Post Game Notes (NMSU)

Arizona State, New Mexico | Game Notes
(Aug. 31, 2017)
 
Opening Hits

• ASU improves to 76-27-2 on Opening Day in history and 58-15-1 on Opening Day at home.
• The Sun Devils have now recorded sixteen consecutive Opening Day wins when the game is at Sun Devil Stadium.
• Marks the 19th straight victory in a home opener for the Sun Devils, dating back to 1999. ASU’s current 18-game active home opening win streak is the fifth-longest in the country.
• Moves the Devils to 26-8 in games played at Sun Devil Stadium since Todd Graham took the reins in 2012.
• ASU improves to 13-3 under Todd Graham in regular season non-conference games since 2012.
• Coach Graham moves to 6-0 in home openers and 5-1 in the first game of the season as head coach at ASU.
• Marks the 40th victory for Todd Graham as head coach of the Devils.
• The Devils improve to 22-7-1 all-time against New Mexico State and 29-7-1 against teams currently playing in the Sun Belt Conference.
• The Sun Devils have not allowed an opponent to score on their first drive in season home openers since 9/4/10.
• Since 2012, The Sun Devils have scored 70.8 percent of the time following an opponent turnover since 2012 (92 of 130) w/ 71 TDs (54.6 percent).
• Arizona State has scored first in 44 of the 66 games with Todd Graham at the helm and is 33-11 in the Graham era when getting on the scoreboard first.

Getting Started On The Right Foot

• The Sun Devils have outscored their opposition 568-332 in the first quarter under Todd Graham.
• Arizona State is 25-4 under Graham when holding their opposition scoreless in the first quarter.
• The Maroon and Gold have now posted an impressive 32-3 overall record under Graham when leading at halftime.

Sun Devil Firsts

• Making his Sun Devil debut, junior cornerback Joey Bryant recorded an interception in the first quarter (13:39) of the Sun Devils’ season opener.
• Jojo Wicker’s blocked PAT in the second quarter accounted for the first of his career.
• Michael Sleep Dalton recorded his first collegiate punt in the game’s second quarter, a 40-yard punt (I20).
• Brandon Ruiz converted his first career field goal, connecting from 52 yards out at the 8:50 mark in the third quarter.
• John Humphrey recorded his first collegiate touchdown reception on a 60-yard haul from Manny Wilkins at the 7:50 mark of the third quarter. \
• Making his Sun Devil debut, Kobe Williams recorded his first career interception and touchdown, returning the INT 49 yards for a touchdown.

Keep It Clean

• The Sun Devils limited their total penalty yards to just 10 as opposed to New Mexico’s tally of 59.

Make ‘Em Pay

• Under Todd Graham, ASU has outscored opponents 550-287 in points off takeaways.

15 Interceptions Under Head Coach Todd Graham

• The 49-yard interception return by Kobe Williams is the 15^th pick-six in the Todd Graham era, second-most in the FBS in that time frame (2012-17).

Career Highs

• D.J. Calhoun recorded a career-high 13 tackles. His previous high of nine came against Utah on 11/10/16.
• Since 2012, The Sun Devils have scored 70.8 percent of the time following an opponent turnover since 2012 (92 of 130) w/ 71 TDs (54.6 percent).
• Kobe Williams pick-six at the 13:52 mark of the fourth quarter, marked Arizona State’s first since Laiu Moeakiola’s 28-yard pick-six against California on Sept. 24, 2016.

Donut After One

• ASU is now 25-4 when holding the opposition scoreless in the first quarter of the CTG era. 

Ballin’ Like Ballage

• With his 2 touchdowns on the night Ballage recorded his fifth multi-touchdown effort in his career.

He’s The Manny

• Wilkin’s 60-yard touchdown pass to John Humphrey marked the longest of his career, topping a 53-yarder to Jalen Harvey he tossed earlier in the contest.
• Wilkin’s 60-yard touchdown pass to John Humphrey in the third quarter marked the longest touchdown since Kalen Ballage’s 75-yard rush against Texas Tech on Sept. 10, 2016.
• Wilkins pieced together an impressive third quarter, that saw the Junior complete 10-of-10 passes for 139 yards, while connecting on a 60-yard touchdown pass to John Humphrey.

Manny 300-Yard Passing Games 
372 at Arizona, 11/25/16
351 vs. Texas Tech, 9/10/16
309 vs. Utah, 11/10/16
300 vs. New Mexico State, 8/31/17

Speed Kills

• 261 of the Devils’ 372 offensive scoring drives under Todd Graham have come in three minutes or less (70.0 percent).

Gold Zone

• The Sun Devils are currently a perfect 2-of-2 in red zone attempts on the season. Both red zone appearances for the Sun Devils resulted in touchdowns.

Protect This House

• ASU is 26-8 at Sun Devil Stadium under Todd Graham.
• ASU has posted under 20 points in a regular home game just twice in Todd Graham’s tenure - a 19-16 overtime victory over Utah in 2014 and a 42-14 loss to #19 USC in 2015.
• The Sun Devils are 283-103-3 (.735) all-time at Sun Devil Stadium since 1958, the 25th-highest active winning percentage in a stadium among all FBS schools.

In Some Good Company

• In the Coach Graham era, ASU is averaging just 37.8 penalty yards per game, tied for fourth-best in the nation. While that is impressive, what raises an eyebrows is who are the top three: Navy (25.2), Army (36.2) and Air Force (37.7).

Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game, 2012-16 (Todd Graham Era)
Navy, 25.2
Army, 36.2
Air Force, 37.7
Arizona State, 37.8
Georgia Tech, 37.8

HOTTEST KICKOFF TEMPS AT SUN DEVIL STADIUM (2002-PRESENT)
ASU 55, Sacramento State 0 (Sept. 5, 2013) – 7 PM/107 degrees
ASU 38, Eastern Washington 2 (Aug. 31, 2002) -- 2:57 PM/106 degrees
ASU 48, UC Davis 14 (Sept. 1, 2011) -- 7:15 PM/104 degrees
ASU 54, Portland State 9 (Sept. 4, 2010) -- 7:22 PM/104 degrees
ASU 41, UTEP 9 (Sept. 2, 2004) -- 3:33 PM/104 degrees
ASU 41, Stanford 17 (Sept. 6, 2008) -- 7:07 PM/103 degrees
ASU 33, Colorado 14 (Sept. 6, 2007) -- 7:28 PM/102 degrees
ASU 37, New Mexico State 31 (Aug. 31, 2017) – 7:42 PM/101 degrees
ASU 45, San Jose State 3 (Sept. 1, 2007) -- 7:07 PM/101 degrees
Oregon 42, ASU 31 (Sept. 25, 2010) -- 7:35 PM/100 degrees
ASU 26, Utah State 16 (Sept. 13, 2003) -- 3:32 PM/100 degrees

Explosive Plays

• Jalen Harvey- 53-yard reception (touchdown)
• N’Keal Harry- 18-yard reception
• N’Keal Harry- 19-yard reception
• Jalen Harvey- 15-yard reception
• John Humphrey- 16-yard reception
• Manny Wilkins- 14-yard rush
• John Humphrey- 60-yard reception (touchdown)
• Jay Jay Wilson- 16-yard reception
• John Humphrey- 15-yard reception
• Kalen Ballage- 20-yard rush (touchdown)