Aug. 30, 2012
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery
PLAY SMART: ASU's 30 penalty yards vs. NAU on August 30 was the fewest since it had just 27 vs. Arizona on Dec. 1, 2007, a span of the past 51 games.RUN TO WIN: ASU's 305 rushing yards vs. Northern Arizona on Aug. 30 was the most since it had 314 vs. Oregon State on Oct. 20, 2001 (most rushing yards in past 118 games). It is the second most rushing yards in the past 14 seasons (1998-present). ASU has had just five better rushing games in the past 16 seasons (1996-present).
SEASON OPENERS: Arizona State is 71-27-2 (.710) all-time in season openers, including victories in the last eight. The Sun Devils have won 13 of their past 14 season openers. ASU holds an all-time mark of 51-15-1 (.761) when opening the season at home. With the victory, ASU has now won 13 straight home openers at Sun Devil Stadium. Head Coach Todd Graham is now 5-2 in season opening games in his seven years as a collegiate coach. This was his first season opener at the helm of Arizona State.
SUN DEVILS VS. LUMBERJACKS: This was the 39th meeting between the in-state rivals, with Arizona State holding an 21-14-4 edge. ASU is 14-6-2 at home in the series, including a 41-20 win in 2010, the last meeting between the two schools. The schools have only met four times before since 1950.
LIGHT UP THE SCOREBOARD: ASU's 63 points is most in any tilt since a season opening 63-16 win over Temple on Sept. 1, 2005 (most in 86 games).
WELCOME TO THE SQUAD: Six true freshmen played for ASU vs. NAU: Evan Goodman, Viliami (Laiu) Moekiola, DJ Foster, Jaxon Hood, Carlos Mendoza and Richard Smith.
EARN YOUR KEEP: ASU had six players score their first touchdown: Taylor Kelly (pass), D.J. Foster (rush), Brandon Magee (INT return), Marion Grice (rush), Michael Eubank (rush) and Richard Smith (reception). Brandon Magee put his name on the top of that list with a 45-yard interception return for a pick-six.
JOIN THE CLUB: Cameron Marshall became just the fourth Sun Devil to get 30 rushing touchdowns in his career and now has 31 in his career with two vs. NAU. Woody Green (39/1971-73), Leon Burton (34/1955-58), J.R. Redmond(32/1996-99) are next on the list.
WASTING NO TIME: Jaxon Hood and DJ Foster join John Jefferson (1974), Terrell Suggs (2000), Zach Miller (2004) and Will Sutton (2009) as true freshmen to start season opener at ASU. The NCAA began allowing freshman to compete in 1972, with the 2012 season marking the 40 year anniversery.
SHOTGUN START: DJ Foster had 63 yards rushing in first quarter. The most net rushing yards in first game of career by a Sun Devil: Keegan Herring 134 on 12 attempts vs. Temple in 2005.
FIT RIGHT IN: Junior transfer running back Marion Grice led the Sun Devils on the ground with 14 carries for 107 yards. Grice averaged 7.6 yards per carry, scoring three touchdowns and leading the team with a 27 yard carry.
IF YOU'VE GOT IT, FLAUNT IT: 25 players made their Sun Devil Football debut in Tempe this evening, including six true freshman.
STRIKE FIRST... STRIKE FREQUENTLY... STRIKE FAST: Arizona State scored on eight drives, the longest lasting only three minutes and 44 seconds. The shortest scoring drive elapsing over 31 seconds.
GOOD AS GOLD: Alex Garoutte adds nine succesful PAT's to his books, bringing his current consecutive total to 54.
THANK YOUR CENTER: ASU played 68 snaps from the line of scrimage, with an opening drive of nine resulting in a nine yard rushing touchdown by Cam Marshall. The Sun Devils have set a target of 80 snaps per game.
HOW IS YOUR SIGNAL CALLING VOICE?: For the fifth time in as many years, a Sun Devil season opener featured a new quarterback under center. Redshirt sophomore Taylor Kelly (2012) made his first career start following Brock Osweiler (2011), Steven Threet (2010) and Danny Sullivan (2009) as the fourth different quarterback to start on opening day since Rudy Carpenter started three straight from 2006-08. Since 1997, ASU quarterbacks making their first career start are 9-5.
ASU QB FIRST CAREER STARTS SINCE 1997
Taylor Kelly 2012/Northern Arizona, W, 63-6 15/19, 247 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Steven Threet 2010/Portland State, W, 54-9 14/21, 339 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Brock Osweiler* 2009/Oregon, L, 44-21 5/10, 14 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Samson Szakacsy 2009/UCLA, L, 23-13 15/22, 197 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Danny Sullivan 2009/Idaho State, W, 50-3 13/25, 165 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Rudy Carpenter 2005/Washington, W, 44-20 27/34, 401 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Sam Keller 2004/Purdue, W, 27-23 25/45, 370 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Chad Christensen 2002/Nebraska, L, 48-10 6/16, 77 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Andrew Walter 2001/Arizona, L, 34-21 10/22, 132 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Jeff Krohn 2000/San Diego St., W, 10-7 18/42, 160 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Griffin Goodman 1999/Wake Forest, L, 23-3 10/16, 142 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Chad Elliott** 1998/Stanford, W, 44-38 OT 8/17, 92 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Steve Campbell 1997/Iowa, W, 17-7 5/11, 109 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Ryan Kealy 1997/New Mexico St., W, 41-10 11/19, 107 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
* -- Osweiler left the game early due to injury
** -- Elliott left the game early and Ryan Kealy led the team to the overtime victory