No. 11 Arizona State lets Northern Arizona stay close before closing out win

Sam Leavitt rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two touchdowns, both to Jordyn Tyson, as No. 11 Arizona State overcame sometimes sloppy play to pull away from visiting Northern Arizona 38-19 on Saturday in Tempe.The reigning Big 12 Conference champion and 2024 College Football Playoff participant Sun Devils (1-0) were penalized 12 times for 93 yards and converted on just 2-of-10 third-down opportunities.The miscues allowed Northern Arizona (0-1) to hang around despite falling into an early 14-0 hole. Ty Pennington capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Nason Coleman. The score midway through the third quarter pulled the Lumberjacks to within a 24-13 deficit.That was as close as Northern Arizona could come, however.Leavitt broke free for an 18-yard touchdown rush — his second touchdown carry of the night, with 11 seconds left in the third quarter. Leavitt had opened the second half with a career-long 52-yard scoring rush.Both touchdowns extended 11-point Sun Devils leads to 18 points.Northern Arizona went for a fourth-down conversion on the ensuing possession at midfield, but Pennington was hit as he threw to end the threat. The tackle also ended Pennington’s night.Arizona State punctuated the win with Leavitt throwing his second touchdown to Tyson, a 16-yard strike, with 2:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. The duo hooked up for a 19-yard score with 5:08 left in the first quarter, part of an early blitz that made it appear the Sun Devils would run the Lumberjacks off the field.

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