Sixth-year quarterback Mikey Keene had turned in a solid half in his first start for Arizona State. The Sun Devils held a 14-10 lead and seemed primed to get back in the win column against Kansas State behind their new veteran signal caller — until he got rolled up on, forcing him to hobble off the field a minute before halftime.
As he walked off, the ASU student section began chanting “We Want Fette”, in hopes of seeing freshman quarterback Jake Fette in action. To their dismay, sophomore Cutter Boley took the field. The announcement from the public address announcer only welcomed another chorus of boos.
As the second half commenced, coach Kenny Dillingham kept the Kentucky transfer in, trying to see if he could find a rhythm. But after three consecutive three-and-outs, with momentum and energy lacking, a change needed to happen.
Fette came in with 2:57 left in the third quarter following a turnover on downs by K-State.
“We can’t get into those lulls. We can be suffocated (by) them at times,” Dillingham said of the decision to bring in Fette. “Jake’s got that look in his eye. Jake’s got the swagger, the confidence when he moves around.”
On the stat sheet, the El Paso native didn’t seem to do much. But his aforementioned swagger and another breakout game for freshman running back Cardae Mack paved the way for a come-from-behind victory, with ASU taking a 28-17 win over Kansas State. Saturday afternoon. This wasn’t just a much-needed win. It was a season-saving one.
And now, at least until Keene returns from his knee injury, this is Fette’s team from here on out.
“We’ll see what happens with Mikey, and we haven’t got all that setback,” Dillingham said. “Maybe I spoke too soon, but I would anticipate that.”
A lot of excitement has surrounded Fette since his commitment to ASU, from being a four-star recruit to having his first practice with the Maroon and Gold in his hometown of El Paso before last season’s Sun Bowl.
However, it didn’t seem likely he’d have a lot of playing time this season. With the additions of Boley and Keene through the transfer portal, it looked like at least a year learning on the bench.
But thanks to Keene’s injury and Boley’s underperforming play, he got his shot. And the entire team responded with full confidence in the new kid.
“Coming off the field, (I) just told him to protect the ball, right in behind him,” junior lineback Martell Hughes said on what he told Fette.
The game’s momentum flipped 180 degrees. Though Mountain America Stadium wasn’t sold out, the energy from fans in attendance was felt and heard after Fette came in.
He wasn’t the only quarterback who impressed. The other was one whose home is a short drive south.
Keene got the start after playing well in the second half of a blowout loss to Texas Tech the previous week. He made a statement right away, firing his first pass deep downfield to senior wide receiver Reed Harris.
By the end of the first quarter, Keene had 127 yards passing, with Reed Harris totaling 116 of them on four catches. It was the first time the Wildcats had allowed a 100-yard wide receiving performance all season – taking only 15 minutes.
“He was juiced. He was out there. He’s playing football in his hometown, right? 20 minutes from where he grew up, like he’s out there,” Dillingham said of Keene’s start. “He scored 14 points early. We’re moving. We feel a vibe.”
Eventually, Keene cooled down during the second quarter. He tried to rally his team down the field before halftime until his injury took him out.
It was Boley’s stint that drew the most negative reaction from the crowd. After replacing Keene, the Sun Devil crowd – mainly the student section – showed their reaction to his appearance.
“I’m just always going to defend our players,” Dillingham said of his reaction to the fans booing. “I don’t care. My players are first; don’t boo. I protect my players; that’s to my core. So it’s me and my team versus everybody who’s against us. That’s how I view it.”
Now, at least until Keene heals from his injury, it is without a doubt Fette’s team. The team rides on his shoulders.
The problem? ASU’s next opponent is on the road against a BYU team that dropped a heartbreaker against UCF. And it’ll likely be a BYU team that’s gonna be angry and looking for a rebound.
That means Fette will be fed to the wolves for his first-ever start. He is still developing as a quarterback, but the swagger that led to a victory is present, and if he can carry that into Provo. The Sun Devils have a chance, even if it’s the smallest, to pull out an upset.
“This is one of the best environments he’ll get to play in college football,” Dillingham stated. “It doesn’t get much louder or more disruptive than this one. Throw him into the fire? I mean, here we go.”
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