🌵 Sun Devils Soar Past Lumberjacks in Season Opener: Arizona State Defeats Northern Arizona 38–19

College football is officially back in Tempe, and the Arizona State Sun Devils wasted no time setting the tone for their 2025 campaign. In front of a raucous crowd at Mountain America Stadium—featuring a school-record 14,280 students—ASU flexed its offensive firepower and athleticism, defeating the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 38–19. Behind quarterback Sam Leavitt’s four-touchdown night and wideout Jordyn Tyson’s dominant performance, the Sun Devils opened their season with energy, explosiveness, and plenty of reasons for optimism.

First Quarter: Setting the Tone Early
ASU struck quickly, proving they intended to put the game out of reach from the opening kick. Running back Raleek Brown capped the first drive with a 6-yard touchdown run, showcasing his shiftiness and balance. Moments later, quarterback Sam Leavitt connected with Jordyn Tyson on a 19-yard strike to put ASU up 14–0. The Sun Devil offense looked sharp, fast, and in complete control of the line of scrimmage.

Northern Arizona responded with grit, holding ASU to punts on their next two drives and trimming the lead with a pair of Samuel Hunsaker field goals, closing the gap to 14–6 by the end of the half.

Second Quarter: The Grind Before Halftime
While ASU’s offense slowed briefly, Jesus Gomez added a 36-yard field goal to keep momentum. The Lumberjacks hung tough, but their drives repeatedly stalled in the red zone. ASU’s defense bent but didn’t break, taking a 17–6 lead into halftime.

The Sun Devils were flagged multiple times in the first half, a sign of early-season growing pains. Head coach Kenny Dillingham emphasized discipline at the break, knowing the second half would demand execution.

Third Quarter: Leavitt Takes Over
The second half belonged to Sam Leavitt. The sophomore quarterback flashed dual-threat dominance, breaking loose for a 52-yard rushing touchdown that brought the stadium to its feet. Northern Arizona answered with a 3-yard TD pass from Ty Pennington to Nason Coleman, but ASU wasn’t rattled.

Leavitt once again showcased his legs, darting into the end zone on an 18-yard rushing score, extending ASU’s lead to 31–13. The Sun Devils were back in rhythm, feeding off their student section as the defense tightened.

Fourth Quarter: Tyson Slams the Door
Any hopes of an NAU rally were crushed when Jordyn Tyson delivered his second touchdown of the night, leaping in the corner of the end zone for a 16-yard acrobatic catch. Tyson finished with 12 receptions, 141 yards, and 2 TDs, looking like a true WR1.

The Lumberjacks tacked on a late score to narrow the margin, but the outcome was never in doubt. ASU sealed a comfortable 38–19 victory, showing flashes of the explosive offense fans have been craving.

​Key Stats & Standouts

The Atmosphere in Tempe
The biggest storyline outside the box score? The fans. With nearly 15,000 students packed into the stadium, the energy was electric. The Sun Devil faithful roared with each big play, creating an atmosphere that clearly energized the team. ASU extended its streak to 26 straight home-opening wins, a testament to the culture surrounding their program.

​What’s Next

The Sun Devils did exactly what they needed to do in their opener: win convincingly, establish their offensive leaders, and energize the fanbase. With Sam Leavitt emerging as a true dual-threat weapon and Jordyn Tyson proving unstoppable in the passing game, ASU enters Week 2 with confidence and momentum. If they can clean up the penalties and tighten up defensively, this team may live up to its preseason hype.

​For Sun Devil fans, the 2025 season is off to a glowing start. 🌞🔥