TEMPE – Dominating in the first half and withstanding No. 14 BYU’s momentum in the second half, No. 21 ASU was able to hold on and secure a gigantic 28-23 victory on Saturday night.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Sam Leavitt completed 16-of-25 passes for 247 yards, a touchdown and an interception for Arizona State (9-2, 6-2). Cam Skattebo was electric all game long, rushing 28 times for 147 yards and three touchdowns and Jordyn Tyson had nine receptions for 125 yards.
Starting the season 9-0, BYU (9-2, 6-2) has now lost its second consecutive game despite coming very close to making a stunning comeback. Jake Retzlaff was 22-for-38 for 297 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Keelan Marion scored two touchdowns from five carries and 30 yards.
Here are the key takeaways from the Sun Devils monster win over the Cougars:
-On the Cougars’ first drive, they went for it on fourth down and failed. When it was 4th and 5, Retzlaff scrambled out of the pocket and threw a pass before it was broken up by ASU linebacker Jordan Crook.
-With BYU’s pass defense ranked as one of the best in the country and having 17 interceptions coming in, Skattebo was used profusely by Leavitt. In the first quarter alone, he tallied nine carries for 52 yards. The Sun Devils star finished with 96 yards and three touchdowns from 16 carries in the first half, continuing to make his case for the Heisman Trophy.
ASU Touchdown | Arizona State 7-0 BYU
Cam Skattebo bulldozed his way into the end zone for a touchdown on the Sun Devils’ first drive.#ASU #SunDevils #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/bVwmUDtv30
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) November 23, 2024
-Leading ASU’s defense by example in the first quarter, Crook came up with another big play as a pass by Retzlaff was deflected, the ball fluttered in the air and Crook dove to catch it. The Arkansas transfer picked up his first interception as a Sun Devil.
-Arizona State’s defense came to play early on and BYU’s offense couldn’t get anything going. Even after Cougars safety Tanner Wall picked off a pass from Leavitt on the first play of the second quarter, BYU was immediately charged with an illegal block in back penalty and lost 10 yards. BYU was forced to punt.
-After a five-yard rushing touchdown by Skattebo in the second quarter, Parker Lewis went for an onside kick and the defense recovered, handing the Sun Devils possession again.
-Just before halftime, Cougars kicker Will Ferrin made a deep, 49-yard field goal to go into the locker room with a 21-3 deficit. BYU was limited to 114 total yards of offense and 25 rushing yards in the first half.
-Off to a slow start, Darius Ballister had a huge second half with five receptions, averaging 20.6 yards per catch and 103 overall receiving yards.
-Breaking off away from three BYU defenders, Skattebo took the ball to the house for his third touchdown and signed another ball during his celebration. This was Skattebo’s final home game at Mountain America Stadium as he is projected to be an NFL Draft pick in 2025.
HIM HIM HIM ????
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???? https://t.co/0CMltGlRNn pic.twitter.com/L1wOZciFjZ— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) November 23, 2024
-The Sun Devils were close to scoring yet again a few minutes into the third quarter, with Chamon Metayer open for a pass before the ball went through his hands. ASU went for it on fourth down and Leavitt’s pass directed to Jordyn Tyson was way off the mark.
-With a pocket of space on his left, BYU wide receiver Keelan Marion dashed for a 10-yard rushing touchdown. In the fourth quarter, he rushed for a one-yard touchdown, being the go-to guy for Retzlaff when the Cougars were in the red zone.
-Backing up from the pocket, Leavitt launched a 61-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Guillory to answer right back after Marion scored. This season, the Washington native has 15 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns.
-Following a poor first half, the Cougars’ offense responded in the third quarter with the touchdown by Marion and another by Jojo Phillips. Producing 114 yards in the first half, BYU racked up 164 yards just in the third quarter.
-While he didn’t record a touchdown, Tyson helped the Sun Devils gain massive yardage and sparked energy around the stadium with his elusive catches. Tyson had a 54-yard reception and averaged 13.6 yards per catch.
-BYU was piling on the pressure in the fourth quarter and was within striking distance of getting its first lead of the game, but Javan Robinson came up clutch with a 64-yard interception before sliding. Robinson amassed five tackles, two passes defended and his second interception of the season on Saturday.
The play of the game for the Sun Devils, Javan Robinson seals the deal with an INT. #21 @ASUFootball survives #14 @BYUfootball 28-23 #burncitysports
???? @jrussellTV pic.twitter.com/Ik1ZcmHC6M— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) November 24, 2024
-ASU narrowly had more yards than BYU 401-391, but was penalized nine times. In the passing game, the Cougars were more successful than the Sun Devils with 297 yards compared to 247 from Arizona State. BYU’s running game, however, only came out with 94 yards even though the team scored twice on two rushes by Marion.
ASU officially placed on College Football Playoff rankings for first time in 11 years
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
