A season full of low expectations and uncertainty got off to a rousing start, as ASU easily throttled the Portland State Vikings 54-9 on Saturday.
The Sun Devils’ new up-tempo offense gashed the Vikings for 242 yards rushing while a trio of running backs combined for all 7 touchdowns in the highest scoring game of the Dennis Erickson era.
Each team ended 2009 on lengthy losing streaks – ASU lost their last six while the Vikings dropped their final five. With the game time temperature a scorching 106, the Devils started cold against their I-AA opponent. New starting QB Steven Threet went 0 for 3 on the season’s first drive resulting in a punt, and Portland State managed a few first downs en route to a 42 yard field goal by Zach Brown. Was an upset in the making?
Not on Cameron Marshall’s watch.
On the sixth play of the ensuing drive, the sophomore running back burst through a gaping hole led by tight end Trevor Kohl and sprinted 50 yards for the go ahead touchdown. ASU’s aggressive defense forced a turnover when safety Eddie Elder made a leaping interception, and the Devils converted again when Marshall sprinted for a 36 yard score. On the next drive, linebacker Shelly Lyons’ sack pushed the Vikings deep in their own territory,and a blitzing Elder forced quarterback Connor Kavanaugh into an intentional grounding penalty while in the endzone, resulting in a safety for ASU and a 16-3 lead. The lead could have been larger had senior kicker Thomas Weber not shanked a short field goal.
One of ASU’s greatest flaws last season was their propensity for penalties, and it plagued them once again. Several personal foul penalties kept Portland State drives alive, but the defense rallied to hold them to only a long field goal in the second quarter. One play after Threet had his first touchdown pass as a Sun Devil called back on an ineligible man downfield penalty, he retook it with a 22 yard scoring pass to freshman running back Deantre Lewis. Threet looked comfortable in the no huddle offense after the shaky start, leading a scoring drive late in the half that was capped by Marshall’s third touchdown from 5 yards out to give the Devils a 30-6 halftime lead.
On ASU’s first play in the second half, the explosive Lewis struck again, with a scintillating 62 yard catch and run touchdown effort. Threet’s lone miscue was a tipped ball interception that led to Brown’s third field goal, but it was clearly too little too late. With a 37-9 lead, Brock Osweiler entered the game at quarterback for the Devils and led a quick scoring drive that ended with Jamal Miles’ 9 yard touchdown run.
Despite most of the reserves in the game, the fourth quarter featured explosive hitting by the ASU defense, led by safeties Jonathan Clark and Max Tabach, who later added an interception. Lewis’ third touchdown of the game capped a phenomenal effort by ASU’s backfield, in which they combined for all seven ASU touchdowns.
Random Musings and Stats
ASU has now won 8 straight season openers...Marshall scored 2 TD on 64 carries last season, while on Saturday he scored 3 times on 4 carries...Portland State managed 83 yards of total offense in the first half, which was one yard less than ASU’s penalty yard total…Marshall and Lewis combined for 13 touches, 241 yards and 6 TDs…ASU’s first 6 touchdown drives all took less than three minutes…The 54 points are the most by ASU since the 2005 season opener against Temple…Sparky did a total of 276 pushups…defensive tackle Lawrence Guy limped off after a cheap chop block with an apparent ankle injury…ASU finished with 93 yards in penalties…With a 52 yard field goal in the 4th quarter, Weber is now a perfect 3/3 all time on kicks over 50 yards.
Game Ball Goes To… The ASU Offensive Line: Much maligned for it’s inexperience and injury issues, the unit dominated the Vikings’ 4-3 front. They paved the way for 242 yards on the ground and allowed only a single sack, occurring in the 4th quarter when the starters had long since left the game. Both Threet and Osweiler had plenty of time to throw, and the running backs had gaping holes in which to run.
Up Next: At home on September 11th vs. Northern Arizona (1-0) at 7:00pm
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