Arizona State Sun Devils' Ground Game Falls Short Against Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium

The Arizona State Sun Devils, with a record of 3-1, faced off against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, also holding a 3-1 record, in a closely contested battle that ended with the Sun Devils scoring 22 points to the Red Raiders' 30. Despite their efforts and strategic plays throughout the game, the Sun Devils could not secure a win on the road.

Sun Devils' Offensive Efforts

The Arizona State offense showcased resilience and adaptability against a tough Texas Tech defense. Quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 22 out of 38 attempts for a total of 282 yards but was intercepted once. His performance under pressure was commendable, maintaining an average of over seven yards per attempt despite being sacked once for a loss of three yards. The rushing attack was led by Cam Skattebo who carried the ball 18 times for 60 yards and scored two touchdowns, proving to be an essential asset in red zone situations.

Wide receiver Xavier Guillory emerged as Leavitt's favorite target catching six passes for 74 yards. His ability to create space and make crucial catches contributed significantly to moving the chains for Arizona State. However, despite these individual performances and converting four out of eight red zone opportunities into scores, including three rushing touchdowns which highlighted their ground game strategy, it wasn't enough to overcome Texas Tech's defense.

Defensive Standouts

On defense, Arizona State showed moments of brilliance but struggled to consistently contain Texas Tech's offensive playmakers. Myles Rowser stood out with nine combined tackles and one sack contributing significantly towards limiting Texas Tech’s advance on several occasions. Despite this effort from Rowser and others like Caleb McCullough who added four tackles himself; they couldn't prevent key plays that allowed Texas Tech to maintain their lead throughout most of the game.

Penalties also played a role in hindering Arizona State's momentum with eight penalties costing them valuable yardage at critical moments during the match-up.

Looking Ahead

The Arizona State Sun Devils will look forward to bouncing back from this setback when they host Kansas Jayhawks at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on October 5th at 1:00 PM EDT. Fans eager to support their team can catch all live action as they aim for victory on home turf against Kansas Jayhawks next week.