All Sun Devils

Game recap, analysis: Arizona State football rallies to beat UCF

The Sun Devils win a wild game in Tempe

Ben Sherman

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) throws a pass against the UCF Knights during the first half at Mountain America Stadium.
Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) throws a pass against the UCF Knights during the first half at Mountain America Stadium. / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
In this story:

The Arizona State football team's magical season continued Saturday night, with Heisman Trophy contender Cam Skattebo looking on from the sideline.

The Sun Devils scored on defense and special teams to pull off an improbable 35-31 Big 12 victory over UCF.

Arizona State (7-2, 4-2) remains in the hunt for a berth in the Big 12 championship game, while UCF (4-6, 2-5) leaves Tempe wondering how they didn't win their fifth game of the season.

Read our game recap, with in-game analysis and big play highlights from start to finish:

Final Stats

Sam Leavitt passed for 161 yards and 3 touchdowns and Jordyn Tyson caught 7 passes for 99 yards and 2 touchdown to lead the Sun Devils to victory. Arizona State was outgained 406 to 260 by UCF, but the Sun Devils excelled in specials teams and took advantage of miscues by UCF to rally for the win.

The biggest sequence came late in the second quarter, with Arizona State trailing 17-7. The Sun Devils finally put together a sustained drive, scoring on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Sam Leavitt to tight end Chamon Metayer with 56 seconds left in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, UCF's Christian Petersen dropped the ball in the end zone, and instead of kneeling and taking the touchback, he tried to run it out. Arizona State tackled him on the half-yard line with 53 seconds left.

Instead of running the ball — and running out the clock — UCF coach Malzahn elected to throw the ball out of the shotgun on first down. Quarterback Dylan Rizk's pass was intercepted by ASU defensive back Laterrance Welch on the 9-yard line, and he returned it for a touchdown, giving the Sun Devils a 21-17 lead with 47 seconds left. Yes, ASU scored 14 points in 9 seconds to flip the game.

Fourth Quarter Recap

Final score: Arizona State 35, UCF 31

UCF turnover on downs! The Knights go for it on 4th-and-2 in their own territory and ASU bring down R.J Harvey short of the line to gain. The Sun Devils take over on UCF's 34-yard line with 3:09 left, leading 35-31. They need two first downs to run out the clock and improbably win this game.

Touchdown Arizona State! This game is nuts. The Sun Devils reclaim the lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Sam Leavitt to Jordyn Tyson. Arizona State leads 35-31 with 4:55 to play. There have been five lead changes in this game.

Missed field goal by UCF! Instead of going for it on 4th-and-2, Gus Malzahn elects to kick a 46-yard field goal. The kick hits the upright and bounces off. Arizona State takes over at its own 29-yard line with 9:23 to play, trailing 31-28.

Touchdown UCF: The Knights gash Arizona State on a 6-play, 75-yard drive that culminates in a 13-yard touchdown run by RJ Harvey. UCF reclaims the lead 31-28 with 13:04 to play. Harvey has 22 carries for 122 yards and three touchdowns. As displeased as Kenny Dillingham was with his team's defensive effort at halftime, he must be even more upset right now.

Third Quarter Recap

End of third quarter: Arizona State 28, UCF 24

Touchdown Arizona State! The Sun Devils respond with an 8-play, 75-yard drive that fittingly ends with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Sam Leavitt to Jordyn Tyson. Arizona State retakes the lead, 28-24. Tyson made the biggest play of the drive with an incredible 29-yard leaping catch on 3rd-and-7.

Touchdown UCF: RJ Harvey runs right up the middle for an 8-yard touchdown to give UCF a 24-21 lead with 5:03 left in the third quarter.

ASU misses Skattebo: Arizona State's offense is really struggling without Cam Skattebo. Midway through the third quarter they're being outgained 303-141 by UCF. The Knights have run 57 offensive plays to just 30 for Arizona State.

Arizona State has the ball to start the second half, somehow leading 21-17.

UCF defensive back Quadric Bullard (10) tackles Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) during the first half
UCF Knights defensive back Quadric Bullard (10) tackles Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) during the first half at Mountain America Stadium. / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Second Quarter Recap

Halftime: Arizona State 21, UCF 17

Quick first-half summary: UCF dominated the first two quarters and Arizona State leads 21-17. The Sun Devils scored on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, a pick six and a Sam Leavitt touchdown pass.

UCF missed field goal: Grant Reddick misses a 57-yard field goal on the final play of a wild first half.

Pick six Arizona State! What a turn of events! UCF botches the kickoff and has to start on their own 1-yard line. Then on their first play Laterrance Welch picks off a pass from Dylan Rizk and returns it for a touchdown to give Arizona State a 21-17 lead with 47 seconds left. The Sun Devils scored 14 points in nine seconds!

Touchdown Arizona State! Sam Leavitt rolls to his left and hits Chamon Metayer in the back of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown reception. The TD pass culminates a much-need long scoring drive for the Sun Devils: 9 plays, 75 yards. It's now UCF 17, Arizona State 14 with 56 seconds left in the first half.

Touchdown UCF: Jacurri Brown scores on a 6-yard touchdown run to give UCF a 17-7 lead with 5:02 left in the half. Arizona State needs to get something going on offense. The Knights are dominating total yardage 207 to 56.

UCF field goal: Grant Reddick drills a 45-yard field goal to give UCF a 10-7 lead with 12:39 left in the first half.

First Quarter Recap

End of first quarter: Arizona State 7, UCF 7

Blocked punt touchdown return! Arizona State's Martell Hughes blocks UCF's punt and Montana Warren scoops it up and races down the sideline for a touchdown. What a wild sequence. Warren barely kept his balance and stayed inbounds after scooping up the blocked punt. It's now Arizona State 7, UCF 7 with 2:17 left in the first quarter.

ASU turnover on downs: Kenny Dillingham goes for it on 4th-and-4 from the UCF 40-yard line and Sam Leavitt's pass is broken up. UCF takes over at its own 40, leaading 7-0.

Touchdown UCF: The Knights march down the field on their opening drive, covering 75 yards in 13 plays and scoring on an 8-yard run by RJ Harvey to take a 7-0 lead. The drive ate up 7:14.

UCF wins the coin toss and elects to receive. Arizona State's defense will have a chance to make an early stop.

Pregame Updates

Arizona State's Pat Tillman helmets are incredible.

More Arizona State & Big 12 Analysis

Published |Modified
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.

Home/Football