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BYU-Arizona State game ends in total chaos due to botched clock management, premature celebration

Spenser Davis

By Spenser Davis

Published:

The end of Saturday night’s BYU-Arizona State game was pure chaos.

Arizona State looked to be close to finishing off a win over the Cougars when disaster struck. ASU had 2nd and goal from inside the 5-yard line and a 28-23 lead. Instead of trying to make it a 2-score game with a touchdown, Arizona State began running backwards on purpose in order to churn through the remainder of the clock.

The plan would have worked, but Sam Leavitt’s sky-ball on 4th down evidently landed with 1 second remaining on the clock. That gave BYU the ball back on the 49-yard line — and a chance to potentially win the game with a Hail Mary.

Here’s a replay of Arizona State’s sequence:

However, that was not the end of the story. Arizona State fans rushed the field — and took down the goalposts — before officials ruled that there was still time remaining in the game. That caused a significant delay before the Cougars were able to get their 4th-down play off.

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham was seen arguing with officials and pleading with fans to leave the playing field on multiple ocassions during the delay. Star running back Cam Skattebo even joined the efforts to try to clear the field.

Here’s a replay of the scene at Arizona State:

After about a 15-minute delay, BYU was able to finally run the final play. It ended with a completion — but it was just a bit short of the goal line in the end, giving Arizona State the victory.

Spenser Davis

Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.

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