Down 21-0 at halftime to ASU and looking as if it was going to be dominated throughout Saturday, BYU fought back in the second half and fell just short of a heroic comeback, losing 28-23.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!After three touchdowns by Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, Cougars wide receiver Keelan Marion scored two touchdowns to help his team get within five in the fourth quarter. With the game on the line, BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was intercepted by Javan Robinson which ultimately sealed the victory for the Sun Devils.
When recollecting his thoughts on the defeat, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake had nothing but respect for Arizona State and how the Sun Devils were ready from the jump.
“You have to give a lot of credit to Arizona State, Kenny Dillingham and the team,” Sitake said during his postgame press conference. “They were ready, they jumped and had a great start. Well-coached team. You look at the weapons they have on offense and look at what the defense has done, that’s an underrated defense I don’t think people give enough credit to. Overall it was a really good game, just didn’t work out in our favor.
“Arizona State got the momentum and they started to keep pounding it. I just think they took it to us. I know this coaching staff really well, they are excellent coaches and I know a lot of the players that play and they do a good job.”
Skattebo scored three times in the first half and rushed for 147 yards from 28 carries, shredding the Cougars’ defense apart. BYU did go for a hail-mary attempt with one second left in the game, but Retzlaff’s desperation pass was short of the end zone.
Acknowledging how important Skattebo has been for ASU and how Dillingham has gotten the program to where it is today, Sitake was appreciative of the opportunity to have this type of matchup with massive stakes on the line.
“They scored, they possessed the clock and they got some first downs,” Sitake said. “Skattebo is a really good running back, one of the best running backs in college football, we knew that coming in. I like the way he plays the game, I just like the way that this team works and Kenny has done a great job with them. It’s an honor to be on the field with them.”
Starting the season 9-0 and in the driver’s seat for making the Big 12 title game, BYU has suffered a significant dropoff having lost to Kansas last week 17-13 and Arizona State on Saturday. The Cougars find themselves 9-2 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12 and were ranked No. 14 going into Tempe, but have dropped five spots to No. 19 in the Associated Press’ Top 25 poll.
ASU now has a clear path to make the Big 12 Championship Game if other results go its way. The Sun Devils wrap up conference play next Saturday against their arch-rival Arizona, a massive matchup for both state bragging rights and postseason aspirations.
Seeing the situation where Arizona State is at, Sitake believes the program needs more public recognition for how it has performed in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
“I think they’re a good team, and I think people should start respecting them a little bit more because this conference is a good conference. It is not going to be easy for anyone to run through this conference,” Sitake said.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
