TEMPE, Ariz. – A new era of Sun Devil Football commenced Saturday evening at Mountain America Stadium, and second-year head coach Kenny Dillingham's squad was in complete control throughout a 48-7 thrashing of Wyoming in the 2024 season opener.
In their first game as members of the Big 12 Conference, the Sun Devils (1-0, 0-0) came out of the gate in dominating fashion, pairing a steady offensive attack with a smothering defensive outing against the Cowboys.
Sam Leavitt, one of 60 newcomers for the Sun Devils this season, moved the offense with ease all night in his first career start, scoring on five of the first six drives. He ended the night with 258 yards and two scores on 14-for-22 passing, connecting with both Chamon Metayer for a 25-yard pitch-and-catch and Kyson Brown on a 68-yard screen for his first pair of touchdown passes in Tempe.
Second-year defensive coordinator Brian Ward dialed up a flawless game plan to contain the Cowboys offense. Just two plays into the game, linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu intercepted a pass from Wyoming's Evan Svoboda, returning it for a 29-yard touchdown. It marked the Sun Devils' first pick-six in nearly two years and the 23rd since 2012.
Svoboda's pass on 3rd-and-23 on the ensuing drive sailed into the arms of linebacker Keyshaun Elliott, helping pave the way for an Ian Hershey 29-yard field goal to give the Sun Devils a 10-0 advantage. Later in the third quarter, defensive end Justin Wodtly scooped up a botched backwards pass from Wyoming, returning it for a six-yard score, giving the Sun Devils their first game with two defensive touchdowns since Nov. 21, 2015.
In six first-half drives for Wyoming, the Cowboys were intercepted twice, punted on four straight series and had a trio of three-and-outs. They mustered just 53 yards of offense and failed to advance past their own 41-yard line. A team that threw just six interceptions last year, the Cowboys were picked off in each of their first two possessions.
They found the end zone in the final two seconds of the game, but the Sun Devil defense was unabating on Svoboda, holding the Cowboys to 118 total yards, eight first downs, a 3-for-13 clip on third downs and less than 23 minutes of possession time.
The Sun Devil offense seemed as if it hardly broke a sweat as it leaned on the balanced rushing attack of Skattebo, Brooks and Leavitt, who combined for 25 carries and 143 yards. Up 10-0 in the final minutes of the first, DeCarlos Brooks punched it in for an eight-yard score, and Skattebo later found the end zone on a 4th-and-2 from the Wyoming three-yard line.
With first-year offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo opting to keep the offense on the field early in the second quarter, Skattebo lined up in the wildcat formation, took the direct snap, followed a convoy of blockers and weaved in for his first score of the 2024 campaign. His 10th rushing touchdown as a Sun Devil widened their lead to 24-0.
Ian Hershey added a 24-yarder in the waning minutes of the first half that allowed the Sun Devils to carry a 27-0 advantage into the break.
Leavitt kept the momentum rolling in the opening drive of the second half when he found Metayer for the 25-yard score. After Wodtly's scoop-and-score and Brown's 68-yard scamper, the Sun Devils held a commanding 48-0 edge after three.
More than 13,600 students were on-hand to watch the Sun Devils dismantle the Cowboys, good for the second-largest student-attendance at home since 2010.
QUOTABLES:
Arizona State Head Coach Kenny Dillingham:
On Sam Leavitt's first career start:
I thought it was good. I thought he was poised. Before the game, I just told him to be yourself and when in doubt, run. Most of the time when you're a running quarterback, you want to prove that you can throw it. What I was proud of was he took that and applied it to the game. We talk about it all the time on first and second down. We don't need you to be a superstar. We need you to manage the game. Third downs are when you can extend plays and use your legs because if you get sacked, extending your play, we're punting anyway.
On the early takeaways and setting the tone:
"It's unbelievable. we have been every single day. The guys probably are bored of it. We start our team meeting and the only two things I show are effort plays and takeaways, that's it. Bad ball security, takeaways, effort. I don't show anything else. I don't show somebody make a superstar catch, I don't show a superstar juke move. It's those two things over and over and over again. It's just to get in their mind that you have to play really hard and win the turnover battle.
On the student section turnout:
"That was unbelievable. The student section tonight was absolutely incredible. We got to figure out how to keep them in the second half. There are so many distractions around this place that we have to figure out a way to keep them in the seats. But an unbelievable turnout. We play Mississippi State next week, an SEC team who just had a big win. We've never won an SEC game in Arizona State history. So we need a sold-out crowd with the biggest student section that there's ever been. We need it loud for four quarters all night long."
