Arizona State junior quarterback Cutter Boley passed his first test with flying colors.
Bigger exams lie ahead.
The Kentucky transfer went 21-for-27 for 387 yards, throwing six touchdown passes as the Sun Devils cruised past visiting Morgan State 70-7 in the season opener on Sept. 5, at Mountain America Stadium.
How good was Boley? Well, the numbers are significantly better than those of the previous four ASU quarterbacks who made their Sun Devil debut in a season-opener — although there was a different level of competition.
Sam Leavitt, now at LSU after two seasons in Tempe, was 14-for-22 for 258 yards and two touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in his debut in 2024 against Wyoming.
Before him, it was true freshman Jaden Rashada getting the call in the 2023
opener against Southern Utah, which also happened to be the first game of the Kenny Dillingham era. Rashada, who has been to three schools since leaving ASU, was 18-for-31 for 236 yards with two touchdown passes in that first game.
The previous Jayden, Jayden Daniels, threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns against Kent State in 2019.
In between Jayden and Jaden, there was Emory Jones, who started the 2022 opener against Northern Arizona. Most have probably forgotten about Jones. And for good reason, as he ended up losing the starting job. Managing just 152 yards and no touchdown passes in his first game might have been a good indication of things to come.
The contest was never close. ASU had eight possessions in the first half, scoring touchdowns on seven of them. The exception was the third possession, which ended when Boley fumbled after being sacked. It was his only real flaw on the night.
The Sun Devils' first score came on a 46-yard run by Kyson Brown on the opening possession. It marked the 11th straight year ASU has scored on its first possession in a season opener.
The Bears (1-1), who defeated North Carolina A&T in their opener last week, did not recover an onside kick attempt from the Sun Devils, giving Boley & Company good field position. The Sun Devils capitalized by marching 53 yards in five plays, with Boley connecting with Omarion Miller on a 10-yard toss for his first of the six touchdowns.
The half ended with ASU up 49-7.
ASU scored on its opening drive of the third quarter, with Boley connecting with Grayson Rigdon on a 56-yard play —most of that yardage coming by Rigdon after the catch.
The next time the offense took the field, backup Mikey Keene entered at quarterback with 11:43 left in the third quarter and ASU up 56-7. Keene gave way to freshman Jake Fette to begin the fourth quarter.
The game marked the ninth straight home sellout for ASU, a streak that dates back to the regular season finale in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How Cutter Boley's Arizona State debut compares to other Sun Devil QBs
