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Arizona State hosts Northern Arizona in intrastate opener

Aug 30, 2008 - 10:11 AM Northern Arizona at Arizona State, 10:00 pm EDT

TEMPE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Before embarking on what promises to be a difficult season, Arizona State will feast on an in-state cupcake.

The 16th-ranked Sun Devils open their season Saturday when they host Northern Arizona of the Football Championship Subdivision.

Tabbed as a potential contender to unseat Southern California in the Pac-10 Conference, Arizona State enjoyed a successful first year under head coach Dennis Erickson, who guided the Sun Devils to a 10-2 regular season and a loss to Texas in the Holiday Bowl.

But Erickson faces a tall task this season, as Arizona State has one of the toughest schedules in the country.

After three winnable home games to open the schedule, the Sun Devils have a treacherous six-game stretch from September 20-November 8. The slate starts with a home game against preseason No. 1 Georgia and also features four road contests, including a visit to USC on October 11.

But Arizona State should have an easy time with Northern Arizona, which owns a 0-10-1 record in the last 11 meetings between the intrastate foes.

In their last matchup, Arizona State rolled to a 35-14 victory in the 2006 season opener.

The Sun Devils will be led by quarterback Rudy Carpenter, who passed for 3,202 yards and 25 touchdowns last year, and running back Keegan Herring, who rushed for 815 yards in 2007.

Northern Arizona posted a 6-5 record last season, including a 3-3 mark in the Big Sky Conference.