Freshman quarterback Jake Fette is walking into an absolute nightmare on Saturday, making his first collegiate start against #8 BYU at Lavell Edwards Stadium. This isn’t just any road game; it’s a Halloween clash that promises more tricks than treats for the young signal-caller, thrust into the spotlight for ASU’s most challenging game of the season.
BYU’s Provo Fortress Is Waiting
These Cougars are no joke, especially when they’re playing at home in Provo. We’re talking an 11-game winning streak stretching back almost two years, a streak that turns Lavell Edwards Stadium into a deathtrap for opposing teams. BYU’s coming off an upset loss at Central Florida, which means those more than 62,000 fans are going to be absolutely ravenous for a win, ready to make Fette’s life miserable.
Remember their last home game? They took down then-No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24, ending the Fighting Irish’s 16-game winning streak with a clutch goal-line stand. That’s the kind of intensity Fette is about to face. And if the crowd isn’t enough, BYU’s defense ranks 26th in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 18.57 points per game. They’re also 23rd in total defense with 301.6 yards allowed, which is good enough for second in the Big 12. Coach Kenny Dillingham knows it, too, admitting he can’t fully prepare Fette, saying, “This is one of the best, most consistent fan bases in college football. This is one of the best, most consistent coaching staffs in college football. When you have the consistency that they have as a program from the top … I don’t think there is a way to (prepare him).”
Fette’s Trial by Fire
So, into this maelstrom steps Jake Fette, a true freshman making his *first* college start, and only his third appearance ever. How did we get here? Last week against Kansas State, sixth-year starter Mikey Keene went down with an injury near the end of the second half. Cutter Boley, who’d started the first six games, had an underwhelming third quarter. That’s when Fette got his shot.
He played the entire fourth quarter, completing 3 of 6 passes for 45 yards. The Sun Devils scored two touchdowns with him on the field, flipping the energy in Mountain America Stadium and leading them to a 28-17 comeback win. Coach Dillingham’s message to him before that KSU game was simple: “It’s football. You’ve been doing this since you were 6 years old. Go out there and play football. Trust your eyes, and if the read is there to sling it, sling it.” That’s the mantra he’ll need for this Saturday. Even with Keene looking “unfit to start,” Dillingham isn’t trying to rush Fette’s development, simply stating, “Just continue to work. There’s no way to expedite the progression. The progression is the progression.”
This Saturday, Fette has to trust his eyes and “sling it” when 62,000 rabid fans and a top-tier defense are doing everything they can to rattle him. Can he handle the pressure of Provo for his first start? The whole country will be watching to see if this freshman can survive a Halloween fright.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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