WHAT FIRST GAME JITTERS?
With the victory over Weber State, Arizona State improves to 74-26-2 all-time in season openers, including victories in 12 straight, all coming at home. ASU holds an all-time mark of 56-15-1 when opening the season at home and hasn’t lost a home opener since 1998 to Washington—a streak of 16 victories. That total is currently the longest active streak among all Pac-12 programs.
FLYING HIGH IN THE SKY
This game marked the first meeting between ASU and Weber State, meaning ASU now holds a 1-0 series lead over its Big Sky opponent. The Sun Devils have handled the Big Sky for quite some time now, extending their streak to 28 straight wins over Big Sky opponents dating back to 1939.
A STREAK ENDED
Arizona State had forced an opponent turnover in 29 consecutive games, including all 27 under head coach Todd Graham, until it was unable to force a turnover against Weber State. The streak dated back over two years to Nov. 25, 2011, when it faced Cal at home on Senior Night. The mark stood as the second-longest turnover streak in the country, trailing only Missouri (44 games).
FOSTER THE PEOPLE
With 147 rushing yards Thursday night, D.J. Foster eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in his career. He did so on his first carry of the season, a 7-yard rush on first down. Foster also scampered for a 57-yard touchdown in the 3rd quarter, a career-long. Additionally, his 147 total rushing yards was also a career-best, breaking his personal previous record of 132 vs. Texas Tech. Foster has racked up three 100+ yard rushing games in his last four games and has seven rushing touchdowns in that span. He had zero 100+ yard rushing games in his prior 24 games and four rushing touchdowns.
MOVING UP THE LIST
Taylor Kelly began the game sixth in all-time passing yards in Sun Devil history and exited the game fourth after playing just the first half. Kelly began the game with 6,705 career passing yards, and thanks to his 238-yard performance, leaped both Danny White (6,717) and Ryan Kealy (6,912). Kelly currently has 6,934 career passing yards, 1,893 behind Jake Plummer for third place and 3,683 yards behind Andrew Walter for first place.
THE FORCE IS STRONGER THAN EVER
Jaelen Strong grabbed 10 receptions, amassing 146 yards and nearly eclipsing his career-highs in both categories. The catch? It all came in the first half. Strong’s highest single game totals came on Sept. 21, 2013 against Stanford, when he had 12 receptions for 168 yards. His 146 receiving yards in the first half were 27 more yards than the entire Weber State offense produced (119) in the half.
A CATCH TO REMEMBER
Gary Chambers caught an 8-yard touchdown strike from Taylor Kelly in the first quarter, ASU’s first touchdown of the season. For Chambers, the catch was his first career reception as well as his first career touchdown.
TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE
Mike Bercovici hit Ellis Jefferson for a 15-yard touchdown in the front corner of the end zone in the third quarter. The touchdown was Bercovici’s first-career passing touchdown as well as Jefferson’s first-career receiving touchdown.
SACK DANCES
De’Marieya Nelson and Viliami Moeakiola combined for a sack in the second quarter, forcing a Weber State punt. For both, it goes down as their first-career sack.
STRIKE FIRST
ASU has scored first in 22 of 28 games with Todd Graham at the helm, and possess a 17-5 record (9-1 in 2013) in such contests.
NO HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS FOR YOU
If football is anything like a chess match, then Todd Graham is calling checkmate at halftime. Under Graham, ASU is now 17-0 when leading at halftime after taking a 31-0 lead at the break.
RECORD WATCH
Taylor Kelly passed for one touchdown against Weber State, upping his career total to 58.
MOST CAREER TOUCHDOWN PASSES IN SUN DEVIL HISTORY
Andrew Walter 85
Rudy Carpenter 81
Jake Plummer 65
Danny White 64
Taylor Kelly 58
TRUE FROSH
The Sun Devils had a hefty number of true freshman see game action in their opener. Those include: DL Tashon Smallwood, LB D.J. Calhoun, RB Demario Richard, RB Kalen Ballage, DB Armand Perry, LB Christian Sam, and DB Chad Adams. Smallwood and Calhoun also became the seventh and eighth Sun Devils in program history to start their first game in a season opener joining John Jefferson, Terrell Suggs, Zach Miller, Will Sutton, D.J. Foster and Jaxon Hood on the exclusive list.
START STRONG
The Sun Devils have now outscored their opponents 295-139 in the first quarter under Todd Graham and are 14-1 in such games when holding opponents scoreless in the opening quarter.
TAKING IT THE DISTANCE
ASU put together a 9 play, 99-yard scoring drive in 2:18 that resulted in a 3-yard D.J. Foster rushing touchdown. The Devils’ longest drive last year covered 94 yards over 13 plays.
FILL THOSE SEATS
Attendance for ASU’s opening game was tallied at 52,133. Of that, 9,800 were students, the largest student crowd for an ASU opening game in program history.