Arizona State Sun Devils Overpower Mississippi State Bulldogs in a Ground and Pound Victory

In a compelling display of athleticism and strategy, the Arizona State Sun Devils notched another victory to their early season, moving to an undefeated 2-0 by outpacing the Mississippi State Bulldogs with a scoreline of 30-23. This setback leaves the Bulldogs balancing their season at an even 1-1.

The clash, hosted at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, was a showcase of ground dominance by the Sun Devils who tallied an impressive 346 rushing yards from 57 carries. This effort not only averaged six yards per attempt but also resulted in two touchdowns. The standout performer was Cam Skattebo, who alone amassed 262 yards over 33 carries. Quarterback Sam Leavitt complemented this ground assault with two touchdowns and 68 yards from eleven carries.

Leavitt's aerial game yielded modest results; he completed half of his twenty attempts for sixty-nine total yards. His longest pass stretched twenty-one yards and contributed to three first downs via passing plays.

Defensively, Arizona State proved formidable against Mississippi State's offense by securing three sacks that pushed back the Bulldogs for seventeen yards and forcing two fumbles—one directly leading to a touchdown. Defensive standouts included Keyshaun Elliott and Jacob Rich Kongaika—Elliott recorded one sack along with a tackle for loss while Kongaika racked up ten sack-yards.

The special teams unit also made significant contributions to Arizona State's win. Ian Hershey was flawless in field goal attempts, converting all three including his longest from forty-seven yards out. Parker Lewis ensured that all seven kickoffs ended as touchbacks, effectively neutralizing Mississippi State's return game.

Despite managing to score twenty-three points throughout the match, Mississippi State found themselves unable to halt Arizona State’s potent running game which ultimately led to their downfall.

Looking forward, Arizona State is set to face off against Texas State Bobcats in San Marcos, Texas at UFCU Stadium on September 12th at 7:30 PM EDT. The encounter will be broadcast live on ESPN (satellite channel number:206), offering fans an opportunity to witness if Arizona State can extend their winning momentum into week three of the season.