Stunning Last-Minute Touchdown Pass By Blake Shapen Leads Mississippi State Past Arizona State 

For anyone watching the No. 12 Arizona State Sun Devils clash with the Mississippi State Bulldogs, it was a gut-wrenching lesson in how quickly triumph can turn into agony. In a stunning turn of events, a last-gasp touchdown pass by Blake Shapen ripped a storybook comeback right out of ASU’s hands, leaving them with a bitter 24-20 loss in Starkville.

The Sun Devils walked into Davis Wade Stadium for a rare trip into SEC country and were immediately hit with a wall of sound and a ferocious Bulldog defense. The first half was a struggle. ASU was held to just 95 total yards and found themselves in a 17-3 hole. It felt like a classic case of a non-conference team wilting under the southern heat. But then, the second half happened.

Whatever Coach Kenny Dillingham said in the locker room worked. The Sun Devils came out breathing fire, mounting a methodical 75-yard drive capped by a Kanye Udoh touchdown run. The momentum had shifted. The defense stiffened, and the offense found its rhythm. It all culminated in a monstrous 17-play, 95-yard drive late in the fourth quarter. It was gritty, soul-crushing football that ended with a short Jesus Gomez field goal to give ASU a 20-17 lead with only 1:38 left. It felt like the game-winner. It should have been.

Shapen Snatches Victory from Defeat

Then, the dagger. With just 30 seconds on the clock,  Shapen unleashed a prayer, a 58-yard bomb to Brenen Thompson that he caught and ran into the end zone. The roar of the home crowd was deafening. The elation on the ASU sideline evaporated in an instant. A final, desperate interception by ASU Quarterback Sam Leavitt sealed the improbable, heartbreaking defeat. Shapen wasn’t just good; he was clutch when it mattered most, finishing with 279 yards and three touchdowns, completely flipping the script in the final moments.

Despite the crushing loss, there are positives for ASU. The team showed incredible resilience to fight back from a 14-point deficit on the road. The ground game was dominant, with Kanye Udoh stepping up for an injured Kyson Brown to rush for 105 yards, and Raleek Brown adding another 110. This team has the heart and the grit to compete. But as Coach Dillingham noted, “The big plays were the nature of the game… they made an explosive play.” It’s a painful lesson, but one that will fuel this team as they look ahead to conference play.

Game Highlights and Top Performers

• The Final Blow: With 30 seconds left, Blake Shapen hit Brenen Thompson for a 58-yard game-winning touchdown, capping a stunning 77-yard drive in just over a minute.
• Ground and Pound: Arizona State dominated on the ground, racking up a combined 215 yards between Kanye Udoh (105 yards, 1 TD) and Raleek Brown (110 yards).
• The Marathon Drive: ASU put together a heroic 17-play, 95-yard drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock, giving them a late lead that seemed destined to be the winner.
• Blake Shapen’s Poise: The Mississippi State QB was the star of the show, throwing for 279 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions, delivering the most crucial throw of the game under immense pressure.
• Second-Half Surge: After being held to just 3 points in the first half, the Sun Devils stormed back with 17 second-half points, tying the game and briefly taking the lead in a display of pure determination.