After a 21-21 shootout in the first half, it was the Arizona State football team’s defense that made the game-winning plays in the fourth quarter, defeating Texas State 31-28 on Thursday.

The Sun Devils shut out the Bobcats in the fourth quarter, giving the program its first 3-0 start since 2019. The last time ASU started 3-0 when facing three FBS schools was in 2007.

Safety Shamari Simmons stripped Texas State’s Ismail Mahdi of the ball at the Bobcats’ 20-yard line with nine minutes left in a 28-28 game. ASU converted a field goal by Ian Hershey to take the lead.

On Texas State’s next possession, quarterback Jordan McCloud threw the ball from long range, which Sun Devils safety Xavion Alford intercepted.

🗣️BALL@ASUFootball recovers the fumble forced by Shamari Simmons in Bobcat territory and has a chance to end the stalemate in the fourth quarter.#Big12FB | pic.twitter.com/ddWOAfnpOf

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) 13 September 2024

The Bobcats had one last attempt, but on fourth and fifth attempts, ASU cornerback Keith Abney II picked off McCloud’s pass and put the ball in the net. ASU running back Cam Skattebo decided the game on the ground. ASU held Texas State, which gained 249 yards in the first half, to 27 yards in the fourth quarter.

The Sun Devils trailed 21-7 in the first half, but quarterback Sam Leavitt threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson to cut the deficit in the second quarter. Leavitt ran a 7-yard touchdown with six seconds left before halftime that tied the game after the extra point.

Leavitt finished the game completing 19 of 30 passes for 246 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for 40 yards and scored a touchdown.

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

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) 13 September 2024

Skattebo ran for 62 yards on 24 attempts and scored two touchdowns after being named national player of the week by the Associated Press.

ASU’s defense recorded six tackles for loss, two of which were by Simmons. Keyshaun Elliott made a key third-down stop before Texas State suffered a turnover.

The Sun Devils begin their Big 12 play on September 21 at Texas Tech.

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