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Sam Leavitt's work ethic showing for Arizona State football

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Sam Leavitt's work ethic showing for Arizona State football


TEMPE — Sam Leavitt is coming off maybe his best game as the signal caller for Arizona State football, culminating with a game-winning touchdown in the final minute of a win over Kansas on Saturday.

Head coach Kenny Dillingham said that’s not by accident, rather it came after Leavitt’s best week of prep.

“That kid’s put in so much work. … He was really clean. Us being able to show him all the looks two weeks in a row I think really helped him,” Dillingham said Monday. “Then he went out there and he performed. He would’ve even had a better game (if not for some drops).

“The fact that he was poised at the end of the game was, kudos to him. That moment right there is just natural, there’s no fake about it.”

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Leavitt connected on 14-of-24 passes for 157 yards, giving him 1,012 passing yards on the season. His four passing touchdowns were the most by an ASU quarterback since Joey Yellen had four in a loss to USC in 2019.

His lone interception came off a double-tip by Sun Devil receivers Jordyn Tyson and Xavier Guillory which kept the quarterback’s turnover-worthy play tally at one on the season, according to PFF. He is tied with eight other FBS quarterbacks (minimum 100 dropbacks) to lead the category.

Leavitt entered the Kansas game 3-for-19 on throws that travel at least 20 yards in the air but was a much more efficient 2-for-4 in the win. Guillory was on the receiving end of the first completion which capped off an opening drive for a touchdown, while Tyson’s first of two fourth-quarter scores represented the other.

Dillingham said a tweak to Leavitt’s footwork over the bye week helped him be more balanced on Saturday and in turn, more accurate on deep balls.

The quarterback has been the most reliable foil to Cam Skattebo in the ground game. Leavitt’s 257 yards make him the only other Sun Devil with at least 100 rushing yards on the season. Skattebo and Leavitt both average over five yards per carry.

Deep passing and quarterback rushing will be key elements of the game plan for Friday’s matchup with No. 16 Utah to help neutralize a vicious pass rush. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham on Monday told reporters Leavitt is a “true dual-threat” quarterback.

The Utes’ pass rush averaged six pressures over the previous three games. However, they amassed 14 in their most recent game, a loss to Arizona, and 14 in their season-opening win over Southern Utah.

The most pressure ASU has faced this season was Texas State’s 10. The offensive line allowed a season-low two pressures in the win over Kansas.

When pressure has gotten there, Leavitt has shown solid composure. PFF has Leavitt graded as the third-best FBS quarterback under pressure (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks) with a 76.0 score.

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He was recognized as the Big 12 newcomer of the week for his performance.

ASU hosts Utah on Friday at 7:30 MST at Mountain America Stadium. Listen to play-by-play coverage on the Arizona Sports app, ESPN 620 AM, 98.7 FM-HD 2 or online.





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NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals fill biggest needs in 4-round mock

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NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals fill biggest needs in 4-round mock


The 2026 NFL draft is still more than a month away, and we are beginning to get more multi-round mock drafts. We have a four-round mock draft from NFL.com’s Chad Reuter.

What does that mean for the Arizona Cardinals, who have one pick in each round? In this case, it means hitting their four biggest needs with their first four picks.

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Let’s see.

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Round 1, pick No. 3: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa

The Cardinals don’t overthink this pick. Mauigoa’s a strong, hard-nosed run blocker who fills a major need in Arizona and should be an NFL starter for a decade.

This pick appears to be destined for one of two routes — a tackle or a pass rusher. The question is whether they value Mauigoa over David Bailey, who goes with the very next pick of this mock draft, or another pass rusher.

The Cardinals have not done anything on the defensive edge this offseason. They have made some minor moves at right tackle.

Round 2, pick No. 34: Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker

If they don’t get a pass rusher in Round 1, it makes sense to go with one in Round 2. Parker looks the part at 6-4, 263 pounds with long 33 1/8-inch arms.

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He had 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in 2024 but saw his production dip to five sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss last season.

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Round 3, pick No. 65: LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

Yes, it makes sense for the Cardinals to draft a quarterback, one they can develop a bit. Nussmeier has the tools but was very inconsistent.

Round 4, pick No. 104: Alabama DT Tim Keenan

The Cardinals have thrown bodies on the defensive line this offseason, signing three and re-signing one. Getting one on Day 3 who is more of a space-eater than playmaker would continue with this trend.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals fill biggest needs in 4-round mock

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20K fans back bid for pro women’s soccer team at Fiesta Mall site

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20K fans back bid for pro women’s soccer team at Fiesta Mall site


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  • A fan initiative to bring a National Women’s Soccer League team to Mesa, Arizona, has gathered nearly 20,000 signatures.
  • Developer Vicki Mayo plans to build a 25,000-seat enclosed soccer stadium at the former Fiesta Mall site, now called the Palo District.
  • The Palo District project also includes a women’s sports wellness campus, an AI venture studio, and two large hotels.

Nearly 20,000 people signed a fan initiative to attract a National Women’s Soccer League team to Mesa’s former Fiesta Mall site, its developer said.

Now known as the Palo District, the 80-acre site along Alma School Road and Southern Avenue is poised for a major transformation that its owner, Vicki Mayo, hopes will be a hub for women’s sports.

Mayo is aiming to attract Arizona’s first National Women’s Soccer League by building a 25,000-seat enclosed soccer stadium that is planned to break ground in the summer.

Her company, Sunny Day Sports, an investment firm, launched an initiative in January called the Founding Fan to showcase that the development would be a “perfect” location for a professional women’s soccer team.

She said the initial goal was to get 10,000 founding fans in 10 days, but exceeded that by reaching over 15,000 signups in that time frame. Now that number is close to 20,000 fans, she said.

