Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham talks to the referee during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Mountain America Stadium on September 7, 2024 in Tempe. Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt threw for 246 yards and the Sun Devils defense limited Texas State to a total of 24 yards in the fourth quarter in a 31-28 win on Thursday in San Marcos, Texas.
Arizona State improved to 3-0 under coach Kenny Dillingham, matching his win total from his first season, when the Sun Devils were 3-9 in 2023.
Leavitt completed 19 of 30 passes, threw one touchdown and was intercepted once.
The Sun Devils overcame a 21-7 deficit with touchdowns on their final two possessions of the first half.
Texas State (2-1) took the lead with Jordan McCloud, who threw four touchdown passes and completed 29 of 44 attempts for 268 yards, with one interception.
With the score tied at 28-28 and 9:04 remaining, Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi lost the ball after a 12-yard run. Shamari Simmons forced the fumble and Justin Wodtly of the Sun Devils recovered it at the Texas State 23-yard line.
Arizona State converted the turnover into a 22-yard field goal by Ian Hershey with 6:31 minutes left.
McCloud was then intercepted by Xavion Alford at Arizona State’s 25-yard line.
Texas State’s next possession ended with an incomplete pass by McCloud on fourth-and-5 at the Bobcats’ 20-yard line with 2:09 left to play.
Cam Skattebo, who ran for 62 yards on 14 attempts and scored two touchdowns, sealed the game by gaining 9 yards for a first down on third-and-8 at Texas State’s 18-yard line with 1:57 left.
The Bobcats got the ball back at their own 30-yard line with one second left, but a lateral play resulted in a lost fumble.
Texas State had 373 total yards of offense entering the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter possessions ended with a fumble, an interception, a turnover on downs and a fumble.
After Texas State built a two-touchdown lead with 5:16 left in the first half, Arizona State drove 75 yards on four plays in 1:30, capped by Leavitt’s 52-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson.
Texas State’s three-and-out resulted in the Sun Devils gaining possession of the ball at their 43-yard line with 2:38 minutes left in the half.
Leavitt completed 5 of 6 passes for 44 yards on that drive before scoring on a 7-yard run six seconds before the halftime whistle.
McCloud completed 5 of 6 passing attempts in the third quarter, finishing with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Williams that gave Texas State a 28-21 lead with 4:18 left in the quarter.
Arizona State answered on its next possession with a 2-yard touchdown run by Skattebo with 2:18 left in the quarter. Leavitt’s 40-yard run added to the score.
–Field level media
