Arizona State routs Morgan State 70-7 as new QB Boley tosses 6 TD passes

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Cutter Boley threw six touchdown passes in his Arizona State debut, and the Sun Devils routed Morgan State 70-7 in their season opener Saturday night.

Boley, a transfer who played two seasons at Kentucky, tossed two touchdown passes to Reed Harris, two more to Grayson Rigdon and one each to Omarion Miller and AJ Ia.

Arizona State piled up 688 yards and nearly eclipsed its record for points in a game of 79 against Colorado State in 1969. The Sun Devils also scored 70 against rival Arizona in 2020.

The fourth quarter was shortened to 10 minutes by mutual agreement of the coaches.

Kyson Brown ran for a 46-yard touchdown on Arizona State’s second play of the game. The Sun Devils then executed an onside kick, which Cory Butler Jr. recovered, and it took them five plays to score again on a 10-yard pass from Boley to Miller. Arizona State led 49-7 at the half.

Boley, a junior replacing Sam Leavitt at quarterback, was 21 of 27 for 387 yards and left after playing one series in the third quarter. Leavitt transferred to LSU after playing two seasons at Arizona State.

Harris (six catches, 137 yards) and Miller (8-102) put up their respective numbers in the first half. Rigdon’s two scores went for a combined 110 yards while Brown led the rushers with 80 yards.

Morgan State (1-1) scored its first-half touchdown on Jordan Barnett’s 2-yard run, set up by Marquez Spells’ 39-yard carry. The FCS Bears were held to 188 total yards.

Morgan State: Takes home $600,000 for agreeing to come from Baltimore to Tempe, Arizona, and though it was decided quickly, it provided some experience. The Bears are hoping to improve from 5-7 and a fifth-place finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference last year.

Arizona State: Looked sharp in a tune-up for Big XII play. Boley was efficient, and so was the running game led by Brown (80 yards on six carries). The schedule ramps up quickly, though, with a road game against No. 8 Texas A&M team followed by a trip to London to play Kansas.

Arizona State scored on its first drive of the season for the 11th consecutive year, the longest such streak in the country.

Morgan State: Plays Virginia-Lynchburg in its home opener next Saturday.

Arizona State: Opens conference play at No. 8 Texas A&M next Saturday.

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here , visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here