Kenny Dillingham was filled with excitement during a lively interview and joined in a student celebration after Arizona State’s 27-19 win over No. 16 Utah on Friday night.
“I was one of these guys! I was doing this!” Dillingham said, bouncing with the crowd before getting lost in the celebration.
After a tough first season with a 3-9 record, Dillingham’s Sun Devils are making a strong impression in the Big 12.
Arizona State (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) is having its best start since 2019 and achieved a significant win under Dillingham, even after losing quarterback Sam Leavitt for most of the second quarter.
Running back Cam Skattebo played a big role in the victory. He dominated the game, finishing with 158 yards and two touchdowns.
In the third quarter, Skattebo broke multiple tackles and used his strength to score on a 50-yard run. In the fourth quarter, he sealed the game with a 47-yard touchdown after breaking a tackle and outpacing Utah’s defense.
“We beat the No. 16 team in the country,” Skattebo said. “Who says we can’t beat anybody else?”
Utah (4-2, 1-2) had several opportunities as quarterback Cameron Rising returned after missing three games due to a finger injury.
However, Rising struggled, dealing with both his hand injury and a leg injury from the first quarter. He threw three interceptions and completed 16 of 37 passes for 209 yards.
“Those guys did a great job of getting open, but I wasn’t able to get them the ball and throw it accurately,” Rising said. “We just weren’t able to move it because of that.”
Rising’s struggles were just one part of Utah’s challenges.
