(Tempe, AZ) The fun of being in the Big XII is occasionally playing on a Friday night. Utah and ASU got that opportunity tonight.
Cam Rising, the Utes seventh year quarterback was slated to start for the first time since opening week when he was knocked out of the game with a thumb injury. Utah had a bye week that followed their home loss to Arizona, but still in ranked in the Top 25 at #16.
The Sun Devils are coming off a thrilling victory over Kansas but now are playing on a short week of practice. Arizona State is just two wins away from Bowl eligibility and has already surpassed the last two years in wins.
First Quarter
Utah got the first possession as ASU deferred after winning the coin toss. The Utes started out pounding the ball on the ground successfully. The Sun Devils defense finally stopped the drive but Cole Becker kicked a 48 yard field goal after a 46 yard drive. The Utes up 3-0 at the 9:57 mark of the opening quarter.
On the first Sun Devil drive, Sam Leavitt’s arm was hit while throwing and was picked off by Falcon Kaumatule.
Utah with excellent field position at the Devils 28 yard could only move the ball six yard and once again settled for a 40 yard field goal to make it 6-0 Utah with 7:14 to go in the quarter. ASU dodged a bullet with some good defensive play.
Leavitt’s pass to Xavier Guillory gained 27 yards got the Sun Devils into Utah territory for the first time. Two plays later, Leavitt scrambled and picked up the first down to keep the drive alive.
On another third and nine, Leavitt feeling the pressure from the Utah front line used his legs to again get the first down.
The next play, Leavitt hooked up with Jordyn Tyson for a 26 yard touchdown pass, but ASU missed the extra point to remained tied at 6-6 at the 2:04 mark.
The Devils defense stepped up and got Utah in a three and out. After a fast start, the Utes offense looked very lethargic.
Second Quarter
ASU’s offense continued to gain yardage with a good mix of run and pass. Leavitt left the game after taking a big hit from the Utah front line. Backup Jeff Sims came in, but Dillingham decided to keep the ball on the ground as the Devils were knocking at the door. Sims walked into the end zone from the two yard line to give ASU the lead after a 72 yard drive 13-6.
Utah’s running game had been inconsistent to this point, but Micah Bernard busted a 20 yard cutback run to put the Utes in business. Two plays later however, Rising was picked off by Caleb McCullough at the ASU nine yard line and another turn away by the Sun Devil defense.
Even in the shadow if their own goal line, Sims looked poised at he hit Tyson to get the offense a little breathing room at the 29 yard line.
With a chance to put more points on the board and gettting the ball first in the third quarter, Arizona State couldn’t covert a key third down and gave the ball back to the Utes.
The Utes with under two minutes drove 60 yards to the Sun Devil twelve yard line but had to settle for their third Becker field goal of the game from 29 yards out to cut into ASU’s lead 13-9 that ended the half.
Halftime
Both schools had opportunities to put more points on the scoreboard, but penalties and turnovers thwarted drives.
With Leavitt’s upper back injury, that may change the ASU play calling in the second half. Jeff Sims did fairly well under the circumstances. Leavitt did come back on the last play of the half to take a knee.
Third Quarter
Leavitt did return to start the second half, however they failed to get a first down with a three and out.
Utah on the other hand started strong with a 23 yard run by Bernard to set them up near midfield. Rising under pressure threw an interception but flag was thrown for targeting on Clayton Smith. After reviewing the penalty was withdrawn and the interception stood.
Even with the turnover, the Sun Devils couldn’t convert their third down attempt and were forced to punt.
Utah took advantage of the situation and marched down the field in spite of penalties. Rising’s passed were much more accurate in the third quarter than his 7-20 performance in the first half.
Bernard came alive with his running between the tackles and the Sun Devil defense had difficulties tackling him.
Down in the red zone, the Utes initially had difficulties advancing the ball until Bernard scored untouched from the 6 yard line to give Utah their first lead of the game 16-13 with 3:19 left in the quarter.
Needing to stop the Utah momentum, the drive didn’t start off well as they were flagged for a motion penalty. The next snap Leavitt hit Tyson for 22 yards.
On a crucial third and two, Skattebo took an inside handoff and was stopped initially after four yard gain but then busted off two would be tacklers and kept his feet and scored on a 50 yard run to give the edge back to ASU 20-16.
This was a big test for the ASU defense to keep the momentum. Utah didn’t comply as they racked up back to back first downs to end the quarter.
Rising continued to move his team downfield with four consecutive plays of ten yards or more.
A huge holding penalty put Utah at a third and sixteen. The following play gained eight yards and the Utah staff decided to go for it on fourth down with eleven minutes left. Arizona State’s secondary had blanket coverage and the check off pass was far short of the first down. Ball turned over on downs to the Sun Devils.
ASU was a carbon copy of the Utes futility as they inexplicably went on fourth and a long yard and came up empty to give Utah the ball with a short field at the 29 yard line.
Needing a touchdown, the Utes drew up a play that initially scored, but an illegal pick took the touchdown off the board and Becker kicked his fourth field goal from 46 yards to draw Utah within a point 20-19 and 5:42 left.
Facing a third and six, Leavitt rolled right and threw off his back foot, but Skattebo made a lunging catch for 21 yards and a key first down.
That opened up the offense for a 47 yard run into the end zone. The drive went 75 yards in only five plays and the Devils led 27-19 with only 2:41 left in the game.
Utah needing a touchdown and a two point conversion to tie had the ball at their own 37 yard line and two minutes to play.
Rising’s pass on third and ten and the game on the line, was intercepted by McCullough with one hand and sealed the deal for Arizona State.
Photo – Sun Devil Athletics
Wrap Up
Even with the Utes taking a late third quarter lead, that did not detour ASU from coming back to take the contest and up their record to 5-1.
The Devils defense did not get a lot of pressure on Cam Rising until the fourth quarter, but when they did, it came at crucial times to keep the edge.
The offensive line provided big holes allowing Skattebo’s 22 carries for 158 yards along with 41 receiving yards and his 50 and 47 yard breakaway touchdowns.
Tonight’s attendance on a late Friday night kickoff was 45,310 and a overflow student section.
Up Next
Arizona State travels to Ohio to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats (3-2, 1-1) trying to earn their first Bowl Game appearance since 2021.
