Some games belong in box scores, others go down as fabled stories.
Things looked bleak for ASU football in its game at Texas State on Thursday. In 33 plays, the Bobcats gained 221 yards and scored three unanswered touchdowns to take a 21-7 lead in the first half. The game appeared to be slipping out of the Sun Devils' fingertips.
Then, the madness began with a response from redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt.
The second-year starter dodged ensuing rushers, stepped up in the pocket, and launched a 52-yard pass to redshirt sophomore receiver Jordyn Tyson to cut the deficit to seven. The game was tied at 21 by the end of the half.
"You get hit in the mouth early, come back and score 14 straight points, and win the end of the first half," said ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham in an interview with Arizona Sports. "That was a phenomenal response by our guys. They just kept fighting and never wavered. When we needed to make a play, we did."
The second half was far from smooth sailing for the Sun Devils. It took over 10 minutes for either team to score in the second half. Texas State finally took the lead back with 4:18 to go in the third but ASU responded with a touchdown the following drive.
ASU's defense decided the fourth quarter by forcing two turnovers in consecutive drives. Graduate defensive back Shamari Simmons forced a fumble before redshirt junior defensive back Xavion Alford intercepted a deep ball.
After giving up 28 points, ASU rendered the Bobcats scoreless in the fourth. When crunch time arrived, defensive coordinator Brian Ward's group flipped a switch.
"Physically, we just did a great job bending but not breaking," Simmons said in the post-game press event. "The first half didn't go our way, and we could have just sat there and sulked. But in the second half, we did a great job creating energy, locking in, and doing what we do."
Sealing the win in the last minutes wasn't a one-sided effort. The Sun Devils looked to none other than senior Cam Skattebo on a third and eight with time ticking down to get a crucial first down.
ASU would go on to win 31-28.
Skattebo's final run was an emphatic statement on an otherwise quiet night as he ran for just 62 yards on 24 carries. The game's pacing limited his load as did Texas State’s defensive game plan.
Leavitt finished with two total touchdowns, 246 yards through the air and 40 yards on the ground. The redshirt freshman produced on a day when his team needed him most.
"Coming into the game, Coach Dillingham talked about not getting too high or too low," Leavitt said in the post-game conference. "That's exactly what we did. We responded really well and came up with two quick touchdowns that ultimately put us back in the game and let us get the ball to start the second half."
Leavitt's outing was needed as opposing quarterback Jordan McCloud powered Texas State's offense. The Bobcat offense gained 400 total yards and 21 first downs with a 47% third-down conversion rate.
Texas State's offense controlled the pace effectively all night with a multifaceted attack. Gap running schemes with a pulling blocker routinely confused ASU defenders while breaking routes provided separation for Bobcat receivers. McCloud had a running lane to escape through when he couldn't find a receiver.
Texas State's offense may have been the story of the night if not for the Sun Devil defense and Leavitt's performance. Today, the Sun Devils sit atop the Big 12 and are 3-0 for the first time since 2019.
Edited by Jack Barron, Sophia Ramirez and Madeline Schmitke.
Reach the reporter at jwkartso@asu.edu and follow @kartsonis3 on X.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on X.
Jack is a sophomore studying sports journalism. This is his second semester with The State Press. He has also worked at other student journalism organizations.
