Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt rushes in touchdown to cap opening drive vs. Mississippi State
Sep 7, 2024, 8:30 PM | Updated: Sep 8, 2024, 1:48 pm
TEMPE — Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt capped off the Sun Devils’ first drive in a 30-23 win on Saturday against Mississippi State with a 17-yard rushing touchdown right after a 15-yard run.
Leavitt made defenders miss on both runs, including a sweet spin move on the first run before he escaped pressure and got to the sideline for the touchdown.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt's legs give Arizona State an early 7-0 lead vs. Mississippi State. pic.twitter.com/jsGZYDMtrn
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 8, 2024
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The 10-play, 79-yard drive — with 58 yards coming on the ground — was key as ASU dominating time of possession would help neutralize a Mississippi State offense that wants to run up the pace.
The Sun Devils’ second drive went 65 yards in 12 plays and stalled out in the red zone. ASU settled for the 10-0 first-quarter lead.
Cam Skattebo pushed the drive forward with a few chunk plays, as Leavitt’s passing struggled to the tune of a 3-of-7 start, including missing an open Jordyn Tyson for a would-be touchdown on the first drive.
Leavitt punched in a second rushing touchdown from one yard out on ASU’s final drive of the half to earn a 27-3 advantage at the break.
Skattebo would go on to have the second best rushing day in program history, with Leavitt continuing to struggle as head coach Kenny Dillingham said he took the quarterback out of rhythm with the run frequency.
“We wanna be balanced like we were last week but at the end of the day, we were running the ball well,” Dillingham said. “We didn’t put our quarterback in a position to be in a rhythm there because we thought we had a big enough lead.”
The quarterback wasn’t concerned about the misses, because he believes the success in practice will translate eventually.
“I feel like we were super close to a couple of them, should’ve had them,” Leavitt said. “But I don’t think it’s much more than that, couple pregame jitters and just had a little too much juice. But I feel like we’re gonna come back and start really connecting on those.”
