Arizona State Beats Colorado 20-10 Behind Defensive Standouts

Arizona State opened November with a 20-10 Big 12 victory over Colorado at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, moving to five wins. The Sun Devils’ night featured offensive trickery and a touchdown pass from a running back, while their defense and field position helped secure the result.

Coach Kenny Dillingham said the defense stopped Colorado’s running game in the first half and held up in the red zone later. He said Arizona State had played well in all three phases before halftime, but did not sustain that level through the game. The team also committed a penalty for running into the kicker; Dillingham called it a learning opportunity for younger players on the field-goal block unit.

Freshman quarterback Jake Fette completed 13 of 19 passes. Dillingham said the offense should give him more chances to throw on early downs and encouraged him to move forward within the pocket when scrambling. He also highlighted the long-standing bond between Fette and freshman running back Cardae Mack, who had committed to Arizona State during the recruiting process.

Defensive end Albert Smith recorded three sacks. Dillingham said he had pushed Smith over several seasons and hoped the performance would build the player’s confidence. He also praised punter Nick McLarty, saying improved punts had helped Arizona State pin opponents deep and made field position a significant factor in recent games.

Dillingham said safety Rodney Bimage Jr. had suffered a serious leg injury and would probably miss the rest of the season, barring a major change. He said the recovery was unlikely to be quick.