Record Update
ASU dropped to to 0-5 all-time against SEC programs while Coach Graham is now 1-3 all-time against Texas A&M Head Coach Kevin Sumlin. ASU is now 0-1 in history against the Aggies.
Packed House
Saturday’s opener was contested in front 66,308 rowdy fans at NRG Stadium in Tempe.
Career Bests
· Quarterback Mike Bercovici’s 19-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was the longest carry of his career
· Safety Armand Perry notched a career-high 11 tackles to lead all players in the game
· Linebacker Christian Sam had 10 tackles in the contest, also a career-high, and had six in the first half to beat his previous career high of five.
· Wide receiver Ellis Jefferson set a career high in receiving yards with 69 and tied his career high with four receptions
· Running back Demario Richard set a career high with four receptions
Firsts
· De'Chavon Hayes recorded his first career carry for the Devils with a five-yard rush on ASU’s first play of the game, and his first career reception with a 1-yard catch
· Wide receiver Devin Lucien hauled in his first career reception as a Sun Devil with a 4-yard catch in the second quarter
· JoJo Wicker, Kareerm Orr and Mitchell Fraboni each recorded their first career tackles
· Eight Sun Devils made their first career appearances for ASU: freshmen defensive lineman JoJo Wicker and cornerback Kareem Orr, redshirt senior wide receiver Devin Lucien, junior running back De’Chavon Hayes, redshirt freshman defensive back Dasmond Tautalatasi, junior wide receiver Tim White, junior tight end Raymond Epps, and redshirt freshman safety Coltin Gerhart.
· Linebacker Christian Sam logged his first career forced fumble in the second quarter.
· Running back Demario Richard fumbled for the first time in 92 career carries
· Bercovici’s 19-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was his first career rushing touchdown
OFFENSE
Explosive Plays
Demario Richard ripped off four rushes of over 15 yards to lead the Sun Devils’ explosive play category.
· 17-yard carry by Demario Richard (ASU’s third drive in the first quarter)
· 15-yard carry by Demario Richard (ASU’s second drive in the third quarter)
· 21-yard reception by Devin Lucien (ASU’s fifth drive in the third quarter)
· 18-yard carry by Demario Richard (ASU’s first drive of fourth quarter)
· 33-yard reception by Ellis Jefferson (ASU’s second drive of fourth quarter)
· 19-yard run by Mike Bercovici (touchdown, ASU’s fifth drive in the third quarter)
· 18-yard carry by Demario Richard (ASU’s first drive in the fourth quarter)
An Active Start
· De'Chavon Hayes led all players with 16 touches in his first career game for ASU (3 rushes, 6 receptions, 3 PR, 4 KR). He finished with 113 all-purpose yards to lead the Sun Devils.
Foster the People
· Wide reciever D.J. Foster extended his streak of at least one reception to 41 games, the longest active streak in FBS, with a 7-yard catch on the Devils’ third play of the game. He matches Derek Hagan for second on ASU’s all-time list of consecutive games with a reception and trails only John Jefferson’s school record of 44.
· With six receptions, Foster now has 169 in his career, and stands alone in third all-time on ASU’s career list. He trails John Jefferson (188) for second and the school record is 258 by Derek Hagan.
· Foster surpassed 4,000 career all-purpose yards on a nine-yard reception in the second quarter, and now has 4,026 career all-purpose yards (2,088 rushing, 1,922 receiving, 16 return)
A Favored Target
· Tight end Kody Kohl hauled in a 4-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, and dating back to last season, he has a touchdown reception in four of his last five games (Sun Bowl the only exception)
DEFENSE
· ASU forced 31 plays that resulted in zero positive yardage (19 incomplete passes, 9 tackles for loss, 3 plays of no gain).
· Linebacker Christian Sam tied for the game lead with six tackles in the first half. His career high for a game was five entering the contest. He finished with 10.
· Linebacker Laiu Moeakiola’s seven-yard sack in the first quarter was his third tackle of the game and gave him 100 tackles for his career. He finished with seven tackles.
· Defensive lineman Demetrius Cherry recorded his third career fumble recovery and returned it 18 yards to the 4-yard line. All three of his returns have gone for either a touchdown or inside the opponents’ five-yard line.
· Safety Jordan Simone recorded his third career interception in the third quarter
· Cornerback Kweishi Brown recorded his fourth career interception in the third quarter
SPECIAL TEAM
· Gump Hayes recorded an 11-yard punt return on the Devils’ first return of the season. ASU had just one punt return in 2014 of longer than 10 yards (18 by Kyle Middlebrooks against Arizona).
· The Sun Devils punted 10 times in the game, including six times in the first half. The team’s season high for a game last season was seven (3 times).