ASU QB Emory Jones rushes for 2 touchdowns in victory over NAU

Arizona State scored four touchdowns on the ground Thursday to earn a commanding 40-3 victory over Northern Arizona in Tempe.

Quarterback Emory Jones found the end zone for the first touchdown of the season during the second quarter of his program debut.

The Florida transfer pushed through a hole on fourth down from the 1-yard line to put ASU up 10-0 after the extra point in the second quarter.

Here are a couple of first-half highlights for #ASU. Emory Jones gets his first touchdown as a Sun Devil on 4th and goal and Kyle Soelle secures an interception! #O2V @AZSportsDevils pic.twitter.com/tfB5crLFIu

— 98.7 Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 2, 2022

Jones dove for the goal line on third down, and the initial call was a touchdown. After a review, it was determined his elbow hit the ground just shy of the line, setting up a decision for head coach Herm Edwards.

The Sun Devils extended the lead on their following drive as running back Xazavian Valladay scored his first ASU touchdown from four yards out.

X gon’ give it ya 🔥😈

📺:Pac-12 Network
📱:https://t.co/0nPezrAt7O@Xfactor4_ | #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/0N2yVEcNn6

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 2, 2022

Jones found the goal line a second time in the first half, rushing in from 17 yards out with 2:19 remaining in the second quarter after linebacker Kyle Soelle intercepted NAU quarterback R.J. Martinez.

Jones, the former Florida Gators quarterback, ran for four touchdowns last season. He rushed for 46 yards and threw for 152 on Thursday night.

NO DOUBTS. TOUCHDOWN @eXjones6 😈

ASU: 24 | NAU: 0

📺:Pac-12 Network
📱:https://t.co/0nPezrAt7O#ForksUp | #O2V pic.twitter.com/uQu73J1grt

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 2, 2022

Valladay matched Jones with his second rushing touchdown of the night in the third quarter, a 27-yard rush to finish a drive in which he ran for 56 yards.

A fellow newcomer, freshman kicker Carter Brown, also did a bulk of the scoring with four field goals in four tries.

The Sun Devils next take on Oklahoma State on Sept. 10.

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