Playbook open? Fake punt works brilliantly before Sam Leavitt finds Jordyn Tyson for TD

TEMPE — Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham warned NAU its playbook would be wide open for the season opener on Saturday.

That’s why the fake punt ASU ran on its second drive of the season to set up a Sam Leavitt touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson should come as no surprise.

Punter Kanyon Floyd jumped for what he sold as a high snap on a fourth down, but by the time eyes found the ball, ASU was already picking up the first down on a 34-yard run by Kyson Brown.

ASU was notorious for fake punts in 2024, including a big first down pickup on a similar play in the Peach Bowl. That, however, came on a Floyd pass rather than a direct snap to a running back.

“We’ll put everything on tape. Both our coordinators, same thing. We want to win. … There’s no hiding,” Dillingham said on Wednesday. “They’re returning a lot of their good starters. They have a good football coach, good staff, like we’re holding nothing back. We’re going all in.”

It seemed what Dillingham hid in his quote was the third coordinator, as special teams coordinator Charlie Ragle seemed to pull a rabbit out of a hat for the big gain.

Leavitt found Tyson in wide open grass for a 19-yard touchdown the next play to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Raleek Brown scores Arizona State’s 1st TD of season

Running back Raleek Brown got ASU on the board after his explosive punt return set up the first drive.

The first ASU touchdown of the season belongs to Raleek Brown! pic.twitter.com/kVdzZmn3BV

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) August 31, 2025

The Sun Devils forced an NAU three-and-out on the game’s opening drive, and Brown took the ensuing punt 28 yards back the other way. He could’ve gone longer if he wasn’t caught by the turf monster.

It was Brown’s first touchdown in a Sun Devil uniform after appearing sparingly in two games in 2024. Injuries limited his debut campaign with the team after transferring from USC.

Follow along with the rest of ASU-NAU on the Arizona Sports app, ESPN 620 AM or 98.7 FM-HD 2.

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