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

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.

Arizona State's Zyrus Fiaseu takes the interception to the house for six. pic.twitter.com/3RBSEl6FI6

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 1, 2024

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.

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