(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
In 104 degree heat Thursday night, ASU kicked off its 2019 season against Kent State from Sun Devil Stadium.
Arizona State started off the season on defense and forced a quick three and out. Kent State’s quarterback Woody Barrett fumbled the ball on the very first play and the Golden Flashes could not muster anymore on offense due to the backup, thanks to a short run and an incomplete pass.
Jayden Daniels first drive as ASU quarterback started on his own 42 yard line. He airmailed his first pass intended for Brandon Aiyuk out of bounds but then completed a beautiful back shoulder throw for 42 yards to Frank Darby on third down. The offense was only able to come away with three points on a 35-yard field goal by Cristian Zendejas, however, as Daniels was sacked on third down on Kent State’s 11-yard line. Daniels drove the team 41 yards on seven plays, going 2-3 for 44 yards.
Cam Phillips recovered a fumble by KSU’s Jo-El Shaw with 6:16 in the first quarter and the Devils turned that mistake into a five play, 34-yard touchdown drive. Highlights included a 16 yard run by freshman captain Ethan Long and Daniels’ first touchdown pass of the season to Eno Benjamin over the middle, an 8-yard score, to make it 10-0 ASU.
A turnover on downs by KSU inside Devils’ territory gave the Devils the ball on their own 34. However, an Eno Benjamin fumble with 12:30 left in the second quarter ended a 7-play, 39 yard drive. It also ended a streak of 910 carries in which an ASU running back has not fumbled.
Daniels next two drives in the middle of the second quarter ended in punts by Michael Turk. His final drive of the half ended with a Brandon Aiyuk completion for 37 yards but he was ran out of bounds inside KSU’s ten yard line as time expired, concluding the half with ASU leading 10-0. Two costly offensive line penalties backed up ASU during the drive.
For the half, ASU outgained Kent State 251 yards to 81. Daniels completed 11-16 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. Benjamin recorded 12 carries for 45 yards and scored the only touchdown of the half on a receiving score. Aiyuk led the ASU receiving corps with 3 catches for 63 yards.
Defensively, Merlin Robertson led the team with three solo tackles while Kobe Williams and Jack Jones both forced fumbles each. Turk boomed three punts for an average of an impressive 63 yards per punt.
