One theme persisted across Arizona State’s last three home games: one-score wins for ASU.
Winning close games can be a difficult proposition for young teams. Just last season, the Sun Devils went 1-3 in one-possession games, failing to make the critical plays in the crunch time.
After letting multiple games slip through their fingers in 2023, head coach Kenny Dillingham came into his second season with a clear goal for his squad: becoming a team that could win the close contests.
“The difference between winning and losing is learning how to win,” Dillingham said after ASU’s spring game. “Sometimes it happens in year two, sometimes it happens in year three. It’s all about adversity and response. We’ve got to get our team into that mold where we can play in a close game and come out on top.”
Perhaps his team passed the “learning how to win” crash course quicker than he anticipated.
Dillingham’s Devils sit at 5-1 in one-possession games this season, a far cry from ASU’s struggles in close games last season.
Additionally, ASU has mastered the art of closing games in the second half.
The Sun Devils have won every game they have led at halftime and are outscoring opponents 123-95.
So what’s been the difference for ASU this season?
Playing smart football
As the old saying goes, “Good teams find a way to win”.
In their latest victory–a 35-31 win over Central Florida–the Sun Devils embodied this mantra to pull out a win over a Knights team that beat them across the board on the stat sheet.
Dillingham’s squad had fewer yards, first downs, and time possessing the football than UCF.
Nevertheless, the Sun Devils relied on opportunistic play and smart football to be the difference in the game.
A blocked punt scoop and score, along with a pick-six from junior Latterance Welch before the end of the half, gave the maroon and gold 14 of its 21 first-half points.
These moments, paired with ASU’s ability to limit mistakes late in the game propelled the Devils past the Knights.
“We won all the nuances of the game,” Dillingham said. “We lost all other aspects but we won that. And our motto is smart, tough, the ball, the team.”
But this is not an isolated instance of the Sun Devils playing smart football. They have season-long totals to back it up.
The squad not only has fewer penalty yards per game (46.78) than their opponents this season (56.44) but also is +7 in turnover margin this season (+0.8 per game), placing them 21 in the NCAA in this category.
Of course, taking care of the football always starts at the head of the snake with a signal caller who is keen on avoiding turnovers without sacrificing playmaking ability.
A new sheriff in town at quarterback
His teammates and coaches have come up with various adjectives to describe him: baller, dog, winner.
While all of these seem fitting for redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt, the most fitting adjective for the first-year starter is clutch.
Despite being only a first-year starter, Leavitt displays maturity beyond his years. This allows him to elevate his play in tight games, which gives his teammates the utmost confidence.
“He’s a proven winner,” redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jordan Tyson said. “Whenever we need a play, whenever we need a drive. Put it on Sam.”
Tyson and Leavitt form a special duo that has repeatedly come through for ASU in crunch time.
The quarterback and wide receiver combination has accounted for four touchdowns in the second half this season, three of which gave ASU a lead in the fourth quarter.
With the amount of time the two spend together, it’s no surprise that they have become a dynamic duo.
“He’s that dude,” Leavitt said. “We talk about almost every rep after the ball is thrown to him in practice. One-on-one, seven-on-seven, team stuff, so it’s attributed to that and it’s just going to continue to grow.”
ASU’s rushing attack ices games
Every team needs its designated closer to shut the door on other teams.
For ASU, senior running back Cam Skattebo plays this role. In the fourth quarter, Skattebo averages 7.49 yards per carry–more than any other quarter–to lead a ground game that has remained the key to the squad’s ability to finish games.
Although he’s one of the elite running backs in college football, Skattebo still needs strong play up front to generate enough push to allow him to dance to the second level.
Arizona State’s offensive line plays a pivotal role in the Sun Devils’ ability to run the ball late in games.
“We got some fighters that want it more,” senior offensive tackle Max Iheanachor said. “So we go out there and just keep playing.”
However, the offense’s ability to impose its will late in games falls on more than just its offensive line. It takes the entirety of the offense to buy into a tough and physical mindset to be able to run the ball with confidence when the defense knows the run is coming.
“We want the ball in our hands,” graduate senior guard Ben Coleman said. “I think we have a really good offensive coordinator that calls good plays. I think that (success running the ball) leads all the way down to the offensive line, tight end and wide receivers blocking which is key.”
This mindset and overall confidence embodies exactly what Dillingham envisioned for his team in the spring. And while the improvements in specific areas play a factor in the Sun Devils’ success in close games, Dillingham attributes his team’s belief as the primary difference maker for this year’s team.
“The guys have the belief that they’re going to win the game,” Dillingham said. “There’s not a waiver. Like our leaders on defense, people can look at them and they’re like alright we’re going to win the football game… Then on offense, people can look at Sam and they have a lot of confidence that Sam’s going to make a play when the game’s on the line and get it done. So I think when you have a group of guys who just have that belief in one another whether it’s offense or defense to win that’s a positive.”
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