Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Arizona State
'Cats drop season opener 45-14 at Arizona State
8/29/2014 8:12:00 AM | Football
TEMPE, Ariz. – Weber State faced one of the toughest opponents in the history of its program and Thursday night the Wildcats fell 45-14 to 19th ranked Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium. ASU's offense was too much to overcome as the Sun Devils totaled 570 yards of total offense in route to the victory in the season opener for both teams.
Arizona State jumped out to a quick 17-0 lead after the first quarter. Weber State was driving to start the second quarter and had a first and goal from the ASU four-yard line but could not convert on four attempts. The Sun Devils then rattled off a 9-play, 99-yard drive to take a 24-0 lead, which they pushed to 31-0 at halftime.
The lead stretched to 38-0 early in the second half when the Wildcats finally got some offense going. New quarterback Billy Green found Shaydon Kehano for a 19-yard touchdown pass that capped a 65-yard drive to put the 'Cats on the board.
ASU tacked another touchdown to make it 45-7 after three quarters. With 5:00 left in the game, sophomore Zach Smith had a 60-yard touchdown run to give the Wildcats another touchdown.
The Sun Devils had 32 first downs, compared to just 14 for Weber State. ASU had 267 yards rushing and threw for 303 yards. Taylor Kelley threw for 238 yards and one touchdown and Jaelen Strong had 10 receptions for 146 yards. D.J. Roster rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns.
Zach Smith finished the night with a career-high 128 yards rushing and one touchdown. In his debut at quarterback Billy Green was 14-of-29 passing for 156 yards and one touchdown.
“It was good for us to see where we stand,” Smith said. “We didn't give up at all and kept fighting. We hate losing but we will get back and be ready to go next week.”
Kehano had six receptions for 99 yards and one touchdown and Cameron Livingston had five catches for 40 yards. Freshman Emmett Tela led the WSU defense with 11 tackles and Luke King added seven.
Thursday's game marked the start of the Jay Hill as head coach of the Wildcats. “Arizona State did what you would expect a team like that to do and they are a terrific team,” Hill said. “I'm disappointed that we didn't defend better than we did. We didn't stick to our plan to win and made too many mistakes. I thought our guys took a bunch of punches but they bounced back and played hard. There are no moral victories. We had some positive things happen but the bottom line is we have to get better as a team.”
Weber State did not commit a turnover on the night, snapping Arizona State's streak of 29-straight games forcing a turnover.
Next up for the Wildcats is the home opener as they host three-time defending FCS national champions North Dakota State next Saturday night at Stewart Stadium.
