ASU’s Sam Leavitt delivers 52-yard TD pass in 1st half shootout vs. Texas State

Sep 12, 2024, 6:35 PM | Updated: 9:34 pm

Arizona State trailed for the first time all season during the first half of Thursday’s game at Texas State, but a Sam Leavitt 52-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson and a seven-yard Leavitt touchdown run evened the score 21-21 at halftime. The Sun Devils closed out the victory 31-28.

Trailing 21-7 in the second quarter, Leavitt rolled to his right, stepped up and launched a ball approximately 50 yards through the air to Tyson at the 10-yard line. The receiver made a move and dove into the end zone.

ASU with the half rollout and deep TD to Jordyn Tyson pic.twitter.com/HEeCR08Ml9

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) September 13, 2024

Leavitt was previously 0-for-6 on passes that traveled at least 20 yards, according to Pro Football Focus, and his connection with Tyson was a key score to cut the deficit in half. Texas State was running away with the game having scored 21 straight points.

The Sun Devils forced a punt on the ensuing defensive series, and with 2:38 on the clock, ASU’s offense methodically drove down 57 yards on 11 plays. Leavitt scrambled into the end zone with six seconds remaining.

14-point deficit? Erased.

Sam Leavitt’s scrambles in for @ASUFootball to tie things up in San Marcos… you’re gonna watch the second half of this one 🍿#Big12 | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/Cb9hFtRjxH

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 13, 2024

Arizona State outscored Wyoming and Mississippi State 54-3 before halftime of its first two wins, but Texas State also came into Thursday 2-0 after a blowout win over UTSA.

ASU opened the game with a stop and a 10-play touchdown drive.

The Bobcats orchestrated 14- and 15-play touchdown drives that took up more than 14 minutes combined and forced back-to-back ASU three-and-outs before the 52-yard bomb.

Leavitt completed 10-of-13 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown in the opening 30 minutes. He finished with 246 passing yards, hitting 19-of-30 targets.

Tyson gained 111 receiving yards at the break and finished with 120.

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