(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
In 104 degree heat Thursday night, ASU kicked off its 2019 season against Kent State from Sun Devil Stadium.
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.
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.
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. Punter Michael Turk boomed three punts for an average of an impressive 63 yards per punt.
SECOND HALF
After a sluggish end offensively to the first half for ASU, Daniels and the ground game came out firing on the Devils first drive of the second half. The running backs rushed for 55 yards, including 3 carries for 26 yards by Isaiah Floyd, eventually capitalized by a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Daniels. ASU extended the lead 17-0 on the 9 play, 70 yard drive.
Arguably the play of the night was when Brandon Aiyuk brought shades of former ASU wide receiver N’Keal Harry with a 77 yard touchdown catch and run. He caught a bubble screen and maneuvered his way past a couple Kent State defenders before turning on the jets in the open field, extending the lead 27-0 with 3:53 left in the third.
Kent State ended ASU’s chances of shutting them out with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah McKoy from Barrett, making the score 27-7 ASU with 12:29 to go.
Facing heavy pressure throughout the game, Daniels completed 15-24 for 284 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a rushing touchdown. Benjamin finished with 22 carries for 102 yards and a receiving touchdown. Aiyuk led the way for ASU receivers with 4 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown. The offense racked up 455 yards of total offense.
The ASU defense recorded 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles while forcing two Kent State turnovers for the game.
ASU extends its home opener winning streak to 21 games now, dating all the way back to 1999. After a commanding 30-7 win over the Golden Flashes on Thursday night, the Devils will stay at home and prepare to face Sacramento State next Friday with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. from Sun Devil Stadium.
