Fork Report: Kelly, ASU open 2013 with rout of Sacramento State

Sep 6, 2013, 6:03 AM | Updated: 6:49 am

TEMPE — They made it look easy.

Todd Graham and the ASU Sun Devils opened their 2013 season with a 55-0 victory over FCS opponent Sacramento State.

Quarterback Taylor Kelly directed touchdown-scoring drives on the Sun Devils’ first five, and six of their eight first-half possessions, taking a 42-0 lead into the locker room. Kelly threw five touchdowns to five different receivers before calling it a night, completing 23-of-31 for 300 yards.

Defensively, ASU forced four turnovers while holding Sacramento State to 167 yards, 59 of which came on the opening drive of the game.

It was the Sun Devils’ 11th straight season-opening win and fourth straight victory overall, dating back to last season.

THE GOOD

The Sun Devils pitched their first shutout since October 30, 2010, a 42-0 home win against Washington State.

The Sun Devils were penalty-free in the first half, and flagged only once (delay of game) the entire night.

THE BAD

We’re nitpicking, but the ASU defense allowed Sacramento State to convert four third downs on the opening drive of the contest. Of course, the defense would not allow another third down conversion the rest of the game.

WHEN IT WAS OVER

It was over early. The game turned on redshirt senior Robert Nelson’s blocked field goal, stopping Sacramento State’s 16-play opening drive. The Sun Devil offense then went on its own lengthy drive — 80 yards on 11 plays — capped by Kelly’s 15-yard touchdown pass to De’Marieya Nelson. The rout was on.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Taylor Kelly. The Sun Devil quarterback tied his career-high with five touchdown passes (all in the first half). At one point, he completed 11 straight throws.

NOTED

-Senior linebacker Chris Young left the game midway through the second quarter and did not return. Graham said Young suffered a sprained knee. It is not expected to be serious.

-ASU set a new record for student ticket sales for a single game: 13,472 student seats sold. It marked the first time over 13,000, besting the previous record of 12,555 for the UA game on November 19, 2011.

HE SAID IT

“The atmosphere was crazy,” receiver Jaelen Strong said after catching a team-high six passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. “It was a real good game for me and my teammates.”

“I’m proud of our team,” Graham said. “You come out and dominate a team you’re supposed to dominate.”

WHAT’S NEXT

ASU (1-0) hosts Big Ten champion Wisconsin on Saturday, September 14. The game is scheduled to kick-off at 7:30 p.m. MST on ESPN/ESPN2; and of course on the Sun Devils flagship station Arizona Sports 620 KTAR with pregame coverage starting at 5:30 p.m. MST.

Arizona State's Taylor Kelly, left, hands the ball off to teammate R.J. Robinson (35) as they warm up before an NCAA college football game against Sacramento State on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State head coach Todd Graham, right, talks with Sacramento State head coach Marshall Sperbeck before an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Taylor Kelly throws a pass as he warms up before an NCAA college football game against Sacramento State on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) An Arizona State student gets ready before an NCAA college football game against Sacramento State on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Back Judge Chris Coyte gets some misting relief as temperatures were well over 100-degrees before an NCAA college football game between Arizona State and Sacramento State on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's De'Marieya Nelson, second from left, celebrates his touchdown catch with teammates Richard Smith (3), Kody Koebensky (67), and Chris Coyle, as Sacramento State's Joshua Armstrong (7) looks on during the first half in an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Taylor Kelly (10) runs with the ball as he tangles with Sacramento State's Markell Williams (31) during the first half in an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) 
Sacramento State's Osagie Odiase (1) trips up Arizona State's Marion Grice, right, during the first half in an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Alden Darby (4) breaks up a pass intended for Sacramento State's DeAndre Carter (2) during the first half in an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Sacramento State's Garrett Safron (12) scrambles away from Arizona State's Will Sutton during the first half in an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona State's Jaelen Strong, right, makes a diving touchdown catch in front of Sacramento State's Joshua Armstrong during the first half in an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Jaelen Strong (21) celebrates his touchdown catch with quarterback Taylor Kelly (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Sacramento State on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) 
Arizona State's Taylor Kelly (10) tries to scramble away from Sacramento State's Markell Williams (31) during the first half in an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Sacramento State head coach Marshall Sperbeck, right, shouts after calling a timeout with players DeAndre Carter (2) and Ezekiel Graham (8) during the first half in an NCAA college football game against Arizona State on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State fans celebrate a touchdown during the first half in an NCAA college football game against the Sacramento State on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State's Chris Coyle (87) scores a touchdown ahead of Sacramento State's Todd Davis (53) during the first half in an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in their 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR) Arizona State defeated Sacramento State 55-0 in the 2013 season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Clayton Klapper/KTAR)

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Fork Report: Kelly, ASU open 2013 with rout of Sacramento State