Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo scores from 50, 47 yards to close win vs. Utah

Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo would not be denied, scoring from 50 and 47 yards, respectively, in the second half of Friday’s 27-19 win over No. 16 Utah at Mountain America Stadium.

Skattebo simply would not go down on the first of two scores. He made a cut to avoid defenders in the backfield, cut again at the line of scrimmage and broke through a pair of Utah tackles, using his hand to stay upright. After a stiff arm, he was gone, capping the longest run since he arrived in Tempe before the 2023 season by tossing the ball aside in the end zone.

Cam Skattebo, my goodness.

His 50-yard run gives ASU the lead in the second half! pic.twitter.com/plH0aS7jGR

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) October 12, 2024

With the extra point, Arizona State (5-1) took a 20-16 lead over Utah with sights on an upset.

Through three quarters, Skattebo ran for 96 yards, and he was not done.

Up 20-19 with 4:21 left in the game, ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt connected with Skattebo for a 21-yard completion on third down to keep the drive alive and clock ticking. Two plays later, Skattebo broke away again, this time for a 47-yard touchdown run.

“Funny enough, me and Sam actually worked that over-the-shoulder all week on a whole bunch of different plays,” Skattebo told reporters postgame.

“It all works together, the O-line played great, Cam is hard to bring down, the quarterback running game and moving the pocket, we called a good game with the quick game mixed in there … you have to have explosive plays to win football games,” head coach Kenny Dillingham said.

ASU took a 27-19 lead with just under three minutes left and held on for the win.

Dear @DoakWalkerAward,

Please be aware that Cam Skattebo of @ASUFootball is an absolute freak. Thank you.#Big12FB | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/q0aEs3v3io

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 12, 2024

Skattebo finished the game with 158 rushing yards on 22 carries (7.2 yards per carry), two touchdowns along with four catches for 41 yards.

“I’m going to keep putting everything I got towards this team,” Skattebo said. “We just beat No. 16 team in the country. So who says we can’t beat anybody else?”

The senior was the Big 12 leader in missed tackles forced with 33 before taking the field on Friday, according to Pro Football Focus. The running back won co-Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after the Sun Devils defeated Kansas last Saturday in Tempe (186 rushing yards).

He has two Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week awards already and made a loud case for a third.

However many guys you think it takes to tackle Cam Skattebo… double it 💪#Big12FB | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/AA0zWJOQUx

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 12, 2024

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