The biggest question throughout the week for ASU football was the health of standout sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt, who had been nursing a right foot injury.
Last week against Utah, Leavitt spent the game in a walking boot watching backup QB Jeff Sims.
ASU (4-2) lost 42-10.
This week however, Leavitt made his return to the field.
ASU wasn’t the only team with quarterback injuries, as No.7 Texas Tech (6-0) started freshman Will Hammond in place of star QB Behren Morton over lower leg injury.
However, Texas Tech announced before the game, that Morton would be available in an emergency role just in case.
The returning Leavitt had a massive test in front of him, as Texas Tech’s defense ranked at No. 7 in the country in points allowed at just 12.2 points per game.
The first quarter was defensively dominated as the first five drives resulted in punts.
ASU broke the scoreless tie when kicker Jesus Gomez kicked a 34-yard field goal, to put ASU up 3-0.
ASU’s next offensive drive would have the same result as Gomez connected again, from 47-yards, making it 6-0 Devils.
Texas Tech finally got on the board; when Hammond found junior receiver Coy Eakin on a corner route for a 30-yard touchdown making it 7-6 Red Raiders with 5:57 remaining in the half.
The Sun Devils hit back with a nine-play drive resulting in a Jesus Gomez 26-yard field goal, making 9-7 devils with 1:44 remaining.
Texas Tech’s two-minute drill ended quickly in a punt, keeping it at 9-7 going into the half.
The Red Raiders first drive in the second half ended in disaster as Hammond was looking for his tight end John Carlos Miller III but the pass was tipped and picked by linebacker Martell Hughes, putting ASU at TTU’s 21-yard line.
ASU capitalized on the turnover as Leavitt rolled out and found a wide-open Jordyn Tyson for a 2-yard touchdown making it 16-7 devils.
ASU got the ball back and kept the momentum going with a 15-play drive ending in a 28-yard field goal from Jesus Gomez to make it 19-7 devils.
Texas Tech’s next drive was threatening as they got all the way down to the redzone, but on fourth and 6 they decided to run a speed option pitch to sophomore running back Cam Dickey that was stopped for a one-yard loss keeping the Sun Devils 2 score lead
TTU’s defense forced a punt giving them the ball with 7:21 seconds remaining.
Texas Tech’s offense finally scored again with an 11-play drive ending in a one-yard Hammond rushing touchdown. Making it 19-14, with 3:51 remaining.
Texas Tech’s defense forced a punt—Eakin returned the punt 35 yards and put the Red Raiders on the 14-yard line with 2:05 remaining.
On the first play after the return, Hammond found senior receiver Reggie Virgil on the back shoulder for a 14-yard passing touchdown. The two-point conversion was good—suddenly Texas Tech is up 22-19. With 2:00 remaining.
ASU executed a perfect two-minute drill, going 10 plays and 75 yards, ending in a Raleek Brown one yard touchdown. Making it 26-22 with 34 seconds left.
Postgame, Head Coach Kenny Dillingham praised Leavitt and the offense.
“In the biggest moments he’s the one that’s got the ball, no special play calls, everybody runs the same stuff, it’s the dudes with the ball, it’s the other 10 guys on that make the plays not the coaches,” Dillingham said.
Tech was able to get close enough for a Hail Mary, but the attempt fell incomplete and the crowd stormed the field as the clock hit zero.
Leavitt hit 322 total yards and one touchdown.
“The dude is a battler, he’s a competitor, he’s a fighter, he wants to do everything he can to get on that field first team, he was ready to play this week, I felt he was ready to play this week, and he played, and he fought, and he competed and that’s what Sam Leavitt does,” Dillingham said.
The win moves ASU to 5-2 heading into the matchup next week, where they meet the Houston Cougars.
