TEMPE, ARIZONA – With the South Side lying on the field, Arizona State fans remained on the field long after their victory in yet another one of what we just witnessed. Even for a fan base accustomed to wild finishes during the Sun Devils’ two-year rise, this was surprising.
Sam Levitt There’s a way of doing that with people.
After turning a 12-point lead into a deficit in the fourth quarter, Leavitt drove down the field to set up Arizona State Relic BrownSaturday’s 1-yard touchdown run with 34 seconds left capped off a wild 26-22 That win handed No. 7 Texas Tech its first loss of the season.
“That quarterback changes everything,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “He’s a difference-maker.”
The Sun Devils needed every bit of Leavitt’s final-game magic.
Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) labored most of the game without a starting quarterback. bahren morton (Knee), finished with 276 total yards after averaging an FBS-best 558.8 yards during the first six games.
Will Hammond After failing to get Texas Tech’s offense going for three quarters, it showed its strength after staging two late scoring drives. The freshman scored on a 1-yard run and, after the Texas Tech defense, found reggie virgil On a 12-yard touchdown pass.
Hammond ran for a 2-point conversion after a holding call on Arizona State on the first attempt to put the Red Raiders ahead 22–19.
But the Red Raiders left too much time on the clock for Leavitt and Arizona State.
The defending Big 12 champion Sun Devils (5-2, 3-1) began their final drive from their own 25 with two minutes remaining and moved quickly down the field. Leavitt completed 5 of 7 passes for 61 yards on the drive – including 33 yards passing. jordan tyson Was crucial on fourth-and-2 – and benefited from a pass interference call on Texas Tech Bryce Pollock To set up Brown’s TD run.
“Going in that two minutes [drill]There wasn’t a lot of concern,” said Leavitt, who threw for 319 yards and a touchdown after missing last week’s game against Utah because of a foot injury.
There was a little concern at the end when the Red Raiders reached Arizona State’s 28 on their final drive, but Hammond’s desperation was quelled in the end zone.
Texas Tech became the fourth top-10 team to lose this weekend, following No. 2 Miami, No. 5 Mississippi and No. 10 LSU.
“We’re trying to figure out how we handle losing,” McGuire said. “That’s the adversity you have to figure out.”
Texas Tech was without a defensive tackle Skylar Gil-HowardJoe had season-ending ankle surgery this week, and the Sun Devils took advantage by racking up 394 total yards against one of the best defenses in the country. Arizona State had great difficulty finishing drives, having to settle for four field goals. jesus gomezBut it came just in time – thanks to Levitt.
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said, “I’ve never been around a guy who works to win football games as much as he does, and in the biggest moments, he makes the biggest plays.”
texas tech tight end terence carter jrHe was carted off the field after colliding with an Arizona State player over the middle early in the third quarter.
It appeared that Carter had injured his left leg. He has 4 catches for 19 yards and 3 touchdowns this season.
