Jeff Sims once again demonstrated why he is such an important weapon to Arizona State, as he gave a good all-around performance as the Sun Devils defeated West Virginia 2523. Having just taken over the starting role as quarterback on the team with Sam Leavitt out, Sims had the confidence to come in and demonstrate a sense of calmness and flashiness.
Sims had 207 yards, three TD passes on 19 out of 28 pass attempts, and did not fail to give up a turnover during the night. He started the scoring with an acute 6-yard shot to Chamon Metayer and a well-aimed 19-yard goal to Derek Eusebio. In the second half. He was able to read pressure well and provide big plays as he dissected a blitz and connected with running back Raleek Brown on a 33-yard touchdown towards the end of the first half.
The particular advantage that made Sims effective was the fact that he was a dual-threat. Besides his successful passing, he carried the ball 17 times over a distance of 81 yards, always leaving West Virginia with no choice but to change its defense.
His mobility kept the Mountaineers guessing, opening up opportunities in both the running and passing game. Each time West Virginia tried to shift momentum, Sims responded with composure and precision.
Sims, in addition to the statistics, came through at the right time. As Arizona State had Big 12 hopes hanging in the balance, he played the offense without hitches, made sound choices, and delivered in the red-zone moments. His leadership skills were addressed when he directed the Sun Devils to several scoring drives and kept the game close and tight in a back-and-forth match.
This show was one of the most thorough performances of the season by Sims. He was efficient, athletic, and made good decisions that assisted ASU in winning a key conference. Sims stood up to the occasion in a game with pressure and playoff implications and established himself as a trusted and effective starter in the Sun Devils.