Devils Win Opener Behind True Freshman Quarterback and Punter

Mike Stockman

Daniels led Devils to first win of season.

TEMPE, AZ - (August 29, 2019) The Arizona State University Sun Devils started the 150th college season with a victory over the Kent State Golden Flashes by a score of 30-7 on a blistering 102 degree evening at Sun Devil Stadium.

For the first time in Devils' football history, a true freshman started at quarterback on opening day.  Jaylen Daniels, a freshman from San Bernadino, CA, is also the first freshman in team history named as a team captain.

Daniels performance on the night was as expected from a Preseason Freshman All-American earning him the title of Freshman of the Week as well as Pac-12 Player of the Week. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 284 yards, two touchdowns with no interceptions, and one rushing touchdown.

Another Pac-12 Player of the Week was the Devils' sophomore punter Michael Turk, from Dallas, Texas. Turk averaged 63 yards on five punts, which set  an NCAA, Pac-12, and ASU record for the highest average yards per punt in a game with a minimum of five punts.  This broke a record previously held by a Texas A&M Aggie named Braden Mann which was set in the 2018 season. On the longest punt of the night, a 75 yard boot, Turk tied for the seventh longest punt in ASU history.

Zendejas is perfect in college debut

Kicker Christian Zendejas, a sophomore from Chandler, AZ, started his college kicking career going 3/3 on field goals and 3/3 on extra point attempts, scoring 12 points for the Devils. The longest field goal of the night was good for 40 yards.

Other notable players included Brandon Aiyuk, a senior wide receiver from Rocklin, CA and Eno  Benjamin, a junior running back from Wylie, Texas.

Benjamin scored in the first quarter on an eight yard touchdown pass he caught from Daniels. This was Daniels first TD pass at ASU. Benjamin racked up 102 yards rushing on 22 carries and 32 yards receiving on three catches.

Aiyuk scored on a 77 yard touchdown pass from Daniels in the third quarter which was the longest TD reception of his college career at ASU. He finished the night with 4 catches, totaling 140 yards and one touchdown.

The Devil defense kept the Golden Flashes to 200 yards total offense, led by Khaylan Thomas' 1.5 sacks.

The Golden Flashes did not go home empty handed.  In the fourth quarter, Woody Barret, a junior quarterback from Orlando, FL, placed a perfect, over the shoulder pass into the hands of Isaiah McKoy, a sophomore receiver from Brooklyn, NY, for a 21 yard touchdown.

The Golden Flashes, who haven't won an opening game since 2013, host Kennesaw State on Sep 7, at DIX Stadium in Kent, Ohio. Game time is 12pm and will be covered on ESPN3.

The Devils host Sacremento State on Friday Sep 6 at 7pm. The game will be covered by Pac-12 Network.