(Photo via Rebecca Striffler/WCSN)
This week began a new era for Arizona State Football, with the departure of head coach Herm Edwards and former running backs coach Shaun Aguano stepping into the role. Yet there was not much new from the Sun Devils on Saturday night against the No. 13 ranked Utah Utes, falling 34-13.
With such an abrupt change of leadership, the Sun Devils presented a message of unity before kickoff, as Aguano and the entire team walked through the tunnel with arms locked.
“[Our] head coach got fired this week,” redshirt junior quarterback Emory Jones said. “We look at each other and that’s all we have. We are just going to stay together for the rest of the season, offense and defense.”
Entering the game, ASU’s adversity was also heightened due to an injured secondary, as the Sun Devils were without three of their top four cornerbacks in addition to safety Kejuan Markham. Junior quarterback Cameron Rising picked apart the defense in the first half, only missing on four passes and throwing for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
The Utes got to work early, first capitalizing on a 22-second, two-play drive that culminated in a fake reverse flea-flicker to senior tight end Dalton Kincaid for a 29-yard score.
The pacing flipped the opposite way on Utah’s following drive. Rising led a grueling, 14-play, six-minute touchdown march that almost swung the Sun Devils’ way.
With the crowd rising to the occasion, ASU had a golden opportunity to clamp down on the Utes’ offense with a fourth-and-1 situation at their six-yard line. Rising rolled out to his right and lofted the ball just beyond the outstretched hands of senior cornerback Timarcus Davis, leaving Kincaid to haul in his second touchdown for a 14-0 Utah lead.
The Sun Devils’ secondary recognized the struggles on the night but was left with a more positive attitude.
“Ultimately, I think it just comes to us executing,” senior safety Khoury Bethley said. “And we didn’t do that today. But shoot, we played hard. I think when we watch this tape, you’re going to see no quit in us. We played hard to the end today.”
ASU’s defense could not get much support from the offense. In the Sun Devils’ first four drives, three ended by punts and the other in an interception. The opening quarter saw ASU record -5 total yards.
As Bethley alluded, the defense showed resolve early in the second quarter. In another goal line scenario, the unit held tight to force a 23-yard field goal, making the score 17-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, redshirt sophomore running back Daniyel Ngata kept the crowd on its feet with a 58-yard return. The Sun Devils marched into the red zone, but the drive once again stalled after two consecutive high throws by Jones.
The redshirt junior took ownership for his overall play, finishing with 261 yards passing, one touchdown and two interceptions.
“I didn’t play my best ball today,” Jones said. “That’s something that I have to lock into this week and make sure that I get my guys the best chance to win.”
Several Sun Devil drives also faltered due to the constant duress Jones faced.
Following an interception by senior cornerback Timarcus Davis at midfield in the third quarter, ASU was once again on the move in Utah territory. On second down at the 31-yard line, sophomore strong safety Cole Bishop bulldozed Jones for an 11-yard loss after the play was originally ruled for targeting. The reversal swung the drive in Utah’s favor, as another collapsed pocket blew up the offense’s fourth down attempt to come away with no points.
Utah’s defensive hounds tallied five sacks for a loss of over 45 yards. The Utes only had four sacks coming into the game.
“I wouldn’t say [the pressure] wore us down but it was tough,” Jones said. “We get put behind the sticks, in sacks. I kind of got a little antsy in the pocket at times and started looking at the rush a little bit but that’s something that I have to get better at. The offensive line [has] to protect better, the running backs have to protect better. But we’re all in this together.”
On the following drive, Utah would put a final stamp on the game, as junior running back Tavion Thomas was unleashed after not playing a snap up to that point. On five consecutive carries, the usual starter ran for 40 yards. Wide receiver Jaylen Dixon finished the demolition on the ground a few plays later on an 11-yard touchdown run to make it 34-6.
ASU’s running game was historically silenced with six total yards, marking the fewest single game rushing yards in program history. The combination of senior Xazavian Valladay and Ngata only carried the ball nine times for a net of 32 yards.
Despite the lopsided affair, Aguano emphasized that ASU’s improvement will be a marathon, not a sprint.
“It’ll start with me,” Aguano said. “Now, our coaches feel like they didn’t do a good job. Now I got to make sure I pick them up. And then make sure our kids are picked up, come watching our game. We can all get into a room and criticize what we’ve done. But let’s move on and let’s learn from it and let’s be positive.”
With the chaotic week and the challenging foe, Aguano recognizes the bigger picture. His commitment to the overall support of the team shines through.
“But it is a process and it’s going to take time,” Aguano said. “These kids have been through a lot, so I’m going to make sure that I’m the rock for them. No matter what.”
