The Arizona State Sun Devils entered Week 2 riding high after a dominant victory over Wyoming, but their defensive performance against a lesser opponent left questions about how they would fare against tougher competition. Facing the Mississippi State Bulldogs from the SEC, the Sun Devils needed to prove their defensive prowess could hold up against a more formidable team. With both teams coming off impressive wins, this matchup at Mountain America Stadium had all the ingredients for an exciting battle.

Both the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Mississippi State Bulldogs had impressive wins last week. Arizona State cleaned up on Wyoming by forty points. And the Mississippi State Bulldogs won their game by almost fifty. But the question, at least for Arizona State was if the defensive effort last week was all for show against a lesser opponent, and would they be able to give the same effort against a strong team in the SEC.

In the first half, the Sun Devils defense looked like they never left the field from last week. The first Mississippi State drive resulted in three plays and a punt. The next Bulldogs drive resulted in three plays for -6 total yards and a punt.

The Bulldogs managed to get a field goal on their next drive, which was a 12-play, 71 yard drive that ended just inside the Arizona State five yard line.

But then the Arizona State defense stepped up again. On third down, and on their own two-yard line, Blake Shapen (Bulldog QB) was sacked by Clayton Smith, and fumbled the ball. C.J. Fite picked up the ball on the one yard line and ran the ball in for the touchdown.

The Bulldogs would push the ball downfield on their next drive, but the Sun Devils defense stepped again and forced a turnover on downs after a failed 4th down attempt by Mississippi State. The Bulldogs would get the ball back just before the half, but fumbled on their only play and let the remaining seconds run off the clock after they recover the fumble.

The Bulldogs offense finished the half with a total of 82 yards of offense. That included -13 rushing yards.

As for the Arizona State offense in the first half? All they did was score on all four of their drives (two touchdowns, two field goals).

Arizona State’s starting quarterback, Sam Leavitt would get the scoring going for the Sun Devils on their first drive. With a stellar rushing attack pushing the offense downfield, Leavitt would cap off a 10-play, 79-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown rush to the left.

After a pair of field goal’s by Ian Hershey, and the fumble return by Fite, Arizona State would cap off a 11-play, 68-yard drive with a 1-yard Leavitt touchdown rush up the middle.

Arizona State led at halftime 27-3 over the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

The Arizona State offense would get on the board again on their first drive of the third quarter with a 46-yard field goal by Ian Hershey.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs finally got a good drive together and capped it off with a six-yard touchdown run by Keyvone Lee. After a successful extra point, the Bulldogs cut into the Sun Devils lead, 30-10.

The Bulldogs defense then stepped up and forced a punt by Arizona State, getting the ball back at midfield after a ‘kick-catch interference call.’ After a quick first down play, the third quarter ended with Arizona State still having a commanding lead, 30-10.

After a holding penalty extended the Bulldogs drive after a failed 4th down conversion, Blake Shapen would throw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Davon Booth. Mississippi State would miss the extra point and the score with 13:09 remaining in the game was 30-16, Arizona State still led.

Arizona State failed to move the ball again on their next possession with the Bulldogs defense forcing a three-and-out. After the punt, Mississippi State would start their next drive on their own 34 yard line with 12:10 remaining in the game.

The Sun Devils defense stepped up and forced a punt after they would record a pair of sacks on the Bulldogs drive. Arizona State started their next drive at their own 20 yard line with 9:42 remaining in the game and a 30-16 lead. But the Bulldogs defense forced another punt just before midfield. They would get the ball back after the punt on their own 20 yard line with 5:40 remaining in the game, still down 30-16.

On the Bulldogs first play of that drive, Blake Shapen would hit Kevin Coleman, Jr on an 80-yard strike. After a successful extra point, Mississippi State would pull within one score with 5:27 remaining.

With everything else offensively seeming to fail, the Arizona State Sun Devils went to the one man who they knew they could turn to and close out this game.

Cam Skattebo, the Senior running back, would put the Sun Devils on his back and continue to get first down after first down. He would end the night with 262 yards rushing on the evening on 32 rushing attempts. And Mississippi State’s comeback would not happen.

Skattebo would also lead Arizona State with three receptions, and 35 yards receiving. Both of them were team highs.

Arizona State Sun Devils passed their first real test of the season by fending off a late comeback attempt from Mississippi State, securing a 30-23 victory. Behind a stellar defensive performance in the first half and a monstrous game from senior running back Cam Skattebo, the Sun Devils showed they could compete with top-tier competition. With momentum on their side, Arizona State will look to keep their undefeated season alive as they prepare to take on Texas State next week.