Arizona State Falls to BYU After Second-Half Rally

Arizona State tied the game entering the fourth quarter after trailing 17-3 at halftime, but BYU scored the final 10 points to win 27-20 in Provo on October 31. The loss left the Sun Devils 4-4. They held BYU to 47 rushing yards and forced two turnovers, but could not complete the comeback against the eighth-ranked team in the country.

Freshman quarterback Jake Fette made his first start for Arizona State. Dillingham said the coaching staff reduced the number of looks he had to process, particularly after halftime. He felt Fette played well when he had a clear plan for where to go with the ball.

Dillingham said the team showed the energy and physical play he expected, and said it had regained a style he had struggled to restore during a three-week slump. He said the Sun Devils should build on their play over the final four weeks, while expressing confidence in the program’s future and its young players.

The coach also disputed BYU’s first touchdown, which came after a goal-line fumble was recovered and carried across the goal line by Sione Moa. After two replay reviews upheld the score, Dillingham argued that the play did not meet the standard for advancing a loose ball after a whistle. He said the officials on the field were not responsible for the replay decision.

Dillingham praised BYU coach Kalani Sitake and the home crowd, noting that fans were practicing chants well before kickoff. BYU’s win followed a 95-yard touchdown drive and helped the Cougars avoid a second straight loss.