Arizona State squashes Sacramento State

TEMPE, Ariz. – Taylor Kelly threw for 300 yards and matched a career high with five touchdown passes before sitting out most of the second half, helping Arizona State open its second football season under coach Todd Graham with a 55-0 rout over Sacramento State on Thursday night.

The Sun Devils of the Pac-12 opened with a 63-6 win over Northern Arizona in 2012 and quickly took care of another FCS opponent to start this season, scoring on their first five possessions while building a 42-0 halftime.

Marion Grice had a pair of touchdowns and finished with 117 total yards, and Arizona State had its first shutout since 2010 to avoid a letdown before its schedule gets a lot tougher.

Despite being one of two FCS teams to beat an FBS opponent each of the previous two seasons, Sacramento State (0-2), out of the Big Sky Conference, never stood a chance against the bigger, faster Sun Devils.

The Hornets, who lost 24-0 to San Jose State in their opener, had a good opening drive against Arizona State, but did little else after that, finishing with 167 total yards and three turnovers.

Arizona State got the Graham Era off to a solid start, winning eight games last season, including a blowout over Navy in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

Arizona State now has Wisconsin, Stanford, Southern Cal and Notre Dame coming up.