TEMPE, Ariz. — The Big 12’s defending champions are not ready to relinquish the crown just yet.
And with a healthy Sam Leavitt at quarterback, Arizona State might just be in position to keep it for another year.
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In a performance that showcased just how much Leavitt means to this program, the 20-year-old redshirt sophomore did something Saturday nobody else in has managed yet this season. In a 26-22 victory over previously unbeaten Texas Tech, Leavitt dissected the Red Raiders’ highly paid and much-ballyhooed defense to put the Sun Devils right back in the thick of the Big 12 title and College Football Playoff races.
He also showed the playoff committee just how much the Sun Devils were missing in last week’s 42-10 loss at Utah when Leavitt couldn’t play due to a foot injury.
Despite heavy pressure from Texas Tech’s elite defensive front, which got to Leavitt for a trio of sacks early in the game, he managed to break through on some deep shots and extend enough plays with his legs to author one of the season’s perception-shifting performances.
It culminated in a gutsy drive down the field inside the two-minute warning, converting on a fourth-and-2 at midfield and going for the win with a late touchdown run by Raleek Brown.
Though Arizona State struggled in the red zone, settling for four field goals, it was more than enough on a day where Leavitt finished 28-of-47 passing for 319 yards and a touchdown.
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For No. 7-ranked Texas Tech, which had blown out its first six opponents this season by an average of 35 points, this loss probably won’t hurt too badly. Its starting quarterback Behren Morton, who suffered a leg injury last week against Kansas, was available in an emergency-only situation and did not play.
Morton’s replacement, Will Hammond, had a rough day as his stand-in until leading a charge late in the game to briefly take a 22-19 lead. Against a relentless Sun Devil defense, which made it a point to bring pressure at every opportunity, Hammond completed 22 passes for 167 yards.
Still, the Red Raiders’ defense made crucial stops and kept them in the game. Texas Tech’s special teams gave them good field position on back-to-back possessions and Hammond was able to lead the Red Raiders to touchdown drives to take the lead with two minutes left.
But that’s when Leavitt took over the game, leading the Sun Devils on a 10-play, 70-yard drive to score what would ultimately be the game-winning touchdown.
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Texas Tech got the ball back late, but ultimately came up short when Hammond’s Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete.
The Sun Devils, which lost a close non-conference game early in the season at Mississippi State, have a somewhat favorable schedule coming down the stretch with home games against Houston, West Virginia and Arizona along with road trips to Iowa State and Colorado.
Fans storm field, Dillingham cuts interview short
Fans immediately streamed down from the stands and stormed the field after the win, which lifted the Sun Devils’ record to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play. They won the Big 12 a year ago, and they were 5-2 at this juncture of the schedule before reeling off six straight wins to make the CFP.
ASU coach Kenny Dillingham was at a loss for words during an attempt at an interview on the field after the game, and bailed to go celebrate with fans and his team after a couple brief answers.
This news was originally published on this post .
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