It hadn’t been the most ideal start for the reigning Big 12 champions.
Last week the Arizona State Sun Devils ended their game with a heartbreak.
With 30 seconds left in the game, they gave up a 58-yard receiving touchdown, which eventually led to a loss 24-20 to Mississippi state.
ASU football (1-1) was looking to bounce back against the Texas State Bobcats (2-0) in their last meeting of non-conference play.
The game started off slow, with defensive stops on the first three drives of the game.
The Devils broke the deadlock when kicker Jesus Gomez ended their drive with a 47-yard field goal to put up a 3-0 lead.
Texas responded right back with a 13-play drive ending with a 39-yard field goal from kicker Tyler Robles, to tie it up at three all.
And then it was all ASU.
Beginning on the tenth play of the next drive, sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt scrambled out of the pocket, jumped and fired at a wide-open receiver Jordyn Tyson who proceeded to hurdle a defender into the endzone for a 30-yard receiving touchdown, making it 10-3.
On the next Texas State drive, Bobcats quarterback Brad Jackson found receiver Beau Sparks over the middle on a slant, the ball was fumbled and recovered by ASU safety Myles Rowser.
ASU capitalized on the fumble, ending their drive with a Sam Leavitt one yard quarterback sneak to make it 17-3 Devils.
The Devils got the ball back again and put together an 11-play drive, ending in a Jesus Gomez 26-yard field goal.
The teams exchanged punts on their next drives giving Texas State the ball at the 45, with 18 seconds left.
The Bobcats were able to get into field goal range but Tyler Robles’s 54-yard attempt was short. Keeping the game at 20-3.
The Sun Devils started the half right where they left off, at the end of a 13-play drive, Sam Leavitt found tight end Chamon Metayer on a screen pass which was taken to the house for a 27-yard touchdown, 27-3.
The Bobcats responded with a long 15-play drive ending in a seven-yard touchdown run from Brad Jackson. The two-point conversion fell incomplete making 27-9.
Any sliver of hope for the Bobcats was quickly squashed when ASU broke out on the first play from scrimmage for a 75-yard rushing touchdown making it 34-9 Devils.
Late into the fourth quarter the Bobcats were able to put together a big 13-play touchdown drive, Brad Jackson found freshman Kylen Evans in the endzone for a two-yard touchdown, the two-point try was no good.
Texas State did try an onside kick, but it was unsuccessful.
ASU’s offense ran out the clock for a 34-15 defeat.
The run game played a huge part in the win as ASU ran for 245 yards as a team.
“I think we left a lot out on the table early in the game,” Leavitt said postgame. “But overall, I was just proud of the guys. I really felt like we were playing as a team again.”
The win moves Arizona State to 2-1 heading into conference play they face Baylor next week for their first Big 12 matchup.
