Arizona State football scores late to hand No. 7 Texas Tech its first loss of the season, 26-22

TEMPE, Ariz. – It was Arizona State football’s junior running back Raleek Brown who played hero for the Maroon and Gold on Saturday afternoon, finding the end zone from 1-yard out. Brown’s touchdown gave ASU a 26-22 lead with 25 seconds left in the game as the Sun Devils held on for their fifth win of the season (5-2, 3-1).

“It was unbelievable from start to finish. Anytime you have a win like this, it rejuvenizes your program,” coach Kenny Dillingham said. “We only won this game because we were so embarrassed that our guys had a different level of intensity and focus.”

ASU’s defense shined

The common saying is defense wins championships. Well, this couldn’t have been more true for ASU, which played arguably its best defensive game of the season.

The Sun Devils allowed just 22 points to an explosive Texas Tech team that came in averaging over 47 points per game. 

The Red Raiders struggled offensively the entire afternoon.

“I think for me, the whole thing about this week was to show that we’re physical,” sophomore safety Adrian “Boogie” Wilson said. “To show that we’re fast and to show that we like to play football.”

Texas Tech began to flex its muscles

Then, with four minutes left in the game, things started to click for the Red Raiders, as they went on to score 15 unanswered points.

It was freshman quarterback Will Hammond leading the way, rushing for a 1-yard score with 3:45 left in the game

On the next drive, Hammond found senior receiver Reggie Virgil in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard score to give the Red Raiders a 22-19 lead on a drive that was aided by a 36-yard kick return from junior wide receiver Coy Eakin.

There was a sudden hush that fell over Mountain America Stadium with ASU needing some magic down three points with two minutes left.

ASU’s leaders respond

Sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt answered the call once again, showing on the biggest stage why he’s a Heisman candidate. The young quarterback engineering a 10-play, 75-yard drive in the clutch, to finish off the Red Raiders. 

The drive included a crucial 4th & 2 play with the game on the line, hooking up with junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson for a 33-yard gain to move the sticks. 

Tyson finished the game with his fourth 100-yard receiving game and recorded his eighth touchdown of the season.

It was Leavitt’s sixth game-winning drive of his career and his first 300-yard passing game of the season. 

“That dude’s a battler, he’s a competitor, he’s a fighter. He wants to do everything he can to get on that field for his team,” Dillingham said. “I’ve never been around a guy who just works to try to win football games as much as he does.”

ASU showed up when it needed to most

The Maroon and Gold were able to put up 394 total yards of offense on a very stout Texas Tech defense. The Sun Devils were able to control the time of possession by almost double, which turned out to be the difference maker in the game.

ASU’s senior kicker Jesus Gomez had a stellar performance, knocking down four field goals with the longest one hitting from 47 yards out.

It was an important bounce-back win for ASU after getting manhandled last week by Utah.

The Sun Devils will now play host to Houston on Saturday, Oct. 25, with kickoff set for 5:00 p.m. at Mountain America Stadium.

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