TEMPE, Ariz. — Sam Leavitt threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns, Cam Skattebo and DeCarlos Brooks each ran for touchdowns and Arizona State won its first football game as a member of the Big 12, defeating Wyoming 48-7 on Saturday night.
The Sun Devils scored a defensive touchdown just 41 seconds into the game when Zyrus Fiaseu intercepted Wyoming’s Evan Svoboda and ran 29 yards into the end zone. The Sun Devils forced a turnover in just their fourth game last season.
“The game decision was right and I did my job,” said Fiaseu. “When you do your job and implement it, good things happen.”
Less than five minutes later, Svoboda threw another interception. This time, it was Keyshaun Elliott who caught the errant pass and ran 18 yards to the Wyoming 42-yard line. The Sun Devils took advantage of the good field position with a 29-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead.
Arizona State – which finished last season with a record of 3-9 – held a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 27-0 lead at halftime.
The Sun Devils defeated the Cowboys 499-118.
“We played hard,” said Skattebo. “It was a different team. It showed. We felt more comfortable on the sidelines. I was taken out eight minutes before the end of the third quarter – that’s a good feeling.”
Leavitt, a transfer from Michigan State, played well in his first career start, completing 14 of 22 passes, and beat out senior Jeff Sims in preseason training camp to earn the starting spot.
“I didn’t do anything special tonight,” Leavitt said. “I just got the ball to my playmakers and let them play with great results.”
Svoboda completed 6 of 15 passes for 42 yards and had the first two interceptions. He also missed a lateral that was picked up by Arizona State’s Justin Wodtly and returned six yards for a touchdown.
It was a tough homecoming for Svoboda, who began his high school football career in a Phoenix suburb about 20 miles from Arizona State University’s campus. Wyoming managed just 49 yards in three quarters.
The Cowboys avoided the shutout when Kaden Anderson threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Chris Durr with two seconds left. Wyoming averaged just 2.3 yards per play.
“We obviously have to get a lot better as a football team,” said Cowboys coach Jay Sawvel. “Fortunately, it only counts for one point for us. Even though it feels like it should count for four or five points.”
Wyoming: Sawvel’s first game as head coach of the Cowboys was rough. He took over for the retiring Craig Bohl, who had led the program for 10 years. Svoboda’s initial nervousness was a big problem, but far from the only one. It’s just one game, but the Cowboys didn’t look like a team ready to compete for a Mountain West title.
Arizona State: It was an encouraging night for the Sun Devils, who looked to put last year’s injury-plagued season behind them. Second-year coach Kenny Dillingham appears to have more talent at several positions, but a bigger challenge awaits next weekend when they host an SEC opponent in Mississippi State.
Wyoming: Hosts Idaho next Saturday.
Arizona State: Hosts Mississippi State next Saturday.
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