Arizona State Mississippi State score: Leavitt Struggles Early

Arizona State Mississippi State score: ASU struggles in season opener as Sam Leavitt faces tough start, turnovers, and penalties in hostile SEC game. Arizona State football faced a rough start at Mississippi State on Saturday, struggling to find rhythm and cohesion against a dominant SEC opponent. Quarterback Sam Leavitt appeared overwhelmed, reflecting the team’s overall difficulties on both sides of the ball.

Leavitt’s Rough Start Under Center

Leavitt completed only one pass on his first seven attempts, finally connecting with Jordyn Tyson for a modest four-yard gain late in the first quarter. His next completion didn’t occur until midway through the second quarter—and it resulted in negative yardage.

By halftime, Leavitt had managed just 30 passing yards on 5-of-15 attempts, with five carries for no net gain and an interception. Early miscues, including missed connections with Malik McClain and an underthrown pass to Jaren Hamilton, signaled a challenging day ahead for the young quarterback.

Offense Stifled by Pressure and Mistakes

Arizona State’s first three drives ended quickly, failing to gain traction against a relentless Mississippi State defense. The Sun Devils’ punting game struggled to provide relief, with Kanyon Floyd’s punts either short or returned for significant yardage.

Leavitt tried to take control on ASU’s fourth drive, picking up a first down on the ground, only to have it wiped out by a holding penalty. Offensive pass interference and a delay of game early in the second quarter further stalled momentum. A critical miscommunication on a snap turned third-and-20 into fourth-and-34, forcing another punt.

Mississippi State Capitalizes

The Bulldogs wasted little time taking advantage of ASU’s mistakes. Quarterback Blake Shapen connected on a touchdown in the early second quarter, stretching the lead to 17-0. Despite a penalty flag on the play, the call was picked up, adding frustration for Sun Devils coach Kenny Dillingham.

Arizona State’s attempts to respond were met with heavy resistance. Leavitt faced multiple sacks and threw an interception on a deep pass attempt. A rare moment of heroics came when he narrowly missed a fourth-down conversion on a scramble, gaining four of the five needed yards on the ground.

Halftime Momentum Boost

ASU finally got on the scoreboard at the end of the first half, benefiting from Mississippi State penalties during a Hail Mary attempt. Kicker Jesus Gomez converted a 51-yard field goal—his longest in an ASU uniform—bringing the score to 17-3 heading into the break.

Injuries and Key Player Absences

Adding to the team’s challenges, Arizona State started the game without WR Jalen Moss and DL Justin Wodtly, while starting running back Kyson Brown, a Mississippi native, left the game briefly “dinged up” after gaining 11 yards on two carries.