TEMPE — Arizona State secured its first win of the season against Northern Arizona on Saturday night, 38-19, but the mood among the Sun Devils wasn’t entirely celebratory.
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Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) celebrates an ASU touchdown against NAU during a game at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Aug. 30, 2025. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham, in his third year, has emphasized the importance of discipline and energy as pillars for another successful season. However, Saturday’s performance raised concerns as Arizona State had a few questionable drives and many penalties against them.
“We won a football game, which is a positive,” Dilligham said after the game, according to Devils Digest. “… We can’t have 12 penalties for 93 yards that cost us an additional 170 yards… We gotta get that cleaned up and that starts with me.”
Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham talks to his team during a football game against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Aug. 30, 2025. © Cheryl Evans/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
ASU struggled on third downs in the first half after taking a quick 14-0 lead against NAU. Quarterback Sam Leavitt sparked the offense back to life with two rushing touchdowns, one for 52 yards and another for 18.
Despite the win and offensive spark in the second half, the number of penalties in the game has Arizona State reevaluating what went wrong. Dillingham was vocal about how the team’s play reflects his coaching.
“We play really well, it’s because the players played well,” Dillingham said. “We don’t play great, it’s because I gotta be better. That’s just how I operate.”
Don’t forget the quarterback on the option 😉
📺ESPN+#ForksUp /// @S_leav10 pic.twitter.com/EbA4Xx0Tzu
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) August 31, 2025
Arizona State faces a road test next Saturday against Mississippi State, where a repeat performance could lead to a much different outcome.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
