TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona State Solar Devils gathered at midfield, an infinite mass of maroon and gold celebrating Saturday’s 49-7 win towards rival Arizona at Arizona Stadium. Out of the blue, Cam Skattebo broke from the pack, lifting the Territorial Cup in his proper hand and charging for the stands the place Arizona State followers awaited.
Skattebo had simply rushed for 177 yards and three touchdowns, lifting No. 16 Arizona State to its tenth win and a spot within the Large 12 Championship Recreation, an unbelievable story for each the bruising working again and this system he represents.
Heisman Trophy ballots are despatched out on Monday. Like his staff, Skattebo started the season as an unimaginable lengthy shot. Additionally, like his staff, Skattebo has proven he belongs.
“He needs to be among the finest backs in yards from scrimmage in all of Energy 4 soccer,’’ Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham mentioned outdoors the locker room. “How are there many gamers extra impactful than him and what he’s carried out for this program, picked lifeless final to enjoying doubtlessly within the convention championship?”
Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter is the favourite for this season’s Heisman, given to school soccer’s high participant. Boise State working again Ashton Jeanty, Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel are sturdy contenders. The highest 4 finalists journey to New York for the Dec. 14 Heisman ceremony.
Skattebo has by no means been to the Large Apple. Has it entered his thoughts?
“I by no means thought I’d be (on this place),” he mentioned.
Does he suppose he deserves to go?
“Doubtlessly,’’ Skattebo mentioned. “We bought extra work to do. However, yeah.”
Man of the hour. pic.twitter.com/rSfIoUAH8v
— Doug Haller (@DougHaller) December 1, 2024
As Skattebo held up the Territorial Cup, the oldest rivalry trophy within the sport, his teammates gathered round him within the nook of Arizona Stadium. Dillingham informed officers to get the gamers already within the locker room to return to the sector. As soon as they did, Dillingham and the Solar Devils sang the varsity struggle music. After the final phrase, they took the celebration inside.
Skattebo stayed on the sector.
He seemed down the size of the sector and seen Arizona State followers lined your complete approach, from one finish zone to the opposite. Skattebo began making his approach down, signing autographs, posing for pictures and residing within the second. Within the locker room, his coaches and teammates celebrated. Skattebo wasn’t involved.
“I see these guys on daily basis,’’ he mentioned. “We’ll have our enjoyable later.”
Elite gamers in faculty soccer enter the game in excessive regard. Hunter was a five-star highschool prospect, the highest participant in his class. Jeanty was a four-star working again. Popping out of Rio Linda Excessive College in California, Skattebo barely registered, a working again who performed like a linebacker.
Skattebo signed with Sacramento State, the one faculty that provided him a full scholarship. After two seasons, he transferred to Arizona State. In his first season with the Solar Devils, he rushed for 783 yards and 9 touchdowns behind a banged-up line. This season, slimmed down and decided, he’s been among the many nation’s most improved gamers, the one again who entered Saturday with 1,000-plus dashing yards and 350-plus receiving yards.
“It’s humorous as a result of these of us who’ve watched him develop up — and I talked to his brother final week about it, too — it seems precisely the identical,” Skattebo’s highschool coach, Jack Garceau, mentioned by cellphone throughout Saturday’s recreation. “It was this manner in highschool. This manner at Sac State. And now it seems this manner at ASU. Nothing’s modified. He’s simply gotten higher and higher and higher.”
Close to the stands, Skattebo grabbed a maroon hat and scribbled “Skatt” in black ink. He shuffled to his left, slapping fives, stopping at a blonde-haired boy who requested him to signal his maroon jersey. Skattebo shifted the boy to the aspect so he may use his shoulder for assist. A safety guard knowledgeable co-workers that Skattebo was nonetheless on the sector. A photographer knowledgeable the working again that his household waited not far down the road.
Arizona State achieved bowl eligibility after a Nov. 2 win at Oklahoma State. After that recreation, Dillingham mentioned the Solar Devils (10-2, 7-2 Large 12) had been enjoying with home cash. Quarterback Sam Leavitt mentioned that’s when the expanded Faculty Soccer Playoff first popped into his thoughts.
“Why not us?” he thought.
Arizona State hasn’t misplaced since, winners of 5 in a row, every win greater than the final, probably the most memorable march this program has skilled for the reason that Solar Devils went 11-1 through the 1996 season. Leavitt has developed faster than anticipated. The offensive line has stayed wholesome. The protection has made performs.
“They nonetheless shock me,” Dillingham mentioned. “They’re only a distinctive, goofy group of misfits that someway got here collectively and are engaging in issues which might be particular.”
Skattebo has been the engine. Earlier on ESPN’s “Faculty GameDay,” Nick Saban known as him his favourite participant in faculty soccer.
“This man, he’s rugged,” the previous Alabama coach mentioned. “Robust. I simply love an ideal competitor. He’s all that.”
Skattebo grabbed a cellphone. He held it out so far as his proper arm may prolong, ensuring the followers behind him had been within the body and smiled. He posed in the course of 9 Arizona State cheerleaders. Twenty minutes after the sport, Skattebo hugged his household. After a quick dialog, he turned and jogged to the locker room. Followers serenaded him alongside the way in which.
“Skatt for Heis-man!”
“Skatt for Heis-man!”
(Photograph of Cam Skattebo (left) and Kenny Dillingham: Christopher Hook / Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)
