Arizona State takes charge early, pulls off upset of No. 16 Kansas State

Field Level Media|published: Sat 16th November, 23:02 2024

Nov 16, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver Ty Bowman (8) is tackled by Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Keith Abney II (1) and defensive back Myles Rowser (4) during the second quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

Sam Leavitt was 21-of-34 for 275 yards and three touchdowns as Arizona State defeated No. 20 Kansas State 24-14 in the first Big 12 Conference matchup between the two teams. Two of Leavitt's touchdowns were to Jordyn Tyson, who caught 12 passes for 176 yards.

The Sun Devils (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) had built a 24-0 lead in the third quarter before K-State got its offense going. Arizona State reached Kansas State territory on each of its first nine drives and was 9-of-15 on third downs.

Arizona State has won all six regular-season meetings between the two schools. K-State's only victory came in the 2002 Holiday Bowl.

The Wildcats had just six first downs before getting the ball on its own 22 with 5:15 left in the third quarter on a fumble by Arizona State. Avery Johnson led two second-half touchdown drives.

Johnson finished 24-of-40 for 258 yards, but he had two interceptions and no touchdowns for Kansas State (7-3, 4-3 Big 12).

K-State had a chance to make it a one-score game in the fourth quarter on a Chris Tennant 36-yard field-goal attempt with 2:02 left. But a bad snap led to Tennant's kick going wide right.

Penalties were costly for the Wildcats. They had halted the Sun Devils' first drive, but a defensive penalty on third down extended the drive and Leavitt found Tyson for an 11-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Trailing 21-0 early in the second quarter, Johnson found Dante Cephas on a 63-yard pass for a touchdown, but the Wildcats were called for an ineligible receiver downfield. They would eventually turn the ball over on downs.

The Sun Devils took a 7-0 lead into the second quarter, but Leavitt found Tyson for a 30-yard touchdown on the second play of the quarter. On K-State's third play of the ensuing drive, Johnson found Jayce Brown, who gained 13 yards before fumbling. The fumble was recovered by Arizona State.

Leavitt then found Chamon Metayor on a 16-yard touchdown pass and the Sun Devils were up three scores.

They extended the lead to 24-0 in the third quarter.

--Field Level Media