Tempe, AZ (Sports Network) - Taylor Kelly and Michael Eubank combined to throw
for 318 yards and three touchdowns as the Arizona State Sun Devils easily
dismissed the Illinois Fighting Illini, 45-14, in non-conference action at Sun
Devil Stadium.
Taylor made the start for the Sun Devils (2-0) and converted 18-of-24 passes
for 249 yards and a score, while Eubank hit on all five of his attempts for 69
yards and a couple of TDs for the hosts. Chris Coyle was their favorite target
as he reeled in 10 passes for 131 yards and two scores.
The Illini (1-1) were paced by Josh Ferguson who logged a game-high 101 yards
rushing on 14 carries in the setback. Quarterbacks Reilly O'Toole and Miles
Osei combined to throw for a mere 101 yards and three interceptions, while
being sacked a collective six times.
Illinois was forced to play without Nathan Scheelhaase due to an ankle injury
the quarterback sustained in the win over Western Michigan.
ASU bolted out to a 14-0 lead after one period of play as Kelly hit Kevin
Ozier with a five-yard TD strike, followed by a one-yard TD run by Cameron
Marshall.
Illinois cut into the lead with a 17-yard scoring run by Donovonn Young early
in the second frame, but the Sun Devils were ready and willing to respond with
a pair of TDs of their own.
Eubank and Coyle registered a pair of aerial touchdowns of one and three yards
in length in a span of just 2:30 to give the hosts a 28-7 advantage at the
break.
In the third frame Arizona State continued to pile on with a one-yard TD run
by DJ Foster.
The Illini did manage to respond once more, thanks to a five-yard TD toss from
O'Toole to Eddie Viliunas, making the score 35-14, but that's as close as the
visitors would get.
ASU kicker Alex Garoutte made good on a 35-yard field goal try in the fourth
with just under 11 minutes remaining, while Eubank slipped into the end zone
from seven yards out to complete the lopsided affair for the Sun Devils.
The Sun Devils generated 510 yards of total offense and picked up the easy
victory despite controlling the ball for less than 25 minutes on the night.
GAME NOTES:
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