55-19. Last week delivered Arizona State’s largest margin of defeat under Coach Kenny Dillingham since 2023. Changes had to be made, and they were made — starting with him.
At the beginning of the week, Dillingham relinquished the reins of play-calling, gifting the duty back to offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo. In his first game back as the play caller, Arroyo led the offense to a mixed bag of results.
In a game that featured some ugly weather, including a short torrential downpour, ASU defeated Hawai’i 30-12 at Mountain America Stadium on Saturday night. The win marked Sparky’s first home win since Sept. 5’s win over Morgan State.
“I learned that (our) guys are going to fight,” Dillingham said. “They showed up and had a really good week of practice and worked their butts off all week. I really like (our) football team. I think if this team can operate on all cylinders, they can be a team that gets better and better and a team that can beat anybody.”
For the Sun Devils’ passing, it was a tale of two halves. In the first, those donning the maroon and gold got into an early offensive rhythm.
With Arroyo’s guidance, junior Cutter Boley zipped passes past the Rainbow Warriors’ defense. After multiple games under duress, compounded by poor decision-making, Arroyo eased his quarterback into rhythm with easy run-pass-option plays, quick throws over the middle and a rushing attack that alleviated stress off the offense.
“I thought it was good,” Dillingham said regarding Arroyo’s playcalling. “There are a few things we got to execute better, but that has nothing to do with Saturday. There are some things that we got to clean up during the week, but I thought the game was called really well and I was supportive of everything that happened.”
Boley sliced and diced en route to one of his better halves as a Sun Devil, passing for a 15-for-20 mark with 162 yards and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, junior wide receiver Reed Harris continued to shine in the maroon and gold. The Boston College transfer racked up eight catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns, including one over the heart of the defense, marking redemption after dropping a similar one a week prior.
For Dillingham, shying away from Harris isn’t an option. He sang Harris’ praises as the Montana native’s confidence skyrockets.
“Reed’s confidence level is sky high,” Dillingham said. “He’s been playing at such a high level that he’s a guy we don’t blink twice. If he doesn’t make a play, I go over there, and I’m like, ‘You’re a dude, so we need you.’ There is no shaking off that confidence because of the level he’s playing at.”
On the other sideline, junior quarterback Micah Alejado’s night differed from the Kentucky transfer. Alejado, done in by a few misplaced throws, pressure from ASU’s front and dropped passes, led his offense to a mere six points.
Then, the third quarter struck. After a rain delay prolonged halftime — and after playing some of its best football in both facets — ASU’s offense stalled not once, but twice. By the quarter’s end, Boley went 4-for-8 throwing for 13 yards. Yet, when needed most, its defense emerged.
For Arizona State, third-down conversion rate remains an issue. ASU converted on 30% of its third downs, and only 20% in the second half, proving there’s still work to be done.
“We (have) got to convert on third downs,” Dillingham said. “That was the one thing on offense that we need to continue to get better at and got our butts kicked tonight.”
After creating havoc the entire night, defensive coordinator Brian Ward never let off the gas pedal. Alejado continued to be pressured and, unlike the first half, couldn’t utilize his legs as much. The pressure led to a slightly overthrown ball, bouncing off sophomore wide receiver Kainoa Carvalho’s hands and into the hands of junior defensive back Kyan McDonald’s hands.
Despite allowing chunk plays, the Sun Devils defense lived by the “bend don’t break” motto. Ward’s unit allowed just three points inside the red zone.
“Big plays are going to happen. It’s part of the game,” junior linebacker Martell Hughes said. “Going in and taking it play by play is the biggest thing.”
The rainbow Warriors nevertheless had their chances. Multiple dropped passes and overthrows hurt Alejado and sealed the chapter on a potential upset win in Tempe. ASU shouldn’t rely on luck to help it be bailed out as it travels to Lubbock, TX, to face No. 11 Texas Tech on Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m.
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