The Arizona State football team kicked off its 2024 season with an impressive victory over the Wyoming Cowboys, winning 48-7 on Saturday, August 31, at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe.
The game started off explosively for ASU, as Zyrus Fiaseu intercepted the first pass of the game and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown, putting the Sun Devils ahead 7-0 within the first minute. This interception was just one of three turnovers created by ASU defense, which also counted two defensive touchdowns throughout the game.
The Sun Devils demonstrated superiority on both sides of the ball, limiting Wyoming to just 118 total yards, with 74 coming on the Cowboys’ final drive of the game. In contrast, ASU amassed 499 yards of total offense and secured 27 first downs, while Wyoming managed only eight. Arizona State dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 37:04 compared to Wyoming’s 22:56.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt, in his first start for ASU, completed 14 of 22 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, and he also contributed 47 rushing yards on eight carries. The Sun Devils were favored by 6.5 points in the matchup.
Next week, Arizona State (1-0) will host Mississippi State, who won their opener against Eastern Kentucky with a resounding 56-7 score.
Wyoming managed to avoid a shutout with a late touchdown, as backup quarterback Kaden Anderson connected with Chris Durr Jr. on a short pass, capping a nine-play, 74-yard drive in the game’s final seconds.
In addition to Leavitt’s performance, ASU’s running game was effective, accumulating 241 rushing yards, with Cam Skattebo leading with 49 yards and DeCarlos Brooks following closely with 47 yards. Each back scored a touchdown, and seven different players contributed to the rushing efforts.
The Sun Devils’ defense continued to shine with a notable performance, recording two defensive touchdowns and three total takeaways by the end of the game.
The score remained heavily in favor of ASU during the third quarter, with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Leavitt to Kyson Brown extending the lead to 48-0. The domination by Arizona State was palpable as they consistently pressured the Wyoming offense, forcing them into ineffective drives.
In summary, the Sun Devils had a well-rounded and dominant start to their season, showcasing both offensive power and a robust defense, laying a strong foundation for the remainder of the 2024 campaign.