Kenny Dillingham was exasperated by the Arizona 27-24 victory in Baylor during his Big 12 opening match on Saturday, knowing that it left opportunities on the table.
“Holy Cow. A game that you are 3-0 in the turnover battle should not be summed up at a winning kick,” Dillingham told journalists after the match. “The offensive flouted, the defense picked him up. The defense sprayed, the offensive picked it up. The special teams were not good, won it there at the end.
“It’s football. Find ways to win in this league. … And we will never win like that again. In the same way. I have to find another way.”
His victory after winning the turnover battle transferred the ASU to 12-0 since the beginning of 2024 when he takes care of the ball better than his opponent. Adrian “Boogie” Wilson was in the two escaped from Baylor, forcing one and recovering another, and Keith Abney II did a hell of a diving interception.
But the Sun Devils were satisfied with goals on the ground each time, for nine points of three reversals. This includes ASU twice with the ball inside the 40 yards of Baylor.
“It’s not ideal. We could all agree there,” said Dillingham. “Six points of the turnover on their side of the field. That is why I said that what was happening by my head was:” How is it a winning kick when we are 3-0 in the turn of turnover, have more yards, do you have more possession time … And we kick a game on the field? “”
“Golly, it shouldn’t be so close to a game. Like it shouldn’t be, we have won too many critical situations. … It’s a W, that’s all that matters.”
During the first opportunity after the return tour, the ASU worked in the field for a first goal of the 10th. A false departure, a rush to two yards by Kanye Udoh and two incompletions followed to establish the first basket.
The second, Udoh scored two yards in two races when the Sun Devils had the first goal of the seven, and Sam Leavitt could not connect with Jordyn Tyson in a third just outside the goal area for the second time in the game.
When the ASU had a third series of goals to take away after its third forced turnover, Raleek Brown was held in a meter on the ground before Leavitt was dismissed and could not find Malik McClain on a third and long look.
The good side? The ASU now has a botter which can constantly remove points from the released discs. Jesus Gomez is 9 to 10 on the goals on the ground this season after the Sun Devils were 11 out of 20 as a team in 2024.
“Can’t we have such close matches? Let’s play a little better earlier,” said Dillingham about what was going on in his head while the winning kick was in the air. “And a big kick.
“But that’s what was going on in my head, as we really need it every week? We need a game where it’s a bit inspired.”
Dillingham can be exhausted to win closely, but his record of 7-3 in the matches decided by seven points or less shows his talent for tight moments.
