All Sun Devils

Game recap, analysis: Arizona State holds off BYU in wild finish

The Sun Devils are now in a four-way tie for first place in the Big 12

Ben Sherman

Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) celebrates after scoring a first-half touchdown against the Brigham Young Cougars.
Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) celebrates after scoring a first-half touchdown against the Brigham Young Cougars. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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In a wild finish befitting the parity that has existed in the Big 12 this season, Arizona State escaped with a 28-23 victory over BYU on Saturday afternoon.

The Sun Devils led 21-3 at halftime, but BYU came roaring back in the second half, closing the gap to 28-23 in the fourth quarter.

Then chaos broke out.

The Sun Devils had the ball 1st-and-goal from the 7-yard line with 58 seconds left. But after one run by Cam Skattebo, Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham elected to take two massive losses — 26 yards and 10 yards — in an attempt to run out the clock.

On 4th-and-goal from BYU's 44-yard line, with seven seconds left in the game, ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt dropped back and launched a moonball down the sideline and into the stands to try to kill the final seven seconds. As soon as the ball landed the fans stormed the field and took down the goalposts.

After official review, it was determined there was 1 second left on the clock. After clearing the field and putting the goalposts back up, BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff launched a Hail Mary pass from midfield that fell short of the goal line. Game over.

With one week to play, Arizona State (9-2, 6-2) is now in a four-way tie for first place in the Big 12 with Colorado, BYU and Iowa State.

Read our full recap, including big-play highlights and in-game analysis from Arizona State's monumental win:

Final Stats: ASU 28, BYU 23

ASU running back Cam Skattebo rushed 28 times for 147 yards and 3 touchdowns. QB Sam Leavitt was 16-of-25 for 247 yards, one TD and one interception. WR Jordyn Tyson caught 9 passes for 125 yards.

Fourth Quarter Live Updates

Final score: Arizona State 28, BYU 23

What in the world just happened.

BYU gets final play: After clearing the field and putting the goalposts back up, BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff launched a Hail Mary pass from midfield that was caught by Chase Roberts at the 3-yard line with no time on the clock. Game over. Finally.

Chaos on the field: There is officially one second left in the game, with ASU leading 28-23. BYU has the ball at midfield, but there are fans all over the field and the goalposts were taken down.

ASU trying to kill clock: The Sun Devils take two massive losses — 26 yards and 10 yards — in an attempt to run out the clock. They call timeout with 7 seconds left, and they have 4th-and-goal from BYU's 39-yard line. On fourth down, Sam Leavitt drops backs and throws the ball deep to try to run out the clock. Leavitt's pass lands in the stands with 1 second left. Fans are on the field, but it appears the game is not over.

ASU interception! BYU was driving for a potential game-winning touchdown, and Jake Retzlaff threw a pass right to ASU defensive back Javan Robinson, who returns it 64 yards to the BYU 7-yard line. Wow. Arizona State has the ball with less than 1:00 to play inside BYU's 10-yard line.

ASU 28, BYU 23, 2:00 timeout: BYU has the ball 1st-and-10 at their own 37-yard line.

ASU turnover on downs: The Sun Devils go for it on 4th-and-1 at the BYU 11-yard line and Sam Leavitt is stopped short on a QB keeper around the right end. BYU takes over with just over 2:30 to play against an ASU defense that has shown an inability to defend the passing game in the second half.

ASU's defense struggling: The Sun Devils need a long drive to give their defense time to rest and regroup. They've been gashed in the second half by BYU's passing game, largely because Jake Retzlaff has had time to throw. The Cougars lost the battle at the line of scrimmage in the first half; they are clearly winning it in the second half.

BYU touchdown: Keelan Marion scores on a 1-yard run to cap a 9-play, 88-yard drive. The two-point conversion fails. It's now Arizona State 28, BYU 23 with 8:44 left in the game. And the Sun Devils' defense is reeling.

Retzlaff on fire: BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff is shredding Arizona State's secondary in the second half. For the game Retzlaff is 18-of-30 for 256 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

Third Quarter Live Updates

End of third quarter: Arizona State 28, BYU 17

BYU touchdown: This has suddenly turned into a shootout. BYU gashes Arizona State on a 4-play, 73-yard drive that ends with a 21-yard TD pass from Jake Retzlaff to Jojo Phillips. BYU converts the two-point try to make it Arizona State 28, BYU 17 with 43 seconds left in the third quarter.

ASU touchdown! The Sun Devils strike back in just two plays as Sam Leavitt connects with a wide-open Xavier Guillory for a 61-yard touchdown pass to give Arizona State a 28-9 lead with 2:06 left in the third quarter. Leavitt is now 12-of-19 for 204 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception.

