ASU football: Three takeaways from Arizona State’s 30-22 loss to Texas Tech

LUBBOCK, Texas – After an extended week of preparation, ASU football seemed primed to make a statement in its Big 12 opener.  However, the Sun Devils play indicated a different story, as a sluggish start and sloppy play headlined a 30-22 loss on the road to Texas Tech.

In every facet of the game, ASU found a way to shoot itself in the foot. Unnecessary penalties, dropped passes and special teams mistakes doomed the Sun Devils throughout the game.

Additionally, a slow start did not help the Sun Devil’s efforts, as ASU went down 14-0 in the first quarter. 

Kenny Dillingham’s squad did battle back in the next three quarters and cut the deficit to single digits multiple times.  Nonetheless, more mistakes on both sides of the ball led the Sun Devil’s second-half comeback attempt to fall short and the team to suffer its first loss of the season. 

Three takeaways from the first loss of the season for ASU football

Penalties prove to be an issue for ASU

The game proved to be tightly officiated, with both teams combining to commit 17 penalties for a whopping 163 yards. However, ASU seemed to commit multiple unnecessary and untimely penalties, that came back to bite the Sun Devils. 

The penalties came early as on the first play of the game a kick out of bounds flagged ASU for 15 yards to set up Texas Tech with advantageous field position. The Sun Devils committed two kick infractions in the game to produce a sloppy day in the special teams department.

Then, the ASU defense bailed out Texas Tech with a facemask penalty on a third down and 21 to extend the Red Raiders’ second drive. This allowed Texas Tech to score their second touchdown three plays later, putting ASU down early. The penalty ultimately turned into a costly seven-point swing in favor of the home team. 

Even when the Sun Devils seemed to grab some momentum back going into the half, a pass interference call on another third down brought the Red Raiders within field goal range to extend their lead. 

The Sun Devils finished with seven penalties in the first half alone.

In light of some sloppy play from his players, Dillingham took the blame for the team’s undisciplined performance. 

“It was unacceptable for us,” Dillingham said. “We can blame the players all we want, but it’s our job (as a coaching staff) to get them to play and do their job… Unfortunately, I think that’s our first game since I’ve been here that I can say we were undisciplined.”

The offense for ASU football shows early-season growing pains 

Through the first three weeks, moving the ball on offense seemed easy for ASU. Yet, with a freshman quarterback making only his second road start, the perfect storm formed for ASU to face adversity offensively.

Starting quarterback Sam Leavitt got off to a rocky start, as he tossed an interception on Arizona State’s first drive. 

Second-half adjustments also seemed to affect Leavitt. He could not lead ASU on scoring drives for four out of the first five possessions out of the half. 

Still, the team remains confident in their starting quarterback heading into the bye week.

“He’s a ball player, can make plays, and is one of the smartest guys on the team,” senior running back Cam Skattebo said. “We took a couple of chances that didn’t end up going our way. We have to get him to know that it’s alright and there are still more games to play.”

Despite Leavitt’s struggles in the passing game, an inability to run the football remained perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Sun Devil’s offensive struggles.  

In non-conference play, ASU averaged 229 rushing yards per game, as the rushing attack remained the focal point on offense. 

Although going down double digits early did the offense no favors, the team shying away from its identity and abandoning the run early proved to be detrimental to the Sun Devil’s offensive efforts. 

The offense finally got leading tailback Cam Skattebo involved in the second half through the receiving game, but never established a true rushing attack. Skattebo averaged just 3.3 yards per carry and struggled to find running lanes behind ASU’s offensive line. 

Leavitt also failed to find much success with his legs, with the quarterback being held to just 25 yards on the ground. 

Dillingham shows aggressive decision-making

Dillingham made it apparent that he planned to be the aggressor in his decision-making. 

In the first half, he opted to leave his offense out on fourth down on his own 26-yard line. Leavitt then threw the ball 40 yards downfield and drew a passing interference call to move the chains. 

Later in the drive, the Sun Devils failed to convert on a fourth and one in the red zone.

The Sun Devils finished the day 0-2 on fourth down and could not convert in short-yardage situations. 

“We should convert fourth and ones, especially when the opposing team is moving the ball,” Dillingham said. “We haven’t been as aggressive this year because we’ve been playing pretty good defense. But in that football game since they started so hot we felt like we had to stay on the field.”

The Sun Devils now look to lick their wounds in their first bye week before returning to action on Oct. 5, at 5 p.m. AZT against Kansas at Mountain America Stadium.

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