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Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (4) slips a tackle from Kansas linebacker JB Brown (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. | Darryl Webb
Five games into the season, not many outside of Arizona State’s football building thought the Sun Devils would be here.
Most expected some improvement from Kenny Dillingham’s squad, which went 3-9 last season, but the Sun Devils were picked last in the 16-team Big 12 preseason poll. Through five games at least, they’re proving the doubters wrong. After Saturday night’s 35-31 win over Kansas, Arizona State has already surpassed its win total from each of the last two seasons, and are within just two wins of going to its first bowl game since 2021. The Tempe community is buying in, selling out Mountain America Stadium for last night’s game.
Sun Devil quarterback Sam Leavitt, a Utah transfer portal target, led the game-winning drive after Kansas QB Jalon Daniels threw a 34-yard strike to put the Jayhawks up 31-28 with two minutes remaining.
The eight-play, 75-yard drive for Arizona State featured a heavy dose of Cam Skattebo, who jumpstarted the series with a 39-yard run. Leavitt used his legs for two first-down conversions, including a 4-yard run on third-and-3 from the Kansas 7-yard line, and capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson to take a 35-31 lead.
Leavitt’s final line was 14 of 24 for 157 yards, four touchdowns and a interception through the air, plus 77 yards on the ground, while Skattebo added 186 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries.
Down 17-14 early in the second half, Leavitt threw a red-zone interception that bounced off the hands of his receiver and into the hands of Kansas, but Arizona State’s defense answered the bell and forced a three-and-out. After that, aside from…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/arizona-state-fresh-off-defeating-225418040.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-10-06 22:54:18
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