Sam Leavitt’s Heroics Propel Arizona State to Thrilling 31-28 Victory Over Texas State

Sam Leavitt led the Arizona State Sun Devils to a thrilling 31-28 victory over Texas State on Thursday night, marking their third consecutive win of the season. Leavitt threw for one touchdown and rushed for another, demonstrating his versatility and skill on the field.

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Arizona State’s offense rallied impressively, overcoming a 21-7 deficit in the second quarter. Cam Skattebo contributed significantly, scoring two short touchdowns as the Sun Devils capitalized on critical turnovers forced by their defense in the final quarter. A fumble recovery allowed Ian Hershey to kick the game-winning field goal with just under seven minutes remaining.

With this victory, Arizona State improves to 3-0, setting the stage for their upcoming Big 12 opener against Texas Tech next week. This comes after a challenging season last year, where they finished 3-9.

Reflecting on the game, defensive back Shamari Simmons expressed his excitement: “Best thing in the world. I’m in the clouds right now.” Simmons was instrumental in securing a fourth-quarter turnover, showcasing the team’s tenacity.

Leavitt’s pivotal plays included a 52-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson, followed by his own 7-yard touchdown run that helped level the score. In his first road start, he accumulated 246 passing yards. “We responded really well with two quick touchdowns that got us back in the game,” Leavitt commented.

Although Skattebo faced a formidable Texas State defense that limited his effectiveness, he managed to tie the game with a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, finishing with 62 yards on 24 attempts. His crucial first down in the final minutes allowed the Sun Devils to run down the clock effectively.

Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham praised his players’ performances: “When the game mattered the most, the best players made plays. Very good for our football team to win that game.”

For Texas State, quarterback Jordan McCloud threw for 268 yards and four touchdowns but suffered an interception during critical moments of the match after Arizona State took the lead. Texas State, now 2-1 this season, missed an opportunity to secure another victory over a Big 12 opponent.

“I hate it for the kids that we weren’t able to get that win, but I think we performed well,” said Texas State coach G.J. Kinne, acknowledging the respect gained despite the loss.

In highlighting their connections to Texas, Arizona State named four native Texan players as game captains. Tyson emphasized the significance of the game for Texas players: “The Texas guys on the roster, coming home, we brought it.” Dillingham added, “Texas is definitely a footprint for us because we play games here.”

The final moments of the game almost concluded when Leavitt took a knee, but a video review revealed one second remaining. Texas State attempted a short pass, but a lateral resulted in a fumble recovered by Arizona State.

Looking ahead, Arizona State prepares to face Texas Tech on September 21, while Texas State will host Sam Houston State on September 28.