The Arizona State football team kicked off its 2024 season on Saturday, August 31, with an impressive victory over the Wyoming Cowboys, winning 48-7 at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe.
The game got off to a thrilling start as ASU’s Zyrus Fiaseu intercepted the very first pass from Wyoming’s quarterback and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown, putting the Sun Devils ahead 7-0 less than a minute into the game. This marked one of two defensive touchdowns for ASU and part of three turnovers the Sun Devils forced throughout the game.
Arizona State showcased a dominant performance, restricting Wyoming to just 118 total yards, with 74 of those yards coming during the Cowboys’ final drive. The Sun Devils amassed 499 yards of offense.
The disparity in first downs was stark, with ASU achieving 27 compared to Wyoming’s eight. Time of possession also favored ASU, as they held the ball for 37:04 compared to 22:56 for the Cowboys.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt was particularly effective, completing 14 of 22 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 47 yards on eight carries in his first start.
Entering the game, ASU was favored by 6.5 points over Wyoming. The Sun Devils will host Mississippi State next Saturday, following Mississippi State’s 56-7 win against Eastern Kentucky in their opener.
Wyoming managed to get on the scoreboard late in the game with a touchdown pass from backup quarterback Kaden Anderson to Chris Durr Jr., avoiding a shutout.
The ASU running game was also remarkable, as they rushed for 241 yards collectively. Cam Skattebo led with 49 yards on 11 carries, while DeCarlos Brooks added 47 yards on six attempts, with both players scoring touchdowns.
After Leavitt’s departure, Nebraska transfer Jeff Sims took over at quarterback for the Sun Devils. ASU’s offensive drive without Leavitt concluded with a missed field goal, marking just their second instance of failing to score.
The Sun Devils continued to pile on the points, with Leavitt connecting with Kyson Brown for a 68-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 48-0 before Wyoming’s late response. ASU’s defense proved formidable, scoring on a recovery of a backward pass and forcing several punts from Wyoming.
In the first half, ASU outperformed Wyoming decisively, leading 27-0 at halftime. The Sun Devils dominated in total offensive yards and limited the Cowboys to just 53 yards in the first half.
Wyoming’s Evan Svoboda endured a tough outing, completing only 4 of 10 passes for 32 yards with two interceptions. The ASU defense made significant strides compared to last season, when they struggled with turnovers.
Overall, this first game of the season sets a positive tone for ASU’s football campaign, which aims for improvement after a challenging previous season.