Sun Devil Football Downs Big 12 Opponent Oklahoma State, 42-21, in Stillwater

STILLWATER – Cam Skattebo accounted for more offensive yards than the entire Oklahoma State offense as Sun Devil Football weathered over two hours of lightning delay to down the Cowboys, 42-21, on Saturday in Stillwater, Okla.

The Sun Devils (6-2; 3-2) put up their first 500-yard offensive performance of the season as redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt had his first career 300-yard passing game, completing 20-of-29 for 303 yards and three touchdowns with no picks. Skattebo added 274 yards of total offense - compared to 270 total yards for the Cowboys - and Arizona State scored 28 unanswered after Oklahoma State tied the game at 14 in the second quarter to turn things into a rout in the second half coming out of the weather delay.

ASU forced a punt out of possibly the longest halftime in football history – a two-hour and 38 minute lightning delay – and then drove 61 yards in eight plays in 5:19 to take a 28-14 lead. Another Cowboy punt and nine plays and 88 yards later, Skattebo scored another touchdown and ASU led 35-14 with just over 14 minutes left. A fourth-down stop and another Kyson Brown touchdown put the game away.

Skattebo rushed 23 times for 153 yards and a touchdown and added four receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns in one of the most prolific offensive efforts for a Big 12 running back in nearly 30 years, becoming one of just six league backs to rush and receive for over 100 yards since the 1996 season.

CAM SKATTEBO SUN DEVIL 100-YARD RUSHING TILTS
262 vs. Mississippi State, Sept. 7, 2024 (33 carries)
182 vs. Kansas, Oct. 5, 2024 (25 carries/1 TD)

158 vs. Utah, Oct. 11, 2024 (22 carries/2 TDs)
153 at Oklahoma State, Nov. 2, 2024 (23 carries, 153 yards)

121 vs. Washington State, Oct. 28, 2023 (11 carries/1 TD)
111 vs. USC, Sept. 23, 2023 (20 carries/1 TD)
108 vs. Arizona, Nov. 25, 2023 (17 carries/1 TD)

Brown scored the first two rushing touchdowns of his ASU career as he added 63 yards on the ground. Jordyn Tyson added eight catches for 81 yards and a score.

The Sun Devil defense held 2023 Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon to just 25 yards on the ground while limiting OSU to just 84 total rushing yards as ASU outgained the Cowboys, 529-270. 

ASU closed the first half with a clinic, going on a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took 5:06 off the clock and led to a 21-14 halftime lead.

ASU made it 14-7 with a 50-yard catch and run to Skattebo on a 4th and 1 in the second period, but the Cowboys bounced back to tie it at 14.

The Sun Devils took the opening kick and went 75 yards in eight plays in just under four minutes that was capped off by a Sam Leavitt to Jordan Tyson 22-yard touchdown pass. A 29-yard run by Cam Skattebo on a short third-down was the big play on the drive, as Leavitt also completed a third-down 12-yarder to Tyson to start the drive.

GAME NOTES

• Cam Skattebo is the first Sun Devil running back with 100+ rushing AND receiving yards in a single game since Demario Richard put up 151 receiving and 104 rushing against New Mexico in 2015.
• He is one of just 15 FBS running backs since 1996 to rush for over 150 yards and receive for 100 yards. He is one of just six Big 12 running backs since 1996 to rush and receive for over 100 yards in a game.
• Skattebo’s 50-yard touchdown reception was his first touchdown reception since Sept. 23 against USC last season, which was also a 52-yard catch and run.
• The Sun Devils have not punted on an opening drive this season and have scored in six of eight games. They have touchdowns in five of those (a field goal against Wyoming) and threw interceptions on the opening drives against Utah and Texas Tech.
• ASU had given up opening drive scores (two touchdowns, one field goal) in three straight games before blanking Cincinnati and Oklahoma State on their opening drives the last two games).
• It was the first time ASU had held an opponent scoreless in the first quarter since Week 2 against Mississippi State. The Sun Devils had entered the contest 86th in the country in allowing 6.3 points per first quarter this season.
• Chamon Metayer set a career high with just under three minutes left in the first half with his fifth reception of the game.
• With Skattebo’s touchdown with 16 seconds left in the first half, ASU is now outscoring opponents 49-13 in the “middle eight” of games - the last four minutes of the first half and first four minutes of the second half.
• It was the ninth time this season that ASU has scored a touchdown in the final five minutes of the first or second half of a game - 13th in the nation in the category.
• ASU’s 278 first half yards were the most it has had in a single half this season.
• In three career games against Arizona State, 2023 Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon has rushed for just 62 + today yards
• Kyson Brown’s third quarter rushing touchdown was the first rushing score of his collegiate career.
• The contest marked the second straight game ASU shut out a team in the third quarter after having given up 31 points in the five games prior in the frame.

CAPTAINS

Sun Devil captains were Sam Leavitt, Leif Fautanu, Keyshaun Elliott and Xavion Alfford.