Aug. 31, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - Led by a stingy defense, which recorded nine sacks and accounted for one touchdown, No. 24 Arizona State opened its 2006 campaign with a 35-14 victory over Northern Arizona.
Sophomore QB Rudy Carpenter improved to 5-1 as a starter after throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Junior WR Rudy Burgess led all Sun Devil receivers with seven receptions for a career-best 112 yards while junior RB Ryan Torain and sophomore RB Shaun DeWitty both recorded touchdown receptions.
The Sun Devils exploded for 21 fourth-quarter points to break open what was a tie game (14-14) after three quarters. ASU trailed 7-0 and 14-7 in the first half before eventually seizing control.
"It certainly wasn't easy and we never said it would be easy," ASU head coach Dirk Koetter. "NAU came out and played hard on both sides of the ball."
"Offensively, we just never really did get in a rhythm. We rotated a lot of backs in and it was good to get them some work. We know we can play a lot better on offense than that and we're going to have to starting next Saturday."
One play into the final period the Sun Devils took their first lead of the game following a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown by junior CB Chris Baloney. Baloney's return was the first of three touchdowns the Sun Devils would score in the final 15 minutes while holding the Lumberjacks scoreless.
ASU's defense dominated the fourth quarter allowing NAU only 39 yards in total offense. On the other side of the ball, ASU's running game polished off the win, gaining 113 yards in the fourth quarter. Sophomore RB Keegan Herring and freshman RB Dimitri Nance both ran for touchdowns as the Sun Devils won their fourth consecutive season opener.
Defensively, senior LB Derron Ware led the way, accounting for eight solo stops, including four of ASU's nine sacks and five tackles for loss overall. ASU's defense held NAU to only 76 yards in total offense in the second half after the Lumberjacks gained 236 yards in the first half.
"I think we came out with a different attitude (in the second half)," Ware said. "We said) `Let's come out the second half as a team and play these two quarters hard and separate ourselves from them.'"
Early on it appeared the Sun Devils might runaway with the game after taking the opening kickoff and driving 64 yards before Carpenter's pass intended for senior WR Terry Richardson near the goal line was tipped and intercepted by NAU's Adam Wright.
The Sun Devils got the ball right back following a unique occurrence which saw NAU attempt (and fail) a fake punt on fourth and 27 from its own three-yard line.
Despite taking over at the NAU four-yard line, the Sun Devils were unable to come away with any points and would eventually turn the ball back to the Lumberjacks on downs after four consecutive runs failed to get the ball in the end zone.
NAU would break the scoreless tie on its ensuing possession when Lumberjacks QB Jason Murrietta scrambled around and bought enough time to locate WR Alex Watson for an 80-yard touchdown which gave NAU a 7-0 lead.
The Sun Devils tied it up at the beginning of the second quarter after RB Shaun DeWitty caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Carpenter to cap a seven-play, 56-yard drive.
NAU would re-claim the lead later in the second quarter when Watson took a swing pass from Murrietta then ran down the near sideline for a 60-yard touchdown and a14-7 Lumberjacks lead.
The Sun Devils would tie the game with just over a minute left in the first half after Carpenter and Torain connected on a 39-yard touchdown pass.