(Photo: Spencer Barnes/ WCSN)
The paradox of the immovable object versus the unstoppable force has been around since the third century in China, with some roots in Ancient Greek mythology. Many centuries and many more generations later, it seems like an answer to this paradox may have finally been discovered.
The unstoppable force, being the Utah Utes’ (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) running game, overpowered the immovable object, the Arizona State football team’s defensive line, for all four quarters in the No. 21 Sun Devils’ (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) 42-10 loss Saturday night.
“They just out-coached us, out-played us, absolutely whooped our butt,” ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham said. “It’s the first time we’ve really gotten whooped like that in a long time.”
Heading into Saturday’s game, Utah’s offense had averaged 242.6 rushing yards per game on the season, whilst ASU’s defense allowed 72.6 rushing yards per game.
However, on the opening drive of the game, the Utes ran the ball on 11 of their 14 plays for 49 yards. The drive was capped off by a 12-yard run from junior quarterback Devon Dampier into the endzone.
This drive was a sign of things to come for ASU’s defense, as they seemingly had no answer to Utah’s ferocious ground game, as the Utes ran for 276 total yards in a dominant physical performance over the Sun Devils.
“They got us physicality. They out physical-ed us. We weren’t making tackles. Thinking too much,” junior defensive lineman C.J. Fite said. “Once you start doing all that it just throws you off your game. They got us tonight, so we just gotta go back to the drawing board.”
Dampier dazzled against the usually dominant ASU defensive front, as he went on to rush for 120 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries. Whether it was designed quarterback runs, scrambles out of the backfield, or option plays, the Sun Devils simply didn’t have an answer for Dampier’s legs.
ASU’s defensive line has sent shockwaves through offensive meetings throughout the country as they’ve tallied 19 sacks this season, but there was no aftershock to be felt in Utah. Dampier wasn’t sacked all night, the first time the Sun Devils have gone without a sack this season.
“If we executed, it might have been a different ballgame, but it is what it is,” Fite said. “We just got to go back, continue to get back to the process, practice harder, be more physical in practice and be more physical in games.”
The run game wasn’t all through Dampier, with the Utes having three more players with more than 40 yards on the night. Sophomore running back Wayshawn Parker ran for 55 yards on 10 carries, while senior running back NaQuari Rogers added 48 yards on 12 carries.
In total, Utah ran 42 times for an explosive 6.6 yards per carry, their second-highest yards per attempt this season. The 42 carries also amounted to 16 first downs, and all six of their touchdowns came on the ground as well, meaning over half of the Utes’ run plays ended in either a first down or a touchdown.
Utah’s offensive line unit had largely been regarded as one of the best in the nation heading into Saturday’s game, and it showed early and often.
“They put in big o-linemen as their tight end and they say ‘we’re going to move you the other direction,’” Dillingham said. “And they moved us the other direction and then we have to tackle them.”
Redshirt sophomore Caleb Lomu and junior Spencer Fano showcased why many pundits view them as future NFL draft picks. But it wasn’t just this duo that contributed to the run-game success; it was also solid scheming from Utah’s offense.
ASU’s tackling was also a factor in Utah’s assertive rushing performance. Whether it was keeping up with the Utes’ speed and agility or making sure to wrap up tackles, the Sun Devils’ own mistakes led to extra yardage for Utah.
On the offensive side of the ball, ASU also seemed to lose the battle in the trenches after losing graduate offensive lineman Ben Coleman to injury.
“The first drive with Ben on the field we drove down the field,” Dillingham said. “The first play he left, we had a holding call which really ended that drive, which was catastrophic.
They did manage to run the ball for 135 yards, but it was with a measly 3.3 yards per carry. Redshirt junior running back Raleek Brown led the way with 67 yards on 4.8 yards per carry.
Redshirt senior quarterback Jeff Sims was also sacked five times, including a disastrous drive that featured three consecutive sacks. ASU had a promising drive going into Utah territory, but then Sims was sacked three times for a total of 26 yards, forcing a punt to end the drive.
Next week, the Sun Devils will look to bounce back against No. 9 Texas Tech, a preliminary favorite by many to win the Big 12 Conference. Texas Tech has showcased a mighty run game to open the season, averaging 232.8 yards per game, which could cause trouble for ASU if they perform like they did Saturday night.
“We have probably a top five team in the country in Texas Tech,” Dillingham said. “Texas Tech played (Utah) and they won and they won the line of scrimmage. That tells you what their front is on both sides of the ball.
