Arizona State Uses Bag of Tricks to Upset UCLA 17–7

Arizona State Uses Bag of Tricks to Upset UCLA 17–7
Cameron Skattebo (4) of the Arizona State Sun Devils runs for a touchdown against the UCLA Bruins in the second half at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2023. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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Cam Skattebo ran for a touchdown and threw for another, leading Arizona State to a 17–7 upset of UCLA Saturday night, Nov. 11, in Pasadena, Calif.

Skattebo played running back, quarterback and punter for the Sun Devils, whose head coach Kenny Dillingham pulled out a lot of stops, including position players at quarterback and taking penalties to run time off the clock deep in Arizona State territory.

But the Sun Devils’ defense also shined, forcing four turnovers on downs for UCLA.

Moliki Matavao (88) of the UCLA Bruins jumps over Shamari Simmons (7) of the Arizona State Sun Devils in the second quarter at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2023. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Moliki Matavao (88) of the UCLA Bruins jumps over Shamari Simmons (7) of the Arizona State Sun Devils in the second quarter at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2023. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Arizona State won for the second time in three weeks and improved to 2–5 in the Pac-12 and 3–7 overall. The Bruins (3–4, 6–4) have fallen out of the Top 25 and have lost two straight.

The Sun Devils opened the game with tight end Jalin Conyers at quarterback and used five trick play or odd formation “swinging gate” plays on their offensive first series. They continued to run such plays throughout the game.

Trenton Bourguet, injured last week at Utah, led the offense at quarterback, and before the first quarter was over, Skattebo had taken shotgun snaps.

Colin Schlee got the start at quarterback for UCLA, with two quarterbacks who saw action last week, Ethan Garbers and Dante Moore, suited up but not playing.

The Sun Devils took a 3–0 lead in the second quarter after a UCLA fumble in Arizona State territory.

Then the Bruins marched all the way to the Sun Devils’ 1-yard line, only to be turned away on fourth and goal.

The Bruins’ next possession got to the Arizona State 9-yard line, and again, the Sun Devil defense turned away UCLA on fourth-and-short.

In the third quarter, the visitors put together a 99-yard drive capped off by Skattebo’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Elijhah Badger on third-and-10 at the 1:59 mark. Skattebo sealed the win after UCLA responded with Logan Loya’s 16-yard touchdown catch from Schlee.

Skattebo raced 17 yards for a touchdown with 3:07 to play, and UCLA ran out of time.