TEMPE- Arizona State football activated the valley after a 70-7 score against Morgan State, the second-most points ASU has scored since 1969, in the season opener. 

New offense lights up the scoreboard

ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham brought a new offense on the field, ready to take charge with 682 yards of total offense against the Bears. They found the end zone ten times.    

“Obviously you want to start the season fast and play our best game,” Dillingham said. “We didn’t play our best game, but we played well at times; we got to keep getting better every single week.” 

Just in the first quarter, five touchdowns were scored. It was the 11th straight season that ASU has scored on their season opening drive, the longest active streak in the country.  

Junior quarterback Cutter Boley made his debut wearing Maroon and Gold after transferring from University of Kentucky. The concern after losing former Sun Devil starting quarterback Sam Leavitt to LSU didn’t last long, after Boley helped work the dominant offense. 

“I just give a lot of credit to the guys and how we played tonight, and how bought in they were all week to stick with the game plan and try to be us,” Boley said. 

After having 325 yards passing and five touchdowns in the first half proved Boley was clicking in his first game under the Dillingham offense.

Boley didn’t limit himself on the field, he connected with seven different teammates in the end zone. 

“He’s a worker,” Dillingham said. “He went out today and he just executed the plan which I love to see as guys who try to do too much.” 

While breaking records wasn’t part of the plan, Boley broke the most yards thrown in their first game in ASU history…in the first half. He also broke the school record for passing touchdowns in the first half of their ASU debut. 

Harris, Miller and Rigdon all contribute

New faces added to the depth for success during the home opener. Senior wide receiver Reed Harris was all over the field for the Sun Devils. Harris had six receptions, 137 yards and two touchdowns. 

Senior wide receiver Omarion Miller also played huge contributions for the team’s success. In Miller’s first game with the Sun Devils, he had eight receptions, 108 yards and one touchdown.

“We got to take pride in everything we do,” Harris said. “Whether that’s catching the ball, running routes, or blocking. You got to help make big plays happen.”  

Sophomore running back Grayson Rigdon saw his first significant playing time of his career and took full advantage. Despite only reeling in two catches, both of them were 50+ yard touchdowns.

“You just trust the process, like I’ve said Kobe says it to me everyday,” Rigdon said. “Just keep stacking days, just trust God and everything will work out for you.”

There wasn’t just one star on the field or ASU, teamwork and determination under Dillingham helped make the win possible. 

“I feel like everybody around this team just loves football. They love competing and they love working everyday so it’s super inspiring as a quarterback sitting back and watching those guys compete as hard as they do,” Boley said.