Courtesy of ASU's Media Relations
AN ASU VICTORY...
AN ASU VICTORY...
- Is the 22nd consecutive victory in a HOME opener for the Sun Devils, currently the fourth-longest active streak in the nation (2020 excluded due to unusual circumstances across the country).
- Improves ASU to 79-28-2 on Opening Day in history and 61-15-1 on Opening Day at home.
- Marks ASU’s 19th consecutive Opening Day win when the game is at Sun Devil Stadium.
- The Sun Devils won by 27 points, boasting their average margin of victory on opening day to 24.4 points on Opening Day.
- Another win over a Big Sky foe moves Arizona State to 10-0 against the team’s from the conference in week one matchups.
- ASU has scored 40 points 25 times on Opening Day (first time since 2018 against UTSA).
- After allowing only 14 points, ASU now allows an average of 14.2 points in season openers.
- First victory in program history over Southern Utah.
- The Sun Devils moved to 40-14-4 all-time against Big Sky competition (last loss in 1927).
- ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 21 of 31 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17.
- ASU has forced 31 turnovers in its last 11 games dating back to 2019, good for the most in the nation over an 11-game stretch. It has multiple takeaways in nine of those (3+ in five of them).
- It is the sixth time in the Herm Edwards’/Antonio Pierce era that the Sun Devils have forced 4+ turnovers.
- Southern Utah only managed 78 yards rushing, the seventh opponent not to reach the century mark on the ground in the Edwards’ era.
- Linebacker and senior captain Darien Butler picked off a pair of passes, his first multi-interception game of his career.
- He became the first Sun Devil to pick off two passes since Jack Jones did so in a victory over Arizona on Nov. 30, 2019.
- The two picks represent the first two interceptions of his career.
- He added five tackles and one tackle for loss in an all around productive season debut.
- The skills of arguably the best running back tandem in the nation were on full display tonight, as Rachaad White and DeaMonte Trayanum were dominant.
- Rachaad White was the leading rusher for the Sun Devils, registering his third consecutive multi-rushing touchdown game dating back to last year.
- DeaMonte Trayanum matched White in rushing for two scores, his second multi-touchdown game of his career.
- ASU has forced 31 turnovers in its last 11 games dating back to 2019, good for the most in the nation over an 11-game stretch. It has multiple takeaways in nine of those (3+ in five of them).
- It is the sixth time in the Herm Edwards’/Antonio Pierce era that the Sun Devils have forced 4+ turnovers.
- The Devils forced a turnover on 4 of Southern Utah’s 11 drives on Thursday (36.4 percent). Last season, ASU forced an opponent turnover on 25.0 percent of drives, tops in the country. ASU forced a turnover on 17.5 percent of opponent possessions in 2019, good for 4th nationally.
- Arizona State has forced 26 fumbles on 653 carries (25.1 Carries Per Fumble) since the 2019 season -- best in FBS. ASU forced 7 fumbles on 164 carries (23.4 Carries Per Fumble) last season -- 3rd-best in FBS.
- It has been a historic stretch for the Sun Devil offense, going 3-0 over their last three games dating back to last season.
- ASU has 19 rushing touchdowns in that span, which is tied for the second-most by any FBS program over a three-game stretch since at least 1996 (Nebraska, 22 in 1997).
- ASU has scored 157 points over this three-game stretch since a streak of three straight 50-plus games and 162 points in 2013 (54 vs. Colorado, 53 vs. #20 Washington and 55 at Washington State).
- Entering the half with a 28-7 lead, Coach Edwards' team executed the game plan down the stretch.
- The Sun Devils dominated time of possession in the second half, controlling the ball for 20:15 compared to just 9:45 by Southern Utah.
- A main reason why was the discrepancy in rushing yards, as ASU finished with a 114-30 margin in the category over the final 40 minutes.
- Since 2019, ASU has allowed a fourth quarter touchdown drive just 18.8 percent of the time (12-of-64), within the Top-15 of all FBS programs.
- Arizona State racked up 222 yards rushing, eclipsing 200 yards on the ground yet again.
- It is the fifth time in the last seven games that the team has gone over the 200 yard mark under Herm Edwards.
- By the end of the night, seven different ball carriers shared 40 touches.
- Jayden Daniels and Trenton Bourget spread the ball around, completing passes to eight different players.
- Ricky Pearsall did a little bit of everything for the Sun Devils on opening night.
- Not only did he catch two passes for 27 yards as a receiver, he also rushed for a 26-yard touchdown on a reverse.
- He wasn’t done there, as he completed a 29-yard pass to Curtis Hodges on a trick play.
- Tight End Jalin Conyers made his first-career start as a Sun Devil.
- Defensive back Tommi Hill, linebacker Eric Gentry, defensive back RJ Regan, wide receiver Bryan Thompson, tight end Jalin Conyers, running back Deonce Elliot, linebacker Xavier Steele, defensive lineman BJ Green II, punter Eddie Czaplicki, running back George Hart III, defensive lineman Travez Moore, offensive lineman Austin Barry, offensive lineman Isaia Glass, offensive lineman Roman Dewys, and defensive lineman Gharin Stansbury all made their debuts in the Maroon & Gold.
