line using Skattebo and Kyson Brown on the ground until Leavitt found Melquan Stovall but he lost two yards forcing a 36 yard field goal to tighten up the score 17-8.
The Sun Devils made good adjustments on defend to h0ld the Horns scoreless in the third quarter.
ASU got the running game going in the quarter but Texas had possession to end the quarter.
Photo – Brynn Anderson/AP
Fourth Quarter
Another key for ASU was Shamari Simmons who was forced to sit out the first half as a result of a targeting call in the Big XII Championship Game came in and caused havoc with the Texas receivers.
The Horns finally got going and drove to the Sun Devils six yard line as a result of a long pass from Ewers to Matthew Golden.
On a third and goal, Ewers rolled right and saw everyone was covered tucked it in to score on a thirteen play drive to get Texas on the board in the second half and a 24-8 lead with 10:17 left in the game.
Now down by two scores, the Devils had to get something going. Skattebo being able to get better room to run was spelled by Brown after needing a rest from constant hits from the Texas defense.
On a crucial third and ten, Skattebo returned to the game and banged out 15 yards to keep their drive going.
On a second third and ten, Stovall caught a pass but was two yards short. What happened next, would make the highlight reel when Skattebo took a pitch right and stopped and pass to Malik McClain who caught it at the twelve yard line and raced into the end zone. Needing a two point conversion Skattebo again found Guillory in the back of the end zone and just like that, the Devils were back in the game 24-16 with 6:40 left in the game.
Texas got the ball back and the clock on their side. After a running play, Ewers threw deep but Isaiah Robinson cut underneath to pick it off and could ASU possible pull this out?
Leavitt hit Skattebo on a go route to Skattebo for 62 yards to make it first and goal on the Texas eight yard line.
The Longhorns committed their second pass interference on Guillory, this one in the end zone put the ball on the two yard line first and goal.
After the injury timeout, Skattebo blasted the ball in for a touchdown. Leavitt had to scramble from sideline to sideline and threw incomplete but a defensive holding call gave them a second chance and it paid off by you know who, Skattebo avoided a near tackle in the backfield to covert the two point conversion to tie the game 24-24 with five minutes to go.
As Texas scored quickly twice to being the game, the Devils returned the favor late in the fourth quarter.
Now Texas had the pressure on them as the overwhelming favorite. Ewers converted an important third down as they wanted to milk the clock and set up for a possible game winning field goal.
At the two minute timeout, Texas was in field goal range. After going nowhere, all time field goal kicker Bert Auburn missed a 48 yard field goal wide right and the Devils still had a chance to pull it out in regulation.
After a presnap penalty and two incomplete passes, Leavitt hit Stovall and was blasted immediately but was short of a first down. A targeting review was denied.
ASU was forced to punt not taking a risk with still time and two timeouts for the Longhorns. Floyd only got off only a 32 yard punt.
A slant route to from Ewers to Ryan Wingo went for 27 yards and Texas was in position to win.
With two seconds left, Auburn hit the left upright for his second consecutive miss and this game went to overtime.
Stoval catch with helmet to helmet contact but no targeting call on Texas. Photo – X
Overtime
Texas won the coin toss and as expected wanted to play defense first.
After a near miss touchdown imcompletion, the Devils faced a fourth and one as Dillingham called a timeout.
A quarterback sneak by Leavitt gained the first down and was confirmed by replay.
Devils had an illegal formation penalty backing them up five yards. Skattebo wasn’t able to break free on the next play for no gain.
A tired Skattebo was spelled by Kyson Brown who only got a yard. On a third and fourteen, Leavitt weaved himself down inside the five yard.
Skattebo came back in and drug a 335 pound defensive tackle into the end zone for an ASU lead 31-24 and now Texas had their opportunity in overtime.
Texas had problems on their possession but on a fourth down, Ewers placed the ball perfectly to Matthew Golden from the 28 yards out and the game went to double overtime.
Double Overtime
The Longhorns didn’t waste any time as they scored on the first play with a 25 yard pass to Gunner Helm. The two point conversion was successful on a pass to Golden.
Arizona State now had the pressure on them as they hit Skattebo on a check down pass. An incomplete pass followed.
The Dream died two plays later when Leavitt was picked off by Andersen Mukuba to end the game with Texas winning 39-31.
Winning Touchdown Texas
Wrap Up
This game was a tale of momentum and resiliency of both teams. Each had the other by the throat and the heavily favored Longhorns met their match with the Big XII Champion Sun Devils.
Senior Cam Skatttebo won the Peach Bowl Most Valuable Player in the loss.
Texas will have a sizable advantage next game in their home away from home, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. They’ll face the winner of the Rose Bowl Game with Oregon and Ohio State.
For Arizona State, although it was not to be, they far exceeded anyone’s expectations this season being picked to finish last in the Conference.
Kenny Dillingham turned this program around in two seasons and now has the responsibility to continue to build and compete for future Big XII Titles and national relevance after a season for the ages.
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