Jesús Takes the Wheel: Gómez Drills Last-Second Field Goal to Lift ASU Over Baylor

Three years ago, Jesús Gómez broke Arizona State’s heart. On Saturday night, he sealed one of its most memorable victories.

The senior kicker from Mexico City drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired, lifting Arizona State to a 27-24 win over Baylor in Waco. The Sun Devils, now 3-1 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 play, overcame a sluggish third quarter and a late Bears rally to secure their first conference-opening road win since 2014, when they defeated Colorado.

“I don’t even think I watched it go through,” Gómez said after the game. “I knew it was in.”

But this one wasn’t just another kick. For Gómez, it was a full-circle moment returning to the very place where his kicking journey began.

“My first career field goal my whole life, it was here,” Gómez told Cronkite News’ Brendon Pricco back in March during spring camp, referencing ASU’s Frank Kush Field. “And hopefully, my last field goal is here.”

Once the kicker who helped Eastern Michigan upset ASU in 2022, a game that led to Herm Edwards’ firing, Gómez now wears maroon and gold and has cemented himself as a program cornerstone.

Just a year ago, Arizona State’s kicking situation was in shambles. The Sun Devils went 11-for-20 on field goals in 2024, prompting head coach Kenny Dillingham to hold an open campus-wide tryout after a brutal performance in a loss to Cincinnati.

That same offseason, Dillingham turned to Gómez, the very kicker who beat ASU as a freshman, and brought him in from the transfer portal.

That decision paid off in Waco.

Gómez went 3-for-3 on the night and added two extra points.

“He’s so calm and confident,” Dillingham said postgame. “There was this meeting during camp, where we brought in someone to prep the team for interviews. They put Jesús up there, asked him a question, and he said, ‘I just take my steps and kick the ball.’ The whole team cheered. That’s all I needed to know.”

Turnover Margin, Clutch Execution Lift Sun Devils

Arizona State forced three turnovers, two fumbles and a key fourth-quarter interception by Keith Abney II, and didn’t give the ball away once. The Sun Devils now lead the Big 12 with five forced fumbles and four recoveries through four games, after ranking 13th and sixth in those categories, respectively, last year.

"You want guys who play their best in the biggest moments," Dillingham said. "That's it. That's how you win close games. Nobody was rattled. It was just a well-executed two-minute drill."

Quarterback Sam Leavitt finished 22-of-32 passing for 221 yards and a touchdown, adding 62 yards and a rushing score. Running back Raleek Brown led the backfield with 90 yards on 21 carries. Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson caught a go-ahead 19-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.

Arizona State ran 80 plays to Baylor’s 62, held a 36:35 to 23:25 advantage in time of possession, and converted five red zone trips into 27 points.

Still, Dillingham wasn’t satisfied.

“Holy cow,” he said. “A game where you're plus-three in the turnover battle shouldn't come down to a kick. But that’s football. Find ways to win. We’ll never win like that again. Gotta find another way.”

Gómez’s Confidence Comes From the Team

After the game, Gómez was mobbed by teammates at midfield. It wasn’t just about the kick it was about the journey.

“Since the first day I got here, they made it feel like home,” Gómez said. “And they made it feel like home again.”

When asked how he stayed composed in the final seconds, he didn’t flinch.

“It’s like another kick,” Gómez said. “I’ve done this many, many times. I trust the whole operation O-line, snap, hold, offense getting us down there. It’s a team effort.”

Program Moment, Not Just a Win

Dillingham, now in his third year at the helm, said this game wasn’t just about the scoreboard.

“These are still 18-to-22-year-olds who are in college to graduate, have fun, build a brotherhood and build moments that last forever,” he said. “They’ll remember this locker room. And that’s what college sports is supposed to be about.”

The win marked only ASU’s third in its last 10 road conference openers a critical milestone for a program that has flipped the script under Dillingham’s leadership. The Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the Big 12 in 2024. Instead, they won 11 games and won a conference title.

Looking Ahead

ASU will host TCU on Friday night at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, continuing its pursuit of back-to-back Big 12 title runs. Baylor (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) travels to Stillwater for a bounce-back opportunity against Oklahoma State.

Arizona State’s 2025 season is still young, but with moments like Saturday’s, the mission is clear.

As Gómez said back in March: “We want more.”