Skattebo, Sun Devils Run Wild for 30-23 win over Mississippi State - Arizona State University Athletics (2024)

PETER VANDER STOEP

• Box Score

Game Recap: Football | September 7, 2024 | Zach Wargo, Graduate Assistant

TEMPE –A week after a 41-point win in the season opener, Sun Devil Football racked up 357 rushing yards against Mississippi State in a 30-23 win on Saturday night at Mountain America Stadium. The result moves ASU to 2-0 on the season and its the first time have won two straight over FBS opponents to begin a year since 2018.

Cam Skattebo led the way with a career-high 262 rushing yards, the second-most by a Sun Devil in a game in program history.Skattebo led all receivers with 35 yards receiving and finished with 297 all-purpose yards.Sam Leavitt was also effective on the ground, tallying a career-high 68 rushing yards and securing two rushing touchdowns in the win. C.J. Fite recorded his first career touchdown on a 1-yard fumble recovery.

"We had the ball consecutively for about 14 minutes in the middle of the game. And that's unbelievable management by our offensive coaches and our offensive staff to keep their offense off the field for that long and get 10 points." said head coach Kenny Dillingham.

"For us to get hit back in the mouth and then have to get up, that's what I was proud of. We got up with a vengeance and we needed that because we're not going to have 17, 24-point leads every halftime. We're going to be in some dog fights, and we have to be able to go back and forth with counter-punches."

Defensive Coordinator Brian Ward's defense picked up where they left off in week one by forcing a Mississippi State (1-1) three and out to start the game. Putting Leavitt and the offense in action, where the Sun Devil ground game dominated the line of scrimmage, ending with a Leavitt 17-yard rushing touchdown, his first of his career after faking out the Bulldog defense, giving the Sun Devils an early 7-0 lead.

Arizona State rushed for 58 of the team's 79 yards on the opening drive. The defense remained in control, forcing another Bulldog punt after sacking Mississippi State's quarterback for the first time in the game.On the ensuing possession, the Sun Devils ran for 51 of the team's 60-yard, 12-play drive, capping the drive with a 20-yard Ian Hershey field goal to put ASU ahead 10-0 after the first quarter.

Mississippi State responded with a 32-yard field goal, after the Arizona State defense kept the opposition out of the end-zone, maintaining a 10-3 lead. The Sun Devils then countered with a 47-yard field goal by Hershey, extending the lead back to 10.

The Sun Devil defense continued to put pressure on the Bulldog offense leading to a Clayton Smith forced fumble that was recovered by Fite recovered for an ASU touchdown. It was the second fumble recovery for a touchdown in consecutive weeks for the defense, putting the Sun Devils ahead 20-3.

ASU BIG MAN TD ??

??: @espn pic.twitter.com/ftao42US4F

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 8, 2024

The defense remained relentless, forcing a turnover on downs and getting quality field position on their own 32-yard line that turned into Leavitt's second rushing touchdown of the game on a QB sneak from the 1-yard line, putting the Sun Devils ahead 27-3 going into halftime.

The offense maintained its momentum by opening with a 46-yard field goal by Hershey, but the Bulldogs found the end-zone for the first time in the third quarter, cutting a Sun Devil lead 30-10 entering the fourth quarter, then made 30-16 with a 15-yard touchdown pass.

On the ensuing Bulldog possession, back-to-back sacks by Elijah O'Neal and Keyshaun Elliott halted momentum to give the ball back to Leavitt and the offense. After a quick touchdown by the Bulldogs made it a one-possession game, the Sun Devils were able to ice the game after converting multiple first-downs, capped by a 39-yard run from Skatteboto seal the victory.

312-Eno Benjamin vs. Oregon State (Sept. 29, 2018/30 carries, 3 TDs)
262-Cam Skattebo vs. Mississippi State (Sept. 7, 2024/33 carries)
251-Ben Malone at Oregon State (Oct. 27, 1973/24 carries, 5 TDs)
243-Leon Burton vs. Hardin-Simmons (Oct. 10, 1955/5 carries)
239-Art Malone vs. New Mexico (Nov. 2, 1968/29 carries)

• Marks the first win over an SEC team in ASU's program history and gives ASU a 2-0 start to the season where BOTH victories were over FBS schools for the first time since 2018 (UTSA/Michigan St.)
• The victory ends Mississippi State's 10-game winning streak in non-conference games, dating back to Sept. 3, 2022.
• Arizona State rushed for 346 yards, the most in a game since Dec. 19, 2020 when the Sun Devils rushed for 375 against Oregon State.
• Arizona State has rushed for 587 yards in its first two games to open the season (241 vs. Wyoming, 346 v. Mississippi State). It's the most rushing yards in the first two games of the season since 2016, where the Sun Devils rushed for 577 yards in their first two games.
  • It's the most rushing yards given up by Mississippi State since Nov. 18, 2016, when the Bulldogs gave up 357 rushing yards against Arkansas.
• Cam Skattebo rushed for 262 rushing yards, the second most in a game in program history, the most in a game since Rachaad White rushed for 202 yards against USC on Nov. 6, 2021.
  • Skattebo also gathered 297 all-purpose yards, the most in a game since Brandon Aiyuk recorded 292 all-purpose yards against Oregon State on Nov. 16, 2019.
• Sam Leavitt's 17-yard rushing touchdown is the first rushing touchdown of his career.
  • He would later rush for his second touchdown of the game on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to extend the ASU lead to 27-3.
• Ian Hershey went a perfect 3-for-3, converting on two field goals from 45+ yards, out, setting a career-high in field goals made in a game. Significant since ASU went 1-for-5 on 40+ yard field goals last season.
• Arizona State welcomed 10,478 students to tonight's contest, the first time there have been back-to-back games with 10,000+ students. It marks the best 2-game start in student attendance.

UP NEXT:
The Sun Devils will embark on their first road contest of the season, traveling to Texas State on Thursday, Sept. 12 in San Marcos, Texas. Kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m. AZT/6:30 CT and can be seen on ESPN.