The heart is the most vital part of the human body, keeping everything moving, flowing and functioning. For a football team, one player usually embodies what the program values most. Those players get recognized as the heart of the team. As long as they go, the team goes. For ASU, the heart is undoubtedly senior running back Cam Skattebo.
Time and time again, when the team needed a big play Skattebo was there. Sealing games or going on big runs, it's what he does. Even if a team seems dead in the water, as long as the heart is intact — that team believes.
Lose star redshirt sophomore receiver Jordyn Tyson?
The heart is still intact.
Down 24-8 with 10 minutes remaining?
The heart is still intact.
In the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Wednesday, his final game as a Sun Devil, the heart of the team left everything on the field. But ASU came up just short against Texas 39-31 in a double overtime game to put the magical season to bed.
"It's awesome that I was able to play football for and with (head coach Kenny Dillingham and redshirt freshman Sam Leavitt)," Skattebo said. "I'm happy to be in the position I am and for (Dillingham) to put me in a role to be successful."
Skattebo accounted for 284 yards and three touchdowns during the dual, earning him Offensive MVP of the game, the first time a losing team's player has received the award in 26 years. Skattebo also passed Eno Benjamin for ASU's all-time single-season rushing record.
Following the performance, Skattebo found Dillingham and the two shared a moment in the tunnel. Just over two years ago, Dillingham recruited Skattebo to ASU and it worked out for both parties better than either could have hoped.
The nation witnessed the relentless effort Skattebo emits. The heart wouldn't give up, even down 16 points. As the Texas defense keyed in on the run, Skattebo responded with a pass to senior wide receiver Malik McClain, who would take the ball straight to the end zone.
"He's a special player," Dillingham said. "It's just Cam. It's exactly what I expected. The bottom line is that when you give him the ball, crazy things happen."
For ASU, it looked like a win after Texas faced a fourth-and-13 in overtime. The entire side was filled with maroon and gold, ready to erupt. A rally to remember after the Sun Devils were down 24-8 in the fourth quarter.
It wasn't enough.
Junior Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers shot a dime down the seam to junior receiver Matthew Golden to tie the game up and force a second overtime. On the first play of the second overtime, Ewers found senior tight end Gunnar Helm on a leak play for a 25-yard touchdown to give them the lead.
They were two perfect play calls, two perfectly executed plays, something Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is known for. The innovative offensive coach saved his best for last.
"I thought there were a couple of things that were impressive (about those plays)," Sarkisian said. "One, I thought it was a great job of preparation by our coaches in relaying that to our players. We actually practiced that play versus that exact defense during the week."
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Points seemed impossible for ASU in the first 50 minutes of the game. Yards weren't the problem, as before the Sun Devils scored their first touchdown, they had over 300 yards and multiple drives into Texas territory but only six offensive points to show for it.
Two points came from a safety by graduate defensive back Shamari Simmons. Simmons got suspended for the first half due to a targeting call in the Big 12 championship, but checking in during the second half forced a fumble that led to said safety for the Sun Devils.
That energy engulfed the ASU defense all day long. Some mistakes early and on special teams gave them an early hole. Even so, Texas couldn’t score, going the entire second and third quarter without a touchdown. The ASU offense still struggled and couldn't capitalize on the defensive performance.
"I didn't put them in the best positions to succeed on offense," Dillingham said. "I've got to do a much better job with formations (and) motions to create some better leverages to get these guys going."
Despite the gut-wrenching loss, it was still a successful season for ASU. The night before the game, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Dillingham earned a five-year extension. With it, ASU will allocate more resources to the football program.
READ MORE: Kenny Dillingham receives 5-year deal
A program no one believed in and picked to finish last took one of the Southeastern Conference's best into double overtime, proving they belonged in this 12-team playoff.
Edited by Henry Smardo, Sophia Braccio and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at danielr1102@gmail.com and follow @daniel_rios72 on X.
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Daniel is a senior studying sports journalism. This is his first semester with The State Press. He has also worked at WCSN, OC Riptide, 1550 Sports and AZPreps365.
