Arizona State Dominates New Mexico, 58-23

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The 17th ranked Arizona State Sun Devils marched into Albuquerque, New Mexico and came away with a 58-23 victory over the University of New Mexico Lobos.

The Sun Devils came out strong, putting up 22 unanswered points within a 3:08 stretch in the first quarter. Senior quarterback Taylor Kelly held onto the football on the first play and ran for 52 yards. Senior running back Deantre Lewis capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.

Kelly rushed for a 12-yard touchdown run after ASU took over possession at the UNM 32 that was set up by a Clayton Mitchem, senior quarterback, fumble. Mitchem started the game, but only played two series’ for the Lobos as he rushed for -13 yards on five carries.

New Mexico coach Bob Davie subbed in true freshman Lamar Jordan into the game to make his collegiate debut. Jordan fumbled on his first possession leading to another ASU touchdown (1-yard rush by freshman running back Kalen Ballage), but took the Lobos offense down the field for a touchdown to make it a 22-7 game on his second career drive.

Ballage scored another rushing touchdown five minutes into the second quarter, but New Mexico came right back with a 32-yard touchdown strike from Jordan to sophomore Teriyon Gipson.

Kelly and freshman Demario Richard had a bit of miscommunication on a hand-off to start the next drive, resulting in a fumble. It was the first turnover forced by the New Mexico defense in nine games, dating back to Oct. 5th, 2013. UNM would take the great field position and translate it into a touchdown, a 4-yard rush by senior running back Crusoe Gongbay to make it a 29-21 game.

Sep 6, 2014; Albuquerque, NM, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham looks on against the New Mexico Lobos during the first half at University Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports. Sophomore kicker Zane Gonzalez nailed a 29-yard field goal with three seconds left in the first half to help ASU take a 32-21 lead going into the locker room.

ASU extended the lead to 38-21 just two minutes into the second half on a 24-yard touchdown catch by junior Jaelen Strong. Senior Damarious Randall forced a fumble on the next defensive set and Kelly hit sophomore Cameron Smith in stride for a 41-yard touchdown on the very first offensive play to take a 45-21 lead.

Foster finally made it into the end zone with just over seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Gonzalez’s extra point would be blocked and taken back to the house to make the score 51-23 ASU.

The Sun Devil reserves could not be stopped either. Junior quarterback Mike Bercovici handed the ball off to Richard broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run to put ASU up 58-23. The ground game put up some crazy numbers, finishing with 45 carries, 415 rushing yards and six rushing scores as a unit.

Foster looked great throughout the game. He averaged __ yards per carry, eventually finishing with 19 carries, 216 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, as well as three receptions and 54 yards. He became the first Sun Devil rusher with 200+ rushing yards since 2001.

Kelly crossed the 7,000 career passing yards mark in the contest, joining Andrew Walter, Rudy Carpenter, and Jake Plummer as the only Arizona State quarterbacks in history to do so. Kelly finished the day going 11-20 for 192 yards and two touchdown passes. He also added 84 rushing yards on 10 carries.

Strong had a quiet day for the most part. He finished with three catches, 43 receiving yards, and a touchdown. The touchdown that him and Kelly hooked up on was a beauty of a pass in which Kelly threaded the needle between two defenders as Strong leapt up to catch the ball.

With the win ASU improves to 2-0 (0-0) and will begin PAC-12 conference play when they will travel to Boulder, Colo. next weekend to take on the Colorado Buffaloes.