Arizona State pushed through a weird Thursday night to get a season-opening win against Southern Utah. They battled a tale of two halves, a nearly three-hour weather delay along with the usual challenges that come with a new season.
Halftime Adjustments & Assignments
The Sun Devils did what they could during the extended halftime, but head coach Kenny Dillingham said during his Monday availability that lessons were learned if a similar delay happens in the future.
The delay took so long, some players had to start doing homework in uniform to ensure the assignments were submitted by their deadline.
Winning is a Byproduct
While Arizona State is happy for the victory, they may not be happy with how they got to the victory. After leading 21-7 at half, they were outscored 14-3 in the second half by Southern Utah. Six of their seven penalties occurred in the second half. Dillingham said the team mindset isn’t necessarily to get wins, but to become the best players and coaches possible, and winning will come with that.
Looking Ahead to the Cowboys
Despite playing Oklahoma State last year, there is so much unknown for the Sun Devils heading into Saturday’s contest. Thw Cowboys have a new defensive coordinator, played three quarterbacks in their win over Central Arkansas and play a unique defensive system.
What’s Next for Jaden Rashada
The freshman quarterback showed why he is a highly-touted quarterback on Thursday. While the offense was limited in the second half, Rashada did not turn the ball over in his first ever start. Now, it comes down to preparation for the young QB when it comes to Oklahoma State. They run a pretty unique defense and are mixing old characteristics with new wrinkles, making it tough to prepare for with just one game to go off of. Dillingham broke down the intricacies of the defense and how they prep for something they may not see again all year.
Arizona State and Oklahoma State kick off in Tempe at 7:30 PM on Saturday.
Jordan Hamm
