By Lucas Robbins
Digital Communications Intern
TEMPE, Ariz. —Sun Devil Football scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to emphasize its 35-21 home-opening win against Cal Poly Mustangs on Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium.
Arizona State took a 14-0 lead less than two minutes into the second quarter and quarterback Mike Bercovici tossed a pair of touchdowns in the final frame to push the Devils to a 14-point victory in front of the Double Inferno and reinvented Sun Devil Stadium.
Sophomore tailback Demario Richard tallied a career-high 121 rushing yards on 25 carries and scored a pair of touchdown to pace the Sun Devils’ 531 yards of total offense. Senior wide receiver D.J. Foster finished with 134 all-purpose yards, including 76 rushing and 58 receiving, and added a 14-yard touchdown catch in the opening quarter.
The Sun Devils defense held Cal Poly scoreless in the first and fourth quarters as four linebackers notched double-digit tackles, including sophomore linebacker Christian Sam, who co-led the Devils in tackles for the second consecutive game with 12 and added a team-high two sacks. Redshirt senior safety Jordan Simone also added 12 solo tackles, including three of them for a loss, and redshirt junior Laiu Moeakiola set career highs with 11 tackles and three tackles for loss, respectively.
The Sun Devils offense began with a spark when Bercovici connected with Foster on a 15-yard pass for the first play of the game. The catch marked 42 consecutive games with at least one reception for Foster and brought him within two games of tying the school record set by Sun Devil legend John Jefferson’s streak.
Bercovici spread the wealth among his receivers as he completed 23 of 35 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns. ASU’s aerial attack involved four Sun Devils with three or more catches, including seven by first-year Sun Devil Devin Lucien and six from Foster.
Richard found the end zone for the first time this season when he crossed the goal line on a 13-yard rush early in the second quarter. The Mustangs responded when fullback Joe Protheroe capped a 64-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run a few minutes later to make the score 14-7.
Redshirt junior running back De’Chavon Hayes returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards to set up a 43-yard scoring drive that included a fourth down conversion and six-yard touchdown run by Richard for his second score of the game.
The Mustangs brought the game within one score before halftime when quarterback Chris Brown ran in a touchdown to make the count 21-14. They evened the score at 21 on the opening drive of the second half when Brown completed a 21-yard pass to tight end Reagan Enger. Brown finished with 46 passing yards on four completions.
After a Richard touchdown run was overturned midway in the third quarter, defensive back Fernando Cabico intercepted Bercovici’s pass in the end zone to keep the score tied at 21. The following Mustang drive was stalled when Simone sacked Brown for a four-yard loss on third down.
The game was tied at 21 entering the fourth quarter, but ASU regained the lead on a 46-yard scoring drive midway in the period when Bercovici connected with redshirt junior tight end Kody Kohl on a 10-yard pass.
ASU’s final touchdown of the contest came on a drive highlighted by redshirt junior wide receiver Tim White as his 59-yard scamper set up his four-yard touchdown catch two plays later and allowed the Sun Devils to pull ahead for good, 35-21.
The next test for ASU comes in the form of a Friday night matchup with the New Mexico Lobos at 7 p.m. PT on Sept. 18 at Sun Devil Stadium. Pac-12 Networks will have the telecast and ESPN Phoenix 620 AM will carry the Sun Devil Sports Radio Network, presented by MIdFirst.