ASU FOOTBALL STUDENT ATTENDANCE TOP HOME CROWDS (2010-PRESENT)
14,084 vs. UCLA/Sept. 24, 2014
13,698 vs. Wyoming/Aug. 31, 2024
13,615 vs. Northern Arizona/Sept. 1, 2022
12,274 vs. Arizona/Nov. 21, 2015
12,114 vs. Southern Utah/Sept. 2, 2021
12,024 vs. Kent State/Aug. 29, 2019
NOTABLES:
On the team's performance:
"We played hard. That was a different team. Have you guys seen it? I've seen it for myself. I felt more comfortable on the sidelines. I got taken out with eight minutes left in the third quarter. That's a good feeling. We push each other. Leaders have pushed each other and everyone's been working and it's starting to pay off."
Arizona State Redshirt-Freshman Quarterback Sam Leavitt
On his first collegiate start:
"It was fun being out there with the team and seeing the atmosphere. I felt like I played pretty well, there's always going to be certain things you want back but I'm overall happy about the win."
On his thoughts before the game:
"I wasn't too nervous going into this game and that's a testament to the coaching staff and the team preparing and having the answers for every situation. On film, watching it and seeing the situation and understanding what I have to do, whether that's a check or getting the ball to my playmakers. I didn't do anything special tonight, I just got the ball to my playmakers and let them make a play and we had great results.
UP NEXT:
The Sun Devils have a fantastic test ahead of them next week when they host Mississippi State on Saturday, September 7 at Mountain America Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. AZT and will be broadcasted on ESPN.
In their first game as members of the Big 12 Conference, the Sun Devils (1-0, 0-0) came out of the gate in dominating fashion, pairing a steady offensive attack with a smothering defensive outing against the Cowboys.
Sam Leavitt, one of 60 newcomers for the Sun Devils this season, moved the offense with ease all night in his first career start, scoring on five of the first six drives. He ended the night with 258 yards and two scores on 14-for-22 passing, connecting with both Chamon Metayer for a 25-yard pitch-and-catch and Kyson Brown on a 68-yard screen for his first pair of touchdown passes in Tempe.
MAMA, THERE GOES THAT MAN ?? @KysonBrown11 TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE ??
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 1, 2024
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?? https://t.co/YDxGTNeZJO#ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/Ys6QiECAiy
Second-year defensive coordinator Brian Ward dialed up a flawless game plan to contain the Cowboys offense. Just two plays into the game, linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu intercepted a pass from Wyoming's Evan Svoboda, returning it for a 29-yard touchdown. It marked the Sun Devils' first pick-six in nearly two years and the 23rd since 2012.
Svoboda's pass on 3rd-and-23 on the ensuing drive sailed into the arms of linebacker Keyshaun Elliott, helping pave the way for an Ian Hershey 29-yard field goal to give the Sun Devils a 10-0 advantage. Later in the third quarter, defensive end Justin Wodtly scooped up a botched backwards pass from Wyoming, returning it for a six-yard score, giving the Sun Devils their first game with two defensive touchdowns since Nov. 21, 2015.
HOT START BY @zyruusss ??
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 1, 2024
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?? https://t.co/YDxGTNeZJO#ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/R6thb9WoYL
In six first-half drives for Wyoming, the Cowboys were intercepted twice, punted on four straight series and had a trio of three-and-outs. They mustered just 53 yards of offense and failed to advance past their own 41-yard line. A team that threw just six interceptions last year, the Cowboys were picked off in each of their first two possessions.
Three takeaways and two touchdowns... yeah this @ASUFootball defense is for real ??#Big12FB | ?? FS1 pic.twitter.com/0n2oRLazQC
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 1, 2024
They found the end zone in the final two seconds of the game, but the Sun Devil defense was unabating on Svoboda, holding the Cowboys to 118 total yards, eight first downs, a 3-for-13 clip on third downs and less than 23 minutes of possession time.
The Sun Devil offense seemed as if it hardly broke a sweat as it leaned on the balanced rushing attack of Skattebo, Brooks and Leavitt, who combined for 25 carries and 143 yards. Up 10-0 in the final minutes of the first, DeCarlos Brooks punched it in for an eight-yard score, and Skattebo later found the end zone on a 4th-and-2 from the Wyoming three-yard line.
With first-year offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo opting to keep the offense on the field early in the second quarter, Skattebo lined up in the wildcat formation, took the direct snap, followed a convoy of blockers and weaved in for his first score of the 2024 campaign. His 10th rushing touchdown as a Sun Devil widened their lead to 24-0.
Ian Hershey added a 24-yarder in the waning minutes of the first half that allowed the Sun Devils to carry a 27-0 advantage into the break.
