Arizona State football ties the score to end a wild first half

TEMPE — Tight end Chamon Metayer scored a touchdown for Arizona State football to tie the score with Kansas and end a wild streak late in Saturday’s first half.

The score, which tied ASU with Kansas at 14, was set up by a 36-yard punt return by Melquan Stovall as ASU’s chances of scoring before halftime dwindled.

Metayer caught the pass in open space from a running Sam Leavitt and found the end zone, looking like a touchdown the two connected on in the season opener against Wyoming.

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt found TE Chamon Metayer in the left flat for a 20-yard score with 26 seconds left in the first half against Kansas.

The Sun Devils came back to tie with the Jayhawks and Leavitt closed the first half with 102 yards and two passing touchdowns. pic.twitter.com/H8UqqgFqly

– Arizona Sports (@AZSports) October 6, 2024

The previous drive was blocked by a Jordyn Tyson fumble after the Sun Devils gained 54 yards in eight plays. The drive included a fake punt converted by defensive end Clayton Smith, who caught a pass from punter Kanyon Floyd.

ASU had another missed opportunity earlier in the second quarter, when Ian Hershey’s 38-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

During the week leading up to the game, ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham emphasized the “middle eight”, or the last four minutes of the first half along with the first four minutes of the second halftime, as an important area for ASU.

Much of the reason Kansas entered the game on a four-game losing streak was due to incidents in the middle eight, Dillingham said.

Even though they weren’t able to capitalize on either opportunity late in the first half, the score on the night was important for momentum, especially since Kansas was on the verge to receive the ball to start the second half.

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