TEMPE, Ariz. (AP)—Mike Nixon returned one of his three interceptions for a touchdown and blocked a punt to lead Arizona State past outmatched Idaho State 50-3 Saturday night.
The senior linebacker became the first Sun Devil with three picks in a game in 20 years.
Thomas Weber tied an Arizona State record with five field goals, all inside of 30 yards.
Danny Sullivan, in his first start after two seasons as Rudy Carpenter’s backup, completed 13 of 25 passes for 165 yards in 2 1/2 quarters for the Sun Devils.
The Bengals, who play at Oklahoma next Saturday, committed five turnovers and managed just 37 yards, zero in the first half.
Jarrett Huk kicked a 54-yard field goal for the lone score for Idaho State (0-1), coming off a 1-11 season in the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly NCAA Division I-AA.
The 37 yards, which included a 32-yard loss on Idaho State’s final play, was the fourth-fewest allowed by Arizona State in school history.
Nixon, who had five career interceptions before Saturday night, became the first with three in a game for the Sun Devils since Nathan LaDuke did it against Houston on Sept. 23, 1989.
Nixon’s second pick came at the Idaho State 34 and he ran untouched to the end zone to put Arizona State up 20-0 with 2:12 left in the first half.
The Sun Devils’ defense stuffed the Bengals again on Idaho State’s next possession, then Nixon burst up the middle to block Jon Vanderwielen’s punt. Arizona State’s first blocked punt in three seasons set up Weber’s 27-yard field goal that made it 23-0 as the half ended.
Weber’s five field goals were one shy of the Pac-10 record. He missed a 27-yarder in the first half.
Idaho State starter Kyle Blum was intercepted three times in the first half and his replacement Russel Hill once in the second.
True freshman Brock Osweiler relieved Sullivan halfway through the third quarter and later threw 16 yards to a diving Brian Motsumoto for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. It was Motsumoto’s first career catch.
Brandon McGee intercepted Blum’s underthrown pass and returned it 11 yards to the Bengals 40 to set up the only touchdown scored by ASU’s first-team offense.
Arizona State was pushed back to third-and-21 at its 49, but Sullivan ran 17 yards, then threw seven yards to Gerell Robinson to convert a fourth-and-4 situation. Dimitri Nance’s 9-yard run on the first play of the second quarter made it 10-0.
Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said “five or six” players missed the game for violating team rules.
Head to Head - Week 1
| Team | Total Yds | Pass Yds | Rush Yds | First Downs | 3rdD% | Pen./Yds | Turnovers | Time of Poss. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho State | 37 | 42 | -5 | 4 | 7.7% | 6/48 | 5 | 25:46 |
| Arizona State | 407 | 208 | 199 | 20 | 28.6% | 8/67 | 0 | 34:14 |
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But lets save chitchat and talk about the pink elephant in the room. None of this really matters. What matters is winning the Pac10 and going to Rose Bowl or even the national championship.
I love the Devils but I don't think they are good enough to complete with the likes of Florida or Texas. So the likelihood of them making the national championship is slim. The Georgia game, therefore, could be an opportunity to make a statement or show the nation that we can compete with top-tier football programs. But really not much more than that. If history serves as a template for the future, the Devils will simply ride into Athens atop of wave of high expectations only for that wave to crash and send us tumbling home battered and bruised.
The focus must be USC, Cal, and Oregon. USC and Cal had huge season openers yesterday and if you've watched any of the last few Oregon vs. ASU games, you know it will be a tough game with or without Blount.
So here's why I am concerned: ASU top performer yesterday on offense was Nance with 8 carries for 31 and one TD. Sullivan was 13 for 25 and 165 yards. No TDs. The touted widereceiver corps dropped passes in the endzone and around the football field. We basically have two running plays which might work against a school like ISU but frankly make me concerned about going up against better schools. Sullivan did a good job at getting rid of the ball when got in trouble but also looked like a deer in headlights most of the game.
I thought the bright spot on the offense was Osweiler. ASU is a QB school and Osweiler showed good pocket presence and made some great throws.
I wasn't sold on Erickson in his first two seasons. But I think we're finally starting to see the program shape up a little bit. The early bye week and a matchup with LA-Monroe is a good opportunity to build momentum and fine-tune the offense. I've been to the Rose Bowl four times to watch my other team, the Wolverines, wouldn't it be great to go for the Devils for a change?
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