(Photo via Brendan O’Keeffe/WCSN)
“We’ll get there. I promise you, we’ll get there.”
Arizona State Football interim head coach Shaun Aguano voiced those words following the Sun Devils’ 34-13 loss to Utah on Sept. 24, his first game as the head man following the relinquishment of Herm Edwards.
The mood surrounding the program was gloomy, but Aguano stayed hopeful.
Since then, the man-in-charge has implemented changes within the program – bringing back old traditions and establishing a family atmosphere.
But arguably not one of those changes would be as defining for the Sun Devils’ success as the two made this week. The former Chandler High School head coach announced he would be more involved with the offensive play-calling, and that there was an open competition for the starting quarterback spot between redshirt juniors Emory Jones and Trenton Bourguet.
Just hours before the Sun Devils kicked off against Colorado on Saturday, multiple reports confirmed that ASU was making the change from Jones to Bourguet, marking the Tucson native’s first career start.
By the time it all went down in Boulder, the totality of Aguano’s offensive decisions came full circle in the 42-34 victory over Colorado, giving the Sun Devils a 3-5 record on the season and the Buffaloes falling to 1-7.
Bourguet showed up ready for the moment, releasing the ball quickly and on-target. The redshirt junior went 9-for-9 passing in the first quarter and led two consecutive touchdown drives to start the game.
With Aguano’s increased involvement in the offense, the Sun Devils used an uptempo pace to take advantage of the Buffaloes’ struggling defense. On ASU’s second possession, Bourguet lofted a beautiful 12-yard pass over the outstretched hands of a Buffaloe defender to redshirt sophomore tight end Jalin Conyers, his first touchdown of the season, to give ASU a 14-3 lead.
Conyers’ success would continue all night long in historic fashion. The 6-4, 265-pound load of a target reeled in six catches for 108 yards and three touchdowns, with his downfield rumblings also including 48 yards after the catch. Conyers became the first ASU tight end with 100 yards in a game since 2012, and unofficially became the first TE in program history to have three scores in one game.
While the Sun Devils continued to put up points, Colorado kept charging back. Junior running back Deion Smith led an efficient ground attack that averaged 4.5 yards per carry in the first half. The rushing game balanced well with the pass, as sophomore quarterback J.T. Shrout – in his fourth career start – showed off the cannon with 123 yards and two touchdowns despite completing just seven passes.
The standout play of the opening 30 minutes came on third-and-12 with Colorado trailing 21-10, as Shrout escaped pressure and threw a 58-yard dart on the run to freshman wide receiver Jordan Tyson to cut the deficit to four. Tyson caught three catches for 102 yards in the half.
But the balance of Bourguet’s aerial attack mixed with senior running back Xazavian Valladay continued to prove too much for the Buffaloes’ defense.
Valladay punched in a one-yard touchdown with 55 seconds left in the opening half, giving the Sun Devils a comfortable 28-17 lead heading into the break and earning the Wyoming transfer 4,000 rushing yards for his career.
Valladay averaged over eight yards per carry in the second quarter and scored three touchdowns in the half, including a 42-yard untouched scamper to the end zone.
The cozy feeling would only continue midway through the third quarter, as ASU mowed down Colorado’s defense on a nine-play, near four-minute drive that culminated in another six points from Conyers, this time on an out route from five yards away.
Still, the Buffaloes stayed in the fight.
After tacking on a field goal following a Bourguet interception in the third, Colorado gained more momentum with two touchdowns in the fourth. The second score immediately jolted the Buffaloes back into the game, as Tyson weaved his way through the Sun Devils’ special teams unit for an 88-yard punt return touchdown to bring Colorado within eight. The talented freshman ended the night with 232 all-purpose yards.
That would prove to be the last life alert for Colorado, who never touched the ball again.
Bourguet and Valladay salted away the game on the following drive with two first downs, and the Buffaloes could not stop the clock enough times with one timeout left.
Valladay’s notable night ended with 123 yards rushing on 23 attempts. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Elijhah Badger recorded his second-straight career game, topping his yardage total against Stanford last week with a game-high 137 yards on eight catches. The offense collectively totaled 557 yards, the first time ASU has eclipsed 500 yards since its upset win over No. 6 Oregon in 2019.
Bourguet finished his virtuoso performance with 435 yards – the most in ASU history for a Sun Devil’s first career start – and three touchdowns on a 74 percent completion percentage.
While Aguano only named Bourguet the starter for one game, the former walk-on shined in his second major opportunity of the season.
Despite facing an opponent near the bottom of several statistics nationally, the offensive strides were clear for ASU, who only scored two touchdowns a week ago.
With Aguano’s second win now under his belt, he seems to be coming around on that promise.
