{"id":21562,"date":"2025-10-26T05:37:15","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T05:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/21562\/"},"modified":"2025-10-26T05:37:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T05:37:15","slug":"asu-closes-gap-in-loss-vs-houston-has-to-lean-on-jeff-sims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/21562\/","title":{"rendered":"ASU closes gap in loss vs. Houston, has to lean on Jeff Sims"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once down 24-0, Arizona State without quarterback Sam Leavitt for stretches made it a ball game against Houston in the fourth quarter on Saturday night but fell 24-16.<\/p>\n

Leavitt led the Sun Devils\u2019 first scoring drive at the beginning of the fourth but when sidelined like he was briefly in the opening quarter<\/a>, backup Jeff Sims marched down the field 70 yards and threw his first passing touchdown since the 2023 season opener when he was the Nebraska starter.<\/p>\n

It came after kicker Jesus Gomez made his first of three attempts on the day from 47 yards out.<\/p>\n

However, with the loss that snapped ASU\u2019s 10-game home winning streak, the Sun Devils (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) picked up their second Big 12 loss. With BYU and Cincinnati remaining undefeated with wins over Iowa State and Baylor, respectively, teams with two conferences losses will have a uphill battle and require some help for a shot at making the Big 12 Championship game in early December.<\/p>\n

The game at Mountain America Stadium was one of miscues and time of possession, as ASU committed 12 penalties and only had the football for 22:58, unable to sustain any drives until the final 15 minutes.<\/p>\n

With just over two minutes left, Arizona State had the ball and one timeout but could not advance it more than seven yards after beginning at its over four-yard line. The eventual nail-in-the-coffin, fourth down play was reviewed for targeting with Derek Eusebio as the intended man, but the ruling didn\u2019t come to pass.<\/p>\n

Leavitt finished Saturday 18-of-35 passing for 270 yards and a touchdown whereas Sims stepped in for a 6-of-11 passing performance good enough for 58 yards and a touchdown. Sims also added 11 yards on three rushes.<\/p>\n

ASU coach Kenny Dillingham said postgame that Leavitt got imaging done when he first exited in the opening quarter and \u201ctweaked\u201d something in the fourth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe sent him in there, got some imaging. He wanted to go back in, and I said \u2018No, you\u2019re going to get imaging before you go back in. I don\u2019t care how you feel,’\u201d Dillingham said. \u201cAnd then he came back and at the end he tweaked himself again, so we held him out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wide receiver Malik McClain, in Jordyn Tyson\u2019s absence, got the bulk of the work with seven receptions and 159 yards.<\/p>\n

Both of the Arizona State touchdowns, however, were hauled in by tight ends, as Cameron Harpole got his first of the season and his career<\/a> and Chamon Metayer had one score on his four catches for 55 yards.<\/p>\n

ASU will travel to Iowa State (5-3, 2-3 Big 12) on Saturday with kickoff time TBD.<\/p>\n

Follow @pwmoses11<\/a><\/p>\n

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