WACO, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive stands and a dramatic fourth-quarter surge, the Arizona State Sun Devils escaped McLane Stadium with a hard-fought 27-24 victory over the Baylor Bears on Saturday.

The Sun Devils (3-1) leaned on a methodical, run-heavy offensive approach and a defense that came up with two critical turnovers to hand the Bears (2-2) their second loss of the season in a nonconference clash that came down to the final seconds.

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, a sophomore from West Linn, Oregon, was the engine of the offense, completing 22 of 32 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown. More importantly, he was a constant threat on the ground, rushing 15 times for 62 yards and a crucial 1-yard touchdown dive in the second quarter that gave the Sun Devils a lead they would not relinquish until late in the game.

The contest began as a defensive struggle, with both teams trading field goals in the first quarter. Arizona State struck first with a 31-yard Jesus Gomez field goal, capping a 17-play, 66-yard drive that consumed over half of the opening period. Baylor answered swiftly, with Connor Hawkins connecting from 53 yards out to knot the score at 3-3.

The Sun Devils broke the deadlock early in the second quarter. Leavitt engineered a 15-play, 80-yard marathon that he finished himself, plunging into the end zone from a yard out to put Arizona State ahead 10-3. The Bears responded just before halftime, as quarterback Sawyer Robertson found receiver Kole Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 10-10 heading into the break.

The only scoring in the third quarter came from the foot of Gomez again, who hit from 21 yards to give the Sun Devils a 13-10 advantage. The drive was kept alive by the connection between Leavitt and tight end Chamon Metayer, who finished with six catches for 55 yards.

Baylor’s offense, stagnant for much of the afternoon, suddenly erupted in the fourth quarter. Robertson, a Lubbock, Texas, native, led two quick-strike touchdown drives to momentarily seize momentum. He first found tight end Michael Trigg on a 1-yard scoring pass to cap a 75-yard drive, cutting the deficit to 20-17 after the extra point.

After Arizona State answered with a touchdown of its own—a 19-yard Leavitt pass to Jordyn Tyson—Robertson went back to work. He engineered a 65-yard drive in just over two minutes, culminating in a 33-yard touchdown strike to Trigg, his second of the game, to tie the score at 24-24 with just 1:52 remaining on the clock.

Trigg was Robertson’s primary weapon, hauling in five catches for 71 yards and the two scores.

Faced with a tie game and limited time, the Sun Devils’ offense delivered. Leavitt used his legs and a key 61-yard reception by Derek Eusebio to quickly move Arizona State into field goal range. The drive was aided by a critical Baylor personal foul penalty that placed the ball at the Bears’ 32-yard line. Leavitt then rushed for six yards and Eusebio added three more to set up the game-winning attempt.

With two seconds left, Gomez calmly drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Sun Devils home victorious.

While Robertson finished with efficient numbers—25 of 39 for 250 yards and three touchdowns—his one interception proved costly. Late in the third quarter, with the Bears driving and the score 13-10, Robertson’s pass was picked off by Arizona State defensive back Keith Abney II at the Baylor 37-yard line, halting a potential go-ahead scoring drive.

The Sun Devils’ defense was led by a relentless effort from linebacker Keyshaun Elliott, who registered a game-high 10 tackles, including a sack. Linebacker Jordan Crook added nine tackles, while defensive back Myles Rowser had six. The unit consistently pressured Robertson and stifled the Baylor running game, holding Bears rushers to minimal gains for three quarters before a 41-yard scamper by Bryson Washington set up their first fourth-quarter touchdown.

Baylor’s defense was led by linebacker Keaton Thomas with eight tackles, while safety Devyn Bobby and linebacker Jackie Marshall each had seven. Marshall also recorded the Bears’ lone sack of Leavitt.

The victory gives Arizona State momentum heading into a Friday night showdown with Texas Christian next week. Baylor looks to rebound on the road against Oklahoma State.