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The aim is to show the NWSL that metro Phoenix has a fan base and interest to sustain a team.

The 2026 NWSL season launched in March, debuting two new teams and expanding from 14 to 16 teams.

In 2028, two new teams are expected to debut, including the already announced 17th franchise in Atlanta.

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, in her 2026 Kickoff Address, stated the 18th team would be awarded later this year, USAToday reported on March 13.  

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The league would not “comment on specific markets or pending bids,” said Jennifer Levine, the vice president of public relations and communications for the NWSL.

She said the league was engaging in a “deliberate, rolling expansion process with a number of world-class potential ownership groups as we look toward the future of the league.”

Mayo said she was “not at liberty to disclose” if she’s had conversations with the league to pitch Arizona and the Palo District.

Are professional soccer leagues interested in Arizona?

The state doesn’t have any top-level professional soccer leagues, neither men’s nor women’s teams, but several amateur or minor leagues exist. That includes the Phoenix Rising soccer team in the United Soccer League, a tier below MLS.

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The men’s Major League Soccer organization has flirted with the possibility of coming to Arizona for years and most recently hinted it could land in Mesa at a different site. It also appears that the political will to welcome a soccer team is there, as city officials stated in 2024 that it had entertained conversations.

A women’s professional soccer team could see an easier pathway to landing in Arizona and is the focus of the Palo District, according to Mayo.

Several amateur or minor-league women’s soccer clubs have formed over the years. Most recently, the Women’s Premier Soccer League announced a new team would be based at the Peoria Sports Complex. Those teams are created both to build a fan base and to cultivate local talent.

Mayo wants to build on the state’s popularity of youth soccer and keep rising talent in the state.

The Arizona Soccer Association reported that “more than 55,000 boys and girls” are participating in 45-plus clubs throughout the state in 2026.

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She said she wants women coming out of those youth programs to have an opportunity to play in Arizona.

“I want these girls that are top tier that want to play pro to be able to stay in their home state and play for their home team,” she said.

Women like Julie Ertz from Mesa, who went on to play in Chicago and Los Angeles. Ertz made 123 appearances with the women’s national team and was in the NWSL between the 2014 and 2023 seasons.

Several other women soccer players with Arizona backgrounds have gone on to play in the NWSL and on the national team.

Mayo said she hopes the planned 25,000-seat “fully enclosed, fully domed” stadium with air conditioning and a retractable grass pitch will be sufficient to attract a professional soccer team.

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Details surrounding the financing of the project remained slim. The Mesa City Council in November approved the creation of a theme park district, which will provide a dedicated financing system and a board that will be in charge of that system. It was not immediately known when the board would gather for its first meeting.

What’s planned for the former Fiesta Mall site?

The Palo District is developing with a focus on women’s sports and health.  

It previously announced a women’s sports wellness campus in December as an anchor and “cornerstone” project that will be a $100 million capital investment in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.

An AI venture studio, WaveX, backed by LG Electronics, will also be featured at the site.

Two massive hotels with a combined 600 rooms are also planned at the site. The flagship hotel will tie directly into the stadium, which will bring a “VIP” experience, she said. It will be a 4 to 4.5-star property, she said.

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“We’re in active conversations with a number of leading hotel chains to see which brand we’re going to solidify on and bring on,” Mayo said.

Like this story? Get more East Valley news straight into your email inbox by signing up for our free weekly East Valley Newsletter, which comes out on Wednesdays.

Is there something under construction you’d like to tell us about or find out more about? Reporter Maritza Dominguez, who covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek, can be reached at maritza.dominguez@arizonarepublic.com or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom.





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100-degree heat hits busy Arizona wedding weekend in Maricopa

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100-degree heat hits busy Arizona wedding weekend in Maricopa


It’s one of the busiest times of year for weddings in Arizona, usually because the weather couldn’t be better. But this weekend, the heat is changing plans for some couples getting ready to say “I do.”

Marriage is all about adjusting and adapting — something Elle Vanderham and Reece Pocock have had to do. They thought they were going to be married in perfect March weather; instead, they’ll be tying the knot in the 100-degree desert sun.

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What they’re saying:

“Everyone comes in March, so we were like perfect, we’ll do it then,” said bride Elle Vanderham. “And then they all got here and everyone is dying.”

Love is heating up in Arizona, and so are the temperatures.

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“What’s that saying… when you make plans, God laughs? Yeah, so here we are,” said Dana Schwartz, the bride’s aunt.

Vanderham and Pocock are set to tie the knot this Saturday in Maricopa. The two met when Pocock would come down from Canada for work. They were hoping for mild spring weather, but now they’re preparing for triple-digit heat.

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“I’m very ready,” Vanderham said. “I’m just happy I don’t have to wear a felt cap and a suit jacket.”

Schwartz has been helping set up the event. She says changes had to be made to help keep the over 200 guests from all over the world comfortable.

“We brought in coolers and misters. We’re going to have umbrellas for out there,” Schwartz said. “We had to bring in a refrigerated truck because hydration is going to be a big thing. In fact, we had to buy more. You have to adjust the order of things. It’s all you can do.”

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Like many Arizonans, they’re taking the heat in stride and rolling with whatever comes — a little preview of married life. Ultimately, they’re just happy to celebrate together.

“I’m very grateful for everyone I have in my corner,” Vanderham said. “And I’m very grateful for all the Canadians who came down even though they knew it was going to be hot.”

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What you can do:

If you are attending an outdoor wedding this weekend or any event outdoors, doctors recommend hydrating as much as possible and seeking shade.

The Source: Interviews with Dana Schwartz, Elle Vanderham and Reece Pocock

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