Tempe, AZ. — Arizona State overcame quarterback changes and a second-half deficit to defeat Kansas State 28-17 on Saturday afternoon at Mountain America Stadium. Freshman running back Cardae Mack powered the Sun Devils with 159 rushing yards and all four of their touchdowns, including two crucial scores in the fourth quarter.
The victory showcased Arizona State’s ability to adjust under pressure, as head coach Kenny Dillingham turned to three different quarterbacks while his team worked to regain control of a game that had begun to slip away.
Kansas State opened the scoring when quarterback Jacob Knuth connected with wide receiver Jaron Tibbs on a seven-yard touchdown pass. Knuth was making his first career start in place of the injured Avery Johnson, giving the Wildcats a different look at quarterback.
Arizona State answered quickly behind new starting quarterback Mikey Keene. On his first offensive play, Keene found wide receiver Reed Harris for a 51-yard completion that immediately put the Wildcats’ defense on its heels. Three plays later, Mack powered into the end zone on a nine-yard run to tie the game at 7-7.
Keene continued to provide a spark through the air, connecting with Harris for a 39-yard gain on third-and-10 later in the first half. Mack capped the possession with a one-yard touchdown run, giving the Sun Devils a 14-10 lead heading into halftime.
However, Arizona State’s offensive momentum took a hit late in the first half when a defender rolled into Keene’s legs. Cutter Boley replaced him and remained under center to open the third quarter.
The quarterback change created another challenge for Dillingham’s offense. Arizona State struggled to maintain its earlier rhythm, allowing Kansas State to take advantage. The Wildcats scored seven unanswered points in the third quarter to move in front, 17-14, putting the Sun Devils in danger of letting the game slip away.
With Arizona State searching for a spark, Dillingham turned to freshman quarterback Jake Fette in the fourth quarter. The young quarterback helped guide the offense on a crucial scoring drive, setting the stage for Mack to take over once again.
Mack delivered with a 12-yard touchdown run, pushing Arizona State back in front, 21-17, early in the fourth quarter.
The Sun Devils then found another opportunity to extend their advantage after the defense forced Kansas State to punt. Mack broke loose for a 20-yard run, and Harris followed with a 22-yard reception to move Arizona State into scoring position. Mack finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run, his fourth of the afternoon, giving the Sun Devils a 28-17 lead.
While Mack provided the offensive firepower, Arizona State’s defense made sure the Wildcats could not mount another comeback. The Sun Devils shut out Kansas State in the fourth quarter and held the Wildcats to just 84 rushing yards. Kansas State also struggled to sustain drives, finishing 0-for-4 on fourth-down attempts.
Arizona State finished with 359 total yards, compared with 278 for Kansas State. The defensive effort in the final quarter proved just as important as Mack’s scoring production, allowing the Sun Devils to protect their lead and close out the victory.
For Kansas State, the loss was a disappointing setback after its victory over Kansas. The Wildcats had moved in front during the third quarter but could not generate enough offense down the stretch to keep pace with Arizona State. Kansas State fell to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 play, while the Sun Devils improved to 2-2 in conference action.
The victory offered Arizona State a measure of encouragement after last week’s loss at Texas Tech. Keene helped establish the offense early, Fette provided a needed boost late, and Mack proved to be the difference-maker throughout the afternoon.
Although questions remain about the quarterback situation, the Sun Devils demonstrated resilience by responding to adversity and delivering when the game was on the line. Their ability to finish strong could prove important as they move deeper into the conference schedule.
Up Next:
Arizona State travels to Provo, Utah, to face BYU on Saturday, October 31, at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Arizona time on FOX.
Kansas State returns home on October 31 to host Colorado, looking to rebound from its loss in Tempe.
