Former BYU QB Jacob Conover struggles for ASU against Utah
Former BYU QB Jacob Conover finished the game 5 for 22 for 41 yards and an interception as Arizona State failed to score a touchdown in a 55-3 loss to Utah.
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Utah Utes linebacker Karene Reid sacks Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Jacob Conover during the first half of the football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
Former BYU quarterback Jacob Conover was thrust into action early in Arizona State’s game against Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Trenton Bourguet, Arizona State’s third-string quarterback, started the game against Utah but was hurt on the Sun Devils’ first drive of the game after a hard hit on third-and-9. Bourguet was down for a while and was helped off the field.
On the Sun Devils’ next drive, Conover was inserted into the game.
The former Cougar signal-caller was behind an offensive line that traveled only six scholarship players. He was pressured often and was sacked three times.
He finished the game 5 for 22 for 41 yards and an interception as Arizona State failed to score a touchdown in a 55-3 loss to Utah. The 52-point margin of defeat was the worst for the Sun Devils in the Pac-12 era and the second-worst in school history.
From when Conover was inserted with 6:24 remaining first quarter to when Bourguet came back into the game with 4:05 left in the second quarter, Conover was 0 for 6 passing.
The former BYU signal-caller went into the contest again with 56 seconds left in the first half and found a little more success, completing two passes for a combined 14 yards.
Conover would finish the game for the Sun Devils, completing just three passes in the last two quarters.
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Utah Utes quarterback Bryson Barnes pulls back to throw the ball during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes marching band plays before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the tailgate area outside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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The Utah Utes warmup before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes marching band plays before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the tailgate area outside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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The Utah Utes warmup before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes wide receiver Munir McClain catches the ball in the end zone for a touchdown during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes linebacker Karene Reid sacks Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Jacob Conover during the first half of the football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes players celebrate after Utah Utes cornerback Miles Battle interception, that call was later overturned, during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes fans hold up three fingers during a third down for the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham watches from the sidelines during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes wide receiver Money Parks runs the ball with Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Jordan Clark on defense during the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes linebacker Levani Damuni celebrates after Utah Utes cornerback Miles Battle interception, that call was later overturned, during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Ja'Quinden Jackson runs the ball for a touchdown during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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The Utah Utes play against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham paces the sidelines during the game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Fans high-five with foam fingers after a touchdown by the Utah Utes during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cameron Skattebo throws the ball during the game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes wide receiver Devaughn Veleat lights the U after their 55-3 victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Elijhah Badger is tackled by Utah Utes safety Briton Allen, left, and Utah Utes cornerback Smith Snowden, right, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes cornerback Miles Battle intercepts the ball over Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Elijhah Badger during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Nate Johnson runs the ball for a touchdown during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Arizona State Sun Devils players watch sadly from the sidelines during the game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. The final score was 55-3 for the Utah Utes. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes safety Ben Durham is tackled by Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back RJ Regan at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Jacob Conover lays on the ground sadly after he was sacked during the fourth quarter of the game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. The final score was 55-3 for the Utah Utes. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Charlie Vincent falls into the end zone for a touchdown during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes players celebrate Utah Utes running back Charlie Vincent’s touchdown during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Charlie Vincent runs the ball for a touchdown during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
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A four-star prospect out of Chandler High School in Arizona in the class of 2019, Conover committed to BYU over offers from Alabama, Ole Miss and Wisconsin, among others, before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Perhaps Conover’s finest moment at BYU came in 2021, when he took over for an injured Baylor Romney at the start of the second half and helped the Cougars beat Utah State.
Conover returned from his mission in 2020 but never caught on at BYU as Zach Wilson quarterbacked the Cougars in 2020 and Jaren Hall got the starting job in 2021 and 2022.
Conover transferred to Arizona State last offseason.
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