Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt passed for 246 yards and the Sun Devils’ defense limited Texas State to 27 total yards in the fourth quarter during a 31-28 victory on Thursday in San Marcos, Texas.

Arizona State improved to 3-0 under coach Kenny Dillingham, matching the win total from his first season, when the Sun Devils finished 3-9 in 2023.

Leavitt completed 19 of 30 passes, and threw for a touchdown and an interception.

The Sun Devils rallied from a 21-7 deficit with touchdowns on their last two possessions of the first half.

Texas State (2-1) was led by Jordan McCloud, who tossed four touchdown passes while connecting on 29 of 44 attempts for 268 yards with one interception.

With the score tied at 28 and 9:04 left, Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi gave the ball away after a 12-yard run. The fumble was forced by Shamari Simmons and was recovered by the Sun Devils’ Justin Wodtly at the Texas State 23.

Arizona State turned the turnover into a 22-yard field goal by Ian Hershey with 6:29 left.

McCloud’s pass was then intercepted by Xavion Alford at the Arizona State 25.

Texas State’s next possession ended with a McCloud incomplete pass on fourth-and-5 at the Bobcats’ 20-yard line with 2:09 left.

Cam Skattebo, who rushed for 62 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns, sealed the win, gaining 9 yards for a first down on third-and-8 at the Texas State 18 with 1:57 left.

The Bobcats got the ball back with one second left at their own 30-yard line, but a lateral play resulted in a lost fumble.

Texas State had 373 yards of total offense entering the fourth quarter. Its fourth-quarter possessions ended with a fumble, an interception, a turnover on downs and a fumble.

After Texas State took a two-touchdown lead with 5:16 left in the half, Arizona State went 75 yards on four plays in 1:30, capped by Leavitt’s 52-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson.

Texas State’s three-and-out resulted in the Sun Devils taking possession at their 43 with 2:38 left to halftime.

Leavitt completed 5 of 6 passes for 44 yards in the drive before scoring on a 7-yard run with six seconds remaining until halftime.

McCloud connected on 5 of 6 pass attempts in a third-quarter possession, finishing with a 44-yard touchdown strike to Jaden Williams to put Texas State ahead 28-21 with 4:18 remaining in the period.

Arizona State answered on its next possession with a 2-yard touchdown run by Skattebo with 2:18 left in the quarter. Leavitt’s 40-yard run helped set up the score.

–Field Level Media