ASU FOOTBALL

Arizona State’s Zyrus Fiaseu returns pick-6 on second play of season vs. Wyoming

Aug 31, 2024, 8:07 PM | Updated: Sep 3, 2024, 7:45 am

TEMPE — The Arizona State defense couldn’t have drawn up a better start, as a pick-six from linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu on the season’s second play from scrimmage foreshadowed a 48-7 win over Wyoming on Saturday.

“It was really just the play call. Play call was right, and I did my job,” Fiaseu said. “When you do your job and execute, good things happen.”

Wyoming quarterback and Mesa native Evan Svoboda was looking for a receiver in the flat, but Fiaseu jumped the route and found the blockers to lead him to a score.

The Sun Devil defense had shut down a run play on Wyoming’s first play and would go on to hold the Cowboys to just 40 rushing yards on the day.

“Takes all the pressure off me,” quarterback Sam Leavitt said of the lead with which he entered the game. “I get to watch my guys go to work and create momentum in the stadium. Just lets me go out there and play and have fun.”

Arizona State didn’t let up, as green dot-wearing linebacker Keyshaun Elliott picked off Svoboda on the Cowboys’ second drive, which included two false starts in the three plays prior.

“We’ve both had interceptions just like that in practice,” Elliott said. “It was a good play call, and the quarterback threw it right to us, so we couldn’t be in a better place.”

Elliott’s 18-yard return set the Sun Devils up with a short field, and the offense punctuated the drive with a 29-yard field goal from Ian Hershey.

The Sun Devil defense forced punts on four straight Cowboy drives following its two first quarter interceptions. Arizona State didn’t allow a first down by the Cowboys until the second quarter.

In the third quarter, defensive end Justin Wodtly recovered a backwards pass from Wyoming that had gone awry, and the touchdown scored by the big man gave the ASU defense the edge over the Cowboys as a team.

ASU Football

Arizona State...

David Veenstra

Arizona State Sun Devils football signing day tracker

Arizona State football announced three-star running back Grayson Rigdon (Texas) committed on Tuesday. 

1 day ago

Israel Briggs has committed to the ASU Sun Devils...

Tyler Drake

ASU lands commitment from 4-star recruit Israel Briggs for 2026

Four-star recruit Israel Briggs has committed to play for the ASU Sun Devils as part of the defending Big 12 champion's 2026 class.

1 day ago

The Arizona State Sun Devils will don traditional Sparky helmets against BYU....

Brandon Cadiz

Big 12 releases Arizona State football’s 2025 schedule

The Big 12 released Arizona State football's 2025 conference schedule on Tuesday, which begins Sept. 20 at Baylor.

2 days ago

Arizona State...

Alex Weiner

Report: Arizona State-Iowa State football rematch date revealed

Arizona State will visit Iowa State this year after meeting in the Big 12 championship, and Pete Thamel reported the game will be played on Nov. 1. 

3 days ago

Hayden Vercher is the newest ASU football commit...

Damon Allred

2026 tight end Hayden Vercher picks ASU football over Arizona, others

ASU picked up its fifth football commitment in the 2026 class on Sunday by adding 6-foot-4 tight end Hayden Vercher.

4 days ago

Kenny Dillingham of the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rose Bowl Stadium on November 11, 2023 in Pasad...

Brandon Cadiz

CBS Sports gives Kenny Dillingham ‘A’ grade for second season

CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli graded second-year head coaches in college football and gave ASU's Kenny Dillingham an A.

5 days ago

Arizona State’s Zyrus Fiaseu returns pick-6 on second play of season vs. Wyoming