Sun Devil Football Gets Career Game from Tyson in Road Upset of #16 Kansas State

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Sam Leavitt threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns to lead Arizona State (8-2; 5-2) to a 24-14 win over No. 20 AP/No. 16 CFP Kansas State (7-3; 4-3) on Saturday night at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

All three of Leavitt's touchdown passes came in the first half as the Sun Devils built a 24-0 lead. Jordyn Tyson hauled in two of those scores while setting career-highs with 12 catches and 176 receiving yards.

ASU got the first big play when Shamari Simmons tipped the ball to Xavion Alford on the second play to force ASU's tenth interception of the season. ASU went 49 yards in six plays as Leavitt found Tyson in the deep corner for an 11-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

The Sun Devils extended the lead to 14-0 after going 67 yards on 11 plays, capped by a 30-yard laser to Tyson from Leavitt early in the second quarter. After Simmons forced a Kansas State fumble on the ensuing possession, Chamon Metayer took a screen pass 16 yards for a 21-0 Sun Devil lead. 

K-State was in position to score late in the half before a bobbled snap on a field goal attempt resulted in no points on a 60-yard drive that took over seven minutes and allowed ASU to take that 21-0 lead into the half.

Coming out of the half, ASU went seven plays and 46 yards, taking four minutes off the clock as Parker Lewis hit a 47-yard field goal to give ASU a 24-0 lead.

Kansas State got on the board late in the third quarter when Avery Johnson rushed 10 yards to cap a six-play, 78-yard drive. The Wildcats' attempt for two was denied, and the ASU lead sat at 24-6. 

The next ASU drive ended in a punt, but not before they took another five-plus minutes off the clock. However, K-State went 90 yards in four plays, and Joe Jackson scored on a 4-yard rush with a successful two-point conversion, had the Sun Devil lead at 24-14 with 11:26 remaining.

ASU followed by taking nearly six minutes off the clock and flipping the field with a Kanyon Floyd punt that ended inside the Wildcats' 10-yard line. The Sun Devil defense forced K-State into another missed field goal. After another ASU punt, Simmons intercepted Johnson in the end zone to clinch victory for the Sun Devils.

The Sun Devils added 123 yards on the ground, with Cam Skattebo posting 73 yards and Leavitt adding 42. ASU controlled the ball for over 36 minutes and converted 9 of 15 on third down, including all four chances with four or fewer yards to go.

ASU will be home at Mountain America Stadium for the final time this season on Nov. 23, when they host No. 6 BYU at 1:30 p.m. AZT.