SAN MARCOS, Texas. – For the first since 2019, the Arizona State University Sun Devils have opened its season with a 3-0 record. In a back-and-forth contest, ASU took down the Texas State University Bobcats 31-28.
The Bobcats’ fast-paced offense certainly lived up to its name in the first half; going up 21-7 with 5:16 to play in the second quarter. Texas State redshirt senior quarterback Jordan McCloud threw for 268 yards in the air with four passing touchdowns. The 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year racked up 313 total yards and gave the Sun Devils’ defense trouble as he extended many of his team’s drives with his mobility.
TSU matched its hurry-up offense with an aggressive approach. Texas State offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich kept his offense on the field for four fourth downs. The Bobcats were successful twice, highlighted by senior wide receiver Joey Hobert’s 26-yard hurdle-and-run catch on fourth and two.
Arizona State redshirt quarterback Sam Leavitt’s ability to throw the deep ball was in question all week after completing 50% of his passes from last game. The Michigan State transfer put those doubts to rest, connecting with redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jordyn Tyson for a 52-yard score. Tyson’s first touchdown as a Sun Devil cut the Bobcat lead to 21-14.
The Leavitt and Tyson connection linked for 120 yards and one touchdown. However, that was not the only weapon ASU’s quarterback was on the same page with. Redshirt junior tight end Chamon Metayer caught several key third-down conversions for the Sun Devils. The University of Cincinnati transfer accumulated 57 receiving yards on five receptions.
Leavitt finished the game with 286 total yards, two total touchdowns and one interception. On the ground, Arizona State senior running back Cam Skattebo was limited in the run game. While he rushed for 62 yards, he found the endzone twice.
Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham commented on his level of trust in Leavitt’s first road start of the season.
“He’s a competitor,” Dillingham said. “He’s an absolute competitor. When he’s back there I have the utmost confidence because he’s smart, he cares, he competes.”
After a 42-total point first half, the score was tied 21-21 at half time.
ASU graduate student defensive back Shamari Simmons commented on the defense’s mindset after a struggling first half.
“I just felt like defensively we did a great job of bending but not breaking,” Simmons said. “The first half did not go our way…we did a great job just creating energy and just really locking in and doing what we do.”
Furthermore, to even the score, down by two touchdowns, the Sun Devils overcame the first half adversity. Arizona State redshirt junior defensive back Xavion Alford commented on what adversity meant to the team.
“Adversity is a big word in our program,” Alford said. “A lot of teams just say that word but I feel that we really breathe, eat and sleep that word.”
Both team’s defenses came alive in the second half and limited the offensive onslaught. Texas State’s defense piled up three sacks, eight tackles for loss (TFL) and one turnover. Although ASU’s defense got to the quarterback two less times, they won the all-important turnover battle.
For the Sun Devils, Simmons and Alfrod stepped up in the secondary. Simmons led Arizona State in TFLs with two and forced a game-changing fumble. McCloud’s fumble in his own territory set up redshirt sophomore Ian Hershey’s eventual game-winning 22-yard field goal.
With a little over five minutes left in the contest, the Bobcats faced a third and 11 with the game on the line. McCloud fired deep over the middle and was picked off by Alford. The Sun Devils were able to erase roughly 2:30 off the clock and stopped TSU’s offense on its pursuing drive to end the game.
Dillingham shared his thoughts on Alford’s interception.
“When the game mattered the most, Alford intercepted a ball,” Dillingham said. “When the game mattered the most, the best players on our football team made plays. That’s a sign of good football.”
Dillingham and his team’s nail-biting three-point win provides them with a nine-day rest period before its next game. Arizona State will host the Texas Tech University Red Raiders on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Tempe. Kick-off is set for 12:30 p.m. MST at Mountain America Stadium as the Sun Devils look to remain undefeated.