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ARIZONA STATE NOTES
Century: With an 8-yard gain in midway through the third quarter, RB Keegan Herring went over the century mark for rushing on the day giving him his fourth career 100-yard rushing game. Herring, who ran for more than 100 yards for the first time since picking up 129 at UCLA during the 2005 season, finished with 161 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns (he also added three receptions for 24 yards). His rushing total is the second-highest of his career, behind only a 197-yard game against Northwestern in 2006. Herring's two touchdowns on the game was the fourth multi-scoring game of his career and was the first since scoring twice at Washington last year.
Scoreless Streaks: With San Diego State's field goal at 4:45 remaining in the first quarter, the Sun Devil defense allowed its first points in 61:36, dating back to a touchdown surrendered to Colorado at the 6:21 mark in the first quarter last week. The defense shut out CU over the final 51:21 of the game, bettering the 48:47 posted against San Jose State after allowing a field goal with 3:47 remaining in the first quarter of the opening game of the year.
Picking Pockets: For the third game in a row, the Sun Devil defense recorded an interception on the final play of the second quarter with Troy Nolan snaring a pass attempt from San Diego State's Kevin O'Connell in the back of the end zone. It was Nolan's second interception of the year (recorded one against San Jose State) and gave ASU four on the year, including one each in the first three games of the year.
Moving On Up: QB Rudy Carpenter threw a pair of touchdown passes, the 46th and 47th of his career, to move into fifth on the all-time list at Arizona State, moving ahead of Dennis Sproul (1974-77) and Ryan Kealy (1997-00), who each threw 46 in their careers. Next on the list is Mike Pagel (1978-81), who accumulated 48 for the Sun Devils. Carpenter finished the game with 200 yards on 15-of-21 passing with two touchdowns and one interception. He also carried twice for 10 yards.
Double Up: Kyle Williams fielded a punt in the first quarter of play and ran it back 48 yards before being pushed out of bounds. The return stands as the longest of his career, bettering the 21-yard return against Colorado (last week) that stood as his longest of his career. Williams' return set up ASU's first score of the game, a 19-yard touchdown pass from Rudy Carpenter to Williams.
Double Up, Take II: Entering the game, the longest rush the Sun Devils had recorded was a 23-yard play by Ryan Torain against San Jose State. With 3:08 remaining in the first quarter against San Diego State, Keegan Herring doubled the longest rush of the year to 46-yards while picking up his first rushing touchdown of the season.
First Time: The Sun Devil defense allowed its first points outside of the first quarter to be scored as Aztec QB Kevin O'Connell scrambled for three yards and a touchdown at the 7:58 mark in the second quarter. Entering the game, the Sun Devils had only allowed 17 total points to be scored this year, all of which came in the first quarter of play, with the defense allowing just 10 (San Jose State returned an interception for a touchdown).
Just For Kicks: PK Thomas Weber connected on a career-long 48-yard field goal in the second quarter, improving his longest from 44-yards, which he hit against San Jose State. His field goal conversion is the longest by a Sun Devil since Jesse Ainsworth hit a 48-yard attempt against Iowa on September 18, 2004, in Tempe.
Hash Marks: Arizona State improved to 3-0 on the season, making it two seasons in a row with a 3-0 start ... the Sun Devils improved to 10-0-1 all-time in the series with the Aztecs.
SAN DIEGO STATE NOTES
Looking Ahead: San Diego State is one of the last remaining Division I-A/Bowl Subdivision teams not to play a home game this season. The Aztecs join Bowling Green, Houston and North Texas as teams that play their first home game on Sept. 18. The only team with a later home game is San Jose State, which opens the home portion of its campaign on Sept. 25.
Racking Up Yards In The Heat: San Diego State amassed 323 yards of total offense against the Devils, easily the most ASU had allowed this season (previous high was 204 against Colorado). SDSU's total offense total is the most allowed by the Sun Devils in Tempe, since 12th-ranked Oregon had 574 yards of total offense last season. Since the game against the Ducks, ASU had allowed the following total offense totals in home games: Stanford (145), Washington State (192), UCLA (274), San Jose State (115) and Colorado (204). Prior to tonight, the last five visitors to Sun Devil Stadium had averaged 186 yards of total offense.
Nine Beats Eight: San Diego State had nine players catch at least one pass in the game against the Sun Devils, one better than the eight players that caught a pass in the opening game at Washington State. The nine receivers is the most Aztecs to catch a pass in a game since SDSU had 10 players with a catch in its game at Air Force on Sept. 10, 2005.
Our Half is Better Than Your Full: At halftime of tonight's game, San Diego State had produced more total offense (224) than either of Arizona State's first two opponents (San Jose State and Colorado) amassed in the entire game. Also, the Aztecs rushing total of 112 yards at the half was greater than the entire game totals for the Spartans and Buffaloes, combined (72 yards).
Hot In Here: The temperature at kickoff was 92 degrees which ties for the sixth warmest recorded temperature for an Aztec game at kickoff. It is the warmest temperature for an Aztec game since SDSU experienced 97 degree heat when visiting Tempe on Sept. 8, 2001.
Fooled You Twice: San Diego State converted the second fake punt of the Chuck Long era on Saturday night when senior punter Michael Hughes rushed for five yards on a fourth down and three. The Aztecs are 1-for-1 this season and 2-for-3 in the Long era when attempting a fake on fourth down. San Diego State also converted a fake punt at Wisconsin last season.
Ball Security: San Diego State had just one turnover against the Devils, an end-of-half Hail Mary that was picked off in the endzone. It marks the second straight game and the seventh time in the last nine games the Azecs have had one turnover or less. The two turnovers through the first two games are the fewest for an Aztec squad since opening the 1999 season with a pair of turnover-free contests against South Florida and Illinois.
1,000 Club: The Aztecs had two senior wideouts within striking distance of the 1,000 career receiving yards mark entering tonight's game. Brett Swain eclipsed the mark on a catch in the final seconds of the first quarter, while Chaz Schilens fell just one yard short, ending the night with 999 career receiving yards on 74 career receptions.
48 And Over: Senior place-kicker Garrett Palmer logged his sixth and seventh career field goals of 48 or more yards in the first and third quarters. Palmer has made 13 career field goals for 40 or more yards and matched his career long with the 50-yarder in the third quarter.
Two Games, Two Picks: Aztec cornerback Vonnie Holmes already has two interceptions in just two career games. He had one last week versus Washington State and added another tonight versus Arizona State. His two INTs account for both of SDSU's takeaways this season.
More Palmer Plaudits: Aztec place-kicker Garrett Palmer continued his streak of consecutive extra-point attempts made, hitting his 57th straight. The streak dates back to the Ohio State game in 2005.
The Streaks: Senior wideout Brett Swain logged a reception in his 16th straight game ... Swain has four or more catches in each of the team's two games this season and four or more in 11 of his last 14 outings ... Defensive end Nick Osborn recorded a tackle for the 28th consecutive contest.
O'Connell Record Update: Aztec senior quarterback Kevin O'Connell became just the eighth player in school history to pass for 5,000 or more yards in his career. He also continued to move up the SDSU career record books in other categories, including completions (5th to 4th) and attempts (7th to 5th). O'Connell made his 23rd career start, tying Dan McGwire for fourth all-time.
Aztec Firsts: Sophomore defensive lineman Jonathan Soto logged his first career sack and tackle for loss in the second quarter ... Tight end Alston Umuolo made his first career catch in his first career game ... Another true freshman Vincent Brown also had his first career reception vs. ASU ... Redshirt freshman Davon Brown had his first career carry in his first career game.