Two weeks ago, the Arizona State Sun Devils (6-3, 4-2 Big12) became bowl eligible with a 24-19 win at Iowa State.
After the bye week, the Devils returned home looking for their second win in a row against the West Virginia Mountaineers (4-6, 2-5 Big12).
ASU has been bitten by the injury bug, right before the Iowa State game it was announced that Star Quarterback Sam Leavitt would receive season ending surgery on his right foot.
Senior Quarterback Jeff Sims made his third start of the year in his place.
Star receiver Jordyn Tyson was also ruled out.
On Saturday, West Virginia struck first, after their defense forced a three-and-out on the opening drive, the Mountaineers strolled down the field with an 11-play drive ending in a 29-yard field goal from redshirt senior kicker Kade Hensley, making it 3-0 Mountaineers.
A few drives later, ASU finally cracked the scoreboard, in the redzone, Sims dumped the ball off to tight end Chamon Metayer for a walk in six-yard touchdown making it 7-3 Devils.
ASU continued their momentum when Derek Eusebio took a screen pass 19 yards to the house for a touchdown.
In an ASU fake PAT attempt, kicker Jesus Gomez dropped back to pass and found backup tight end Cameron Harpole making it 15-3.
West Virginia responded immediately as True Freshman Quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. found wide receiver Jeff Weimer on a post route behind the defense that went all the way to the house for a 75-yard touchdown. Making it 15-10 ASU.
Two drives later, ASU added on to their lead, as Jeff Sims found running back Raleek Brown on a Texas route that Brown took all the way, for a 33-yard touchdown making 22-10 devils. With 1:41 left in the half.
Both teams attempted two-minute drills— both were forced to punt keeping the game 22-10 at half.
The defenses dominated the entire third quarter.
After West Virginia’s special teams blocked a 45-yard field attempt from Jesus Gomez, their offense capitalized with a ten-play drive, ending in a one-yard touchdown run from running back Curtis Jones Jr. Making it 22-17 Devils.
On third down and 27 on the next Mountaineer’s drive, Scotty Fox found sophomore running back Cyncir Bowers on a swing pass, in which he proceeded to take 90 yards down the field for a massive touchdown, WVU missed the two-point conversion but the Mountaineers took the lead 23-22, with 6:37 left in the game.
ASU’s offense responded, driving all the way into field goal range, where Jesus Gomez connected with a 48-yard kick to put them up 25-23, with 2:44 left.
On fourth down with the game on the line Scotty Fox’s pass was intercepted by Devils corner Keith Abney and ASU held on to win 25-23.
Head Coach Kenny Dillingham talked about perseverance and reward, postgame.
“Like I told the guys in the locker room, some people find ways to win, some people find ways to lose, some people are quiet and successful and some people are loud and successful, some people are alphas, some people aren’t, there’s so many ways to be successful in football and life, some people like controversy and some people hate it, get it done or not, and our guys get it done, I think that’s what I told them, it’s a great life lesson, that nobody cares about the pain—show me the baby, right?” Dillingham said.
The win boosts ASU to 7-3 and No. 4 in the Big 12 and keeping their championship hopes alive.
Devils go on the road to Boulder next week to face the Colorado Buffaloes.