Leavitt kept the momentum rolling in the opening drive of the second half when he found Metayer for the 25-yard score. After Wodtly's scoop-and-score and Brown's 68-yard scamper, the Sun Devils held a commanding 48-0 edge after three.
More than 13,600 students were on-hand to watch the Sun Devils dismantle the Cowboys, good for the second-largest student-attendance at home since 2010.
QUOTABLES:
Arizona State Head Coach Kenny Dillingham:
On Sam Leavitt's first career start:
I thought it was good. I thought he was poised. Before the game, I just told him to be yourself and when in doubt, run. Most of the time when you're a running quarterback, you want to prove that you can throw it. What I was proud of was he took that and applied it to the game. We talk about it all the time on first and second down. We don't need you to be a superstar. We need you to manage the game. Third downs are when you can extend plays and use your legs because if you get sacked, extending your play, we're punting anyway.
On the early takeaways and setting the tone:
"It's unbelievable. we have been every single day. The guys probably are bored of it. We start our team meeting and the only two things I show are effort plays and takeaways, that's it. Bad ball security, takeaways, effort. I don't show anything else. I don't show somebody make a superstar catch, I don't show a superstar juke move. It's those two things over and over and over again. It's just to get in their mind that you have to play really hard and win the turnover battle.
On the student section turnout:
"That was unbelievable. The student section tonight was absolutely incredible. We got to figure out how to keep them in the second half. There are so many distractions around this place that we have to figure out a way to keep them in the seats. But an unbelievable turnout. We play Mississippi State next week, an SEC team who just had a big win. We've never won an SEC game in Arizona State history. So we need a sold-out crowd with the biggest student section that there's ever been. We need it loud for four quarters all night long."
ASU FOOTBALL STUDENT ATTENDANCE TOP HOME CROWDS (2010-PRESENT)
14,084 vs. UCLA/Sept. 24, 2014
13,698 vs. Wyoming/Aug. 31, 2024
13,615 vs. Northern Arizona/Sept. 1, 2022
12,274 vs. Arizona/Nov. 21, 2015
12,114 vs. Southern Utah/Sept. 2, 2021
12,024 vs. Kent State/Aug. 29, 2019
NOTABLES:
- The 48 points scored by the Sun Devils are the most allowed by Wyoming since Oregon scored 49 points on Sept. 16, 2017.
- The Sun Devils' 41-point margin of victory over the Cowboys was the biggest allowed by Wyoming since a 63-14 loss to Boise State back on Nov. 22, 2014.
- The 41-point margin of victory is the largest in a season opener for the Sun Devils since Sept. 1, 2018 v. UTEP (ASU, 49-7)
- Saturday's win is the 25th consecutive victory in a home opener for the Sun Devils, currently the second-longest active streak in the nation behind only (27) - (2020 excluded due to unusual circumstances across country and ASU not having a home opener until December)
- Justin Wodtly's third quarter scoop-and-score was the Sun Devils' first fumble return for a touchdown since Nov. 25, 2016 vs. Arizona (Koron Crump, 42 yards).
- The Sun Devils now lead the all-time series against Wyoming, 10-6, as the two squads met for the first time since the programs were WAC rivals back in 1977.
- Interceptions from Fiaseu and Elliott helped the Sun Devils have their first game with two picks since Sept. 1, 2022 vs. NAU.
- While both were on the Sun Devil roster last season, antiquated NCAA rules that were inevitably overturned kept Jake Smith and Xavion Alford out for the season. As the duo took Frank Kush Field on Saturday night, it had been 1,342 days for Smith (Dec 29, 2020 - Aug. 31, 2024) and 1,009 days for Alford (Nov. 27, 2021 - Aug. 31, 2024) since either player has appeared in a college football game.
On the team's performance:
"We played hard. That was a different team. Have you guys seen it? I've seen it for myself. I felt more comfortable on the sidelines. I got taken out with eight minutes left in the third quarter. That's a good feeling. We push each other. Leaders have pushed each other and everyone's been working and it's starting to pay off."
Arizona State Redshirt-Freshman Quarterback Sam Leavitt
On his first collegiate start:
"It was fun being out there with the team and seeing the atmosphere. I felt like I played pretty well, there's always going to be certain things you want back but I'm overall happy about the win."
On his thoughts before the game:
"I wasn't too nervous going into this game and that's a testament to the coaching staff and the team preparing and having the answers for every situation. On film, watching it and seeing the situation and understanding what I have to do, whether that's a check or getting the ball to my playmakers. I didn't do anything special tonight, I just got the ball to my playmakers and let them make a play and we had great results.
UP NEXT:
The Sun Devils have a fantastic test ahead of them next week when they host Mississippi State on Saturday, September 7 at Mountain America Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. AZT and will be broadcasted on ESPN.