ASU football WR Elijhah Badger has career day in loss to Stanford

Oct 22, 2022, 2:32 PM | Updated: 8:30 pm

Arizona State wide receiver Elijhah Badger (2) catches a touchdown pass against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

BY JAKE ANDERSON

Arizona Sports

Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Elijhah Badger reeled in six catches for a career-high 118 yards and a touchdown in ASU’s 15-14 loss to the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday.

“It felt good showing my family what I could do back home,” Badger told reporters postgame of his 15-20 relatives in the stands. “A lot of family members came, a lot of support — it just felt good.”

And for whatever reason, the Sun Devils prefer starting on offense while on the road. At least it appears that way, as ASU has yet to score a first quarter touchdown at home this season.

But Arizona State scored a touchdown in the opening 15 minutes against the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday afternoon, marking just the second time the Sun Devils have managed to do so. The only other took place at USC.

After going three-and-out on the game’s opening drive, ASU took its second possession 75 yards on six plays, culminating in a 15-yard rushing TD from running back Xazavian Valladay.

X gon' give it to yapic.twitter.com/sRTEvSH9Sy

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) October 22, 2022

The score marked Valladay’s seventh rushing touchdown of the season.

Arizona State wasted no time on its next possession of the first quarter, too, although the drive didn’t reach its completion until 14:01 to go in the second quarter.

Quarterback Emory Jones once again led a 75-yard drive, this time on seven plays, which ended with a perfect pass into Badger’s bread basket for the Sun Devils’ second touchdown of the first half.

pic.twitter.com/6DZPIqmc0O https://t.co/tKI58VdbT7

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) October 22, 2022

Jones finished the game 14 of 25 (56%) for 227 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception, while Valladay added 76 rushing yards and a TD on 18 carries (4.2 per attempt).

“I thought Emory’s play was solid,” interim head coach Shaun Aguano told reporters postgame. “I’m going to go back and look at the progressions, look at his decisions on some RPOs.

“I thought he did pretty well. He put the ball in places where we needed it to be and receivers made some catches. They’re all going to miss some, but I thought he did pretty well off the cuff.”

UP NEXT

Arizona State travels to Boulder, Colorado, to take on the Buffaloes next Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

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Stanford safety Jonathan McGill (2) celebrates with defensive lineman Jaxson Moi (51) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Stanford place-kicker Joshua Karty (43) hits the go-ahead field goal during the fourth quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Arizona State in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Stanford fullback Shield Taylor, center, runs against Arizona State linebackers Merlin Robertson, left, and Kyle Soelle, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Arizona State running back Xazavian Valladay (1) scores a touchdown past Stanford cornerback Ethan Bonner (13) during the first half an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Stanford wide receiver Elijah Higgins (6) runs past Arizona State linebacker Merlin Robertson (8) and defensive back Jordan Clark (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Arizona State quarterback Emory Jones (5) looks to pass against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Arizona State defensive back Jordan Clark (1) is congratulated by defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott (55) after intercepting a pass against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Arizona State quarterback Emory Jones (5) runs against Stanford defensive end Stephen Herron (15) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee (18) stiff-arms Arizona State linebacker Merlin Robertson (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee (18) looks to pass against Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Arizona State running back Xazavian Valladay (1) is tackled by Stanford defenders during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Stanford players run onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Arizona State in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Arizona State quarterback Emory Jones (5) runs in front of Stanford defensive end Stephen Herron (15) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee, bottom, is tackled by Arizona State defensive lineman Travez Moore during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Stanford tight end Benjamin Yurosek, left, catches a pass in front of Arizona State defensive back Chris Edmonds during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Arizona State defensive back Ro Torrence (9) defends against a pass intended for Stanford wide receiver Brycen Tremayne that fell incomplete during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Arizona State interim head coach Shaun Aguano looks on during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Stanford head coach David Shaw looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee, left, is sacked by Arizona State defensive back Ed Woods during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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