BYU touchdown: Keelan Marion caps a 12-play, 96-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run to pull BYU within two scores. The Cougars go for two, but are stopped short. It's now Arizona State 21, BYU 9 with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

BYU drops TD pass: Arizona State catches a break as Jojo Phillips drops a perfectly thrown pass from Jake Retzlaff in the end zone.

ASU turnover on downs: The Sun Devils go for it on 4th-and-goal from the 4-yard line and Sam Leavitt badly misses a wide open Jordyn Tyson in the back of the end zone. The Sun Devils were also whistled for a penalty on the play. BYU takes over on the ASU 4-yard line with 8:18 left in the third quarter.

Huge penalty on BYU: The Cougars sacked Sam Leavitt for a huge loss on 3rd-and-4, but BYU cornerback Marque Collins was called for defensive holding to negate the sack and give Arizona State a first down. It was a legit call as Collins basically tackled ASU wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.

Arizona State will start the second half with the ball, leading 21-3. The temperature is currently 79 degrees in Tempe.

Halftime Stats: ASU 21, BYU 3

Arizona State dominated the first half in almost every category. The Sun Devils outgained the Cougars 208 yards to 114 and pounded them on the ground 112 yards to 25.

Cam Skattebo, in front of a national television audience, continued to be the tip of the spear for the Sun Devils. He rushed 16 times for 96 yards and 3 touchdowns in the first half.

ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt was 6-of-11 for 96 yards and an interception in the first half. His counterpart, BYU QB Jake Retzlaff, posted similar numbers: 8-of-15 for 89 yards and an interception.

Second Quarter Live Updates

Halftime score: Arizona State 21, BYU 3

BYU field goal: Will Ferrin drills a 49-yard field to put BYU on the board with 25 seconds left in the first half. Arizona State leads 21-3.

ASU touchdown! On 3rd-and-1, Cam Skattebo busts through the line for a 23-yard touchdown run to give Arizona State a 21-0 lead with 1:53 left in the first half. Skattebo is making a statement on a big stage: He has 16 carries for 96 yards and 3 touchdowns.

ASU recovers onside kick! The Sun Devils surprise BYU with an onside kick and it ricochets off a BYU player and ASU pounces on it. Kenny Dillingham is putting on a coaching clinic. When he said the Sun Devils were "playing with house money" he was not kidding. ASU has the ball at midfield, leading 14-0 with 4:28 left in the first half.

ASU touchdown! Cam Skattebo scores again, this time on a 4-yard run, to cap off an impressive 12-play, 95-yard drive to give Arizona State a 14-0 lead with 4:29 left in the first half. Skattebo has 12 carries for 61 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Leavitt to Tyson! ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt finally connects with Jordyn Tyson on a big play — 54 yards to the BYU 29-yard line. ASU is driving with under 8:00 left in the first half, leading 7-0.

BYU interception: The Cougars answer back with an interception of their own on a tipped pass. Sam Leavitt's pass ricocheted off the helmet of BYU lineman John Nelson and into the arms of BYU defensive back Tanner Wall. Leavitt took a huge hit on ASU's first possession and looks a little unsettled. He's 1-of-4 passing for 10 yards.

First Quarter Live Updates

Arizona State fans packed Mountain America Stadium for the Sun Devils' Big 12 showdown vs. BYU.
Arizona State fans packed Mountain America Stadium for the Sun Devils' Big 12 showdown vs. BYU. / Cheryl Evans/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

End of first quarter: Arizona State 7, BYU 0

ASU interception! Prince Dorbah tips a Jake Retzlaff pass at the line of scrimmage and Jordan Crook comes up with the interception for ASU. Another huge play by ASU's defense in the first quarter. The Sun Devils take over on their own 35-yard line with 2:22 left in the first quarter, leading 7-0.

Officials miss holding call: ASU coach Kenny Dillingham is livid on the sideline after the officials missed a blatant holding call on BYU's offensive line.

ASU touchdown! Cam Skattebo caps off a drive he dominated with a 3-yard touchdown run to give Arizona State a 7-0 lead. Skattebo carried the ball 7 times for 44 yards on the drive.

BYU turnover on downs! The Cougars go for it on 4th-and-5 at ASU's 46-yard line and Jake Retzlaff's pass falls incomplete. Arizona State takes over at its own 46-yard line with 11:20 left in the first quarter.

Arizona State wins the toss and defers. BYU will start with the ball.

Pregame Updates

The weather is perfect in Tempe. It's 77 degrees and there is not a cloud in the sky. And Mountain America Stadium is packed.

More Arizona State & Big 12 Analysis

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Ben Sherman
BEN SHERMAN

Ben Sherman has been covering the sports world for most of his journalism career, including 17 years with The Oregonian/OregonLive. One of his favorite memories was covering the 1999 Fiesta Bowl - the first BCS National Championship Game - at Sun Devil Stadium.

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