(Tempe, AZ) The Devils came into this game in a position they hadn’t been accustomed to opening the season with a blowout win at home against a D1 opponent Wyoming.
Arizona State kept their foot on the gas the entire game against the Cowboys last week while being only a 6.5 point favorite in a stunning 48-7 victory.
The Bulldogs of Mississippi State also won handily 56-7 over FCS Eastern Kentucky.
With both teams winning in blowouts, it’s difficult to say how good the Sun Devils or Bulldogs really are going into Game 2.
The Devils donned their all yellow uniforms and the big Sparky head on their helmets in a “Yellow Out” game.
First Quarter
Mississippi State got the ball first with their hurry up offense and the Sun Devil defense came out strong forcing a three and out.
ASU came out on their first possession after the Bulldog punt and immediately showcased their running game with Cam Skattebo and Sam Leavitt. It didn’t take long to score as Leavitt scrambled and ran it in from 17 yards out to put the Sun Devils up 7-0 at the 9:31 mark.
MSU still had problems figuring the Devils defense out as the front seven kept everything inside and forced their second consecutive three and out for the Bulldogs.
Leavitt wasn’t forced to pass much as the Bulldogs couldn’t stop ASU’s run game until it stalled at the MSU five yard line. Ian Hershey booted a 27 yard field goal after a 60 yard drive to make it 10-0 Arizona State with two minutes left in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs finally got production from their offense by way of the pass as they had their first sustained drive as the first quarter ended.
Second Quarter
From the six yard line, the Sun Devils defense stiffened and forced a fourth and goal for MSU who initially thought about going for it, but after a quick time out called by Coach Dillingham decided to kick the 22 yard field goal by Kyle Ferris after moving the ball 71 yards to get Mississippi State on the scoreboard now at 10-3 with 13:16 left till the half.
Arizona State answered on their next drive with a 47 yard Hershey field goal to get the ten point lead back 13-3.
On a third a twenty two, Blake Shapen rolled to the short side of the field and fumbled at the five yard line trying to pass and CJ Fite picked it up and reached the ball over the pylon for touchdown and everything was going right for the Sun Devils 20-3 and still eight minutes to go in the quarter.
Bulldogs tried to keep pace and and were successful until a fourth and one at the Sun Devil thirty two yard failed to get the first down and a turnover on downs the ball back to ASU.
With the potent ground game, the Sun Devils had the luxury of keeping the clock moving and gave their defense ample time to rest. That in itself was a big reason MSU no huddle hurry up offense was ineffective in the first half.
Leavitt was in full command as he guided the team back down the field and took it in to score from one yard out and to cap a 68 yard drive that took five minutes and a commanding 27-3 lead heading to the locker room.
Halftime
ASU’s defense held the Bulldogs to 13 yards rushing on 14 attempts and 82 total yards in the first half. Mississippi had only 7 first downs as their offense couldn’t find the productivity they had seen in their first game.
Skattabo had a very successful first half as he gained 137 yards on 15 carries. Another stat that stood out was the Sun Devils did not punt in the first half as all their offensive possessions ended with points on the scoreboard.
Photo – azcentral.com
Third Quarter
Devils who had won the coin toss and deferred got the ball coming out of halftime and continued their effective ground attack and settled for a 46 yard Hershey field goal to make the score 30-3. That drive took 8:27 off the clock and put MSU in a vicarious position to try to comeback with their ineffective offense.
Even with their hurry up offense which seemed to go faster after halftime, the Bulldogs had limited success. Facing a fourth and three from the ASU six yard line, scored on a delayed handoff to Keyvonne Lee capping a 12 play 75 yards to get their first touchdown of the game but still trailed 30-10 with 2:29 left in the quarter.
Arizona State finally was forced to punt with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Speeding up their no huddle offense, MSU started their drive with a short field as a result of a penalty on a Sun Devil punt in which Xavier Guillory didn’t give the punt returner enough room to fair catch the ball which cost them 15 yards.
The Bulldogs weren’t giving up as they scored their second touchdown on a Shapen pass to a wide open Davon Booth to keep their slim hopes alive now trailing 30-16 as the extra point was missed.
ASU’s offense seemed to go AWOL in the final quarter as the run game was bottled up by the Bulldog defense and kept their hopes alive for a miraculous comeback with their fast offense now producing.
MSU frantically trying to move the ball lost seven yards in back to back plays now faced a 3rd and 17. The Sun Devil defense came back alive to force a punt.
Coach Dillingham needed time run off the clock after the resurgent MSU offense crept within two touchdowns of tying the game. The answer initially was Skattebo but even that didn’t last as the Sun Devils were forced again to punt with 5:40 left in the game.
Lightning struck as Mississippi scored on one play after the punt on a sideline route to Kevin Coleman that went for 80 yards and a touchdown to bring the Bulldogs within a touchdown 30-23 and still plenty of time with 5;33 left on the clock.
Gaining a key first down on a 4th and 1 with Skattebo, but Leif Fautanu was called unnecessary roughness after the play. In spite of the penalty, Arizona State managed to keep the drive alive with a ten yard run and more importantly will get a new set of downs at the game’s two minute time out.
The play that sealed the deal was a 39 yard run and a slide to keep the clock moving instead of scoring.
Final Score ASU 30-23 over Mississippi State.
Overflow Stident Section/Photo – Bill McCulloch
Wrap Up
Skattebo gained 232 yards on 33 carries to go along with 5 catches for 35 yards. Mississippi State had no answer on defense for the Sun Devils running game occasionally stopping them in the final quarter while ignighting their own offense in the final quarter..
ASU’s run defense held the Bulldogs to 24 yards on 27 carries for less than a yard per attempt.
This marked the first time Arizona State has beaten an SEC team and raised the Devils’ record now at 2-0 with their first road game next Saturday in San Marcos against Texas State.
Tonight’s attendance was slightly lower than last week at 45,604 on a very hot evening.
