Relive the 2014 regular season as we spend the next 12 days counting down toward the team’s departure to El Paso. Every day, from Dec. 12 through Dec. 23, we will take a unique look back at all 12 games this year. Visit thesundevils.com as well as all of Sun Devil Athletics’ social media outlets daily.
GAME 1
#19 Arizona State 45, Weber State 14
Tempe, Ariz. (Sun Devil Stadium)
Aug. 28, 2014
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ASU Opens Season With Win Over Weber State
The Sun Devils kicked off their 2014 campaign with a 45-14 win over Weber State on Thursday night in front of a season-opening record 9,800 students at Sun Devil Stadium.
Running back D.J. Foster ran for 147 yards and three touchdowns, and wide receiver Jaelen Strong had 10 catches for 146 yards to lead the Devils’ quick-hitting offense, which overcame a slow start and marched over the Wildcats for 570 total yards.
Sophomore kicker Zane Gonzalez opened the scoring with a 33-yard field goal midway through the first quarter, and it was all ASU after that. Wide receiver Gary Chambers caught an eight-yard pass for the team’s first touchdown of the season and his first career catch, and the Devils notched scored 31 points in the first half alone.
The Devils’ young defense and its six first-time starters were unfazed in their first action of the season as they held WSU to just 156 yards passing and 152 yards rushing. ASU also made an impressive goal-line stand early in the second quarter when the Wildcats failed to convert on fourth down from the one-yard line.
Quarterback Taylor Kelly threw for 238 yards on 18-of-27 passing to help the Sun Devils build a 31-0 lead before sitting out the second half.
Foster had a pair of short touchdown runs and reeled off a career-long 57-yarder to open the second half and move pass the 1,000-yard mark for career rushing yards.
Linebacker Salamo Fiso was the top performer on the defensive side for the Sun Devils as he recorded seven tackles, including one sack, and safety Damarious Randall contributed six solo tackles to the effort as well.
Zach Smith ran for 128 yards for the Wildcats, including a late 60-yard touchdown in Jay Hill’s first game as WSU’s coach.?