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Nov 15Β β’Β 7 min read
How ASU Can Upset Kansas State Tomorrow
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β π GOOD MORNING Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 -- It's another jam-packed weekend of sports here in The Valley, so don't forget to scroll down to see where you can catch all of the action. That said, arguably the biggest game of the weekend is taking place in Manhattan Kans., aka the "Little Apple." If you caught yesterday's newsletter we spoke with PHNX Sun Devils reporter Erik Ruby on how coach Kenny Dillingham has transformed the ASU football program in a short amount of time. The team can prove it once again on national television tomorrow evening. Finally, congrats to the Salt River Rafters, who qualified for the Arizona Fall League playoffs. Well, playoffs may be going a bit far, but they will face Scottsdale tonight with a chance to play in the championship game on Saturday. There are a few D-Backs prospects to keep an eye on, and you can bet we'll recap it in Monday's newsletter! If you need a joke to get to the weekend, here's our weekly Friday laugh: Why shouldn't you play poker in the jungle? Too many cheetahs! I truly hope you have a great weekend, and let's run it back next week. On to the show! π° LEADING OFF Sun Devils Can Put the Nation on Notice with WinWhen the 2024 NCAA football season kicked off, who had Nov. 16 circled on their calendar as one of the biggest games in the Big 12, if not the country? If you didn't before, you certainly should now. The teams have identical records (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) and the winner will stay alive in the hunt for the Big 12 title game, though both need some help considering they trail conference leaders BYU (9-0, 6-0) and Colorado (7-2. 5-1). The oddsmakers don't love ASU's chances -- bet365 currently lists the Wildcats as an eight point favorite -- but that's nothing new for a team that has been doubted all season. The opportunity is there, and the country will be watching the nationally televised game on ESPN at 5 pm Arizona time. Buckle up. β±οΈ BECOME A DIEHARD TODAY!
A Quick Strike Will Go a Long WayUp until their last game, the Wildcats appeared to be giving BYU a run for their money in the conference. That changed on Nov. 2, though, after Kansas State suffered a damaging loss at Houston, and have had an extra week to stew considering it was on a bye last week. Arizona State is set to get a big lift with the return of star running back Cam Skattebo and linebacker Keyshaun Elliott, bolstering both sides of the ball at just the right moment. And they need to take advantage early. "This is a really good team," head coach Kenny Dillingham said of Kansas State. "This is a team that was picked to win the Big 12 by a lot of people. This is a team that's still in the top half of the Big 12 race, playing at home." The two teams are strikingly similar this season. Kansas State and Arizona State are comparable on offense, as the former averages 422.6 total yards of offense (214 passing, 208 rushing) while the latter averages 399.6 total yards on offense (201 passing, 198 rushing). They're even closer on defense; The Wildcats allow 329.7 yards per game compared to the Sun Devils' 330.8. Yeah, it's that close. Defense Will Have its Hands FullWildcats running back D.J. Giddens ranks 11th in the nation with 995 total yards (coincidentally just six yards behind Skattebo), but the offense goes through quarterback Avery Johnson, who Dillingham said he recruited prior to his arrival at Arizona State. Johnson has thrown for 1,892 yards while rushing for 391, and has accounted for 21 total touchdowns (17 passing, four rushing) and seven interceptions. "Avery is a star in the making," Dillingham said. "He's a really, really, good, smart kid that runs 4.3, can throw it 50-some yards, and is super intelligent. He's got a very, very bright future." Giddens, meanwhile, is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and though he surprisingly only has five touchdowns on the season given that he has nearly rushed for 1,000 yards, his effectiveness coupled with Johnson's versatility give the Wildcats plenty of offense in their passing game, as well. Nine different players have caught a touchdown pass this season, including a group of four tight ends that have combined for 10. That success is sparked from Giddens' success on the ground. "Their running game is old school," Dillingham said. "It all starts with the premise that they can run the ball, and they have a quarterback that can control the edge with his athleticism." Leavitt Needs to do Some Damage Through the AirThe return of Skattebo is great news, but the Wildcats rank first in the conference against the run, and eighth in the NCAA, allowing just 99.7 yards on the ground per game. Their passing defense, though, is a different story. Kansas State ranks 10th in the conference against the pass, offering ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt the opportunity to truly put it to the test. For the sake of comparison, the Sun Devils rank third in the conference in rush defense (118.8) and sixth in passing defense (212.0). It may be clichΓ©, but success through the air begins on the ground, and Leavitt has an opportunity to expose weaknesses in Kansas State's pass defense that could help propel the Sun Devils to their biggest win of the season. A Win Sets the Stage for an Epic ClashNot to get too far ahead here, but if Arizona State wins on the road, next week's matchup against unbeaten BYU (assuming they beat Kansas) has the potential to be one of the biggest games Tempe has seen in a long, long time. The Sun Devils are enjoying this ride, and you should, too. "They feel good," Dillingham said. "We're playing meaningful games in November, so I'd hope we feel good." Editor's note: Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up for the FREE PHNX Daily here, and don't miss out on free, exclusive content about The Valley's top sports stories every morning! ποΈ ABOUT LAST NIGHT... β½ CIRCLE K CIRCLING BACK π¬ THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID
(results to be posted in Monday's newsletter) π GEAR UP π» DON'T MISS OUT |
The PHNX Daily brings you the top sports stories in Arizona every day, delivered right to your inbox! Follow along with all of your beloved AZ sports teams as we bring unique, free content featuring your favorite players, coaches and personalities from throughout the state's sports scene. You can also catch up on the most recent stories from your favorite PHNX writers, check out the most recent podcast from our vast offering of shows, and find all the information needed to see which of your teams are playing on any given day, what time they start, and where you can watch or listen to them. It's all free, delivered to you bright and early each and every morning!