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ASU alum Rashad Ross guides Arizona Hotshots to win in the team's 1st-ever game

Rashad Ross came up huge at Sun Devil Stadium
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TEMPE — It's only fitting that an Arizona State Sun Devil stole the show at Sun Devil Stadium on Sunday night.

Playing with a heavy heart Sunday, former ASU wide receiver Rashad Ross caught five passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns to guide the Arizona Hotshots to a 38-22 win over the Salt Lake Stallions in the first-ever Alliance of American Football game for both teams.

After the win, Ross dedicated his performance to his father, who was unable to attend while he's in the hospital battling cancer.

"I'm kind of sad he wasn't here," Ross said. "I just wanted to show out for him and make him proud."

Ross caught two of four touchdown passes thrown by Hotshots quarterback and former Wake Forest star John Wolford. For the game, Wolford completed 18 of 29 passes for 275 yards and no turnovers.

"I set myself to high standards. I kind of would have been mad if I didn't have a game like this," said Ross, who played in two NFL seasons after playing at ASU in 2011-12. "But just to get my feet wet, get the opportunity that I got, it's just a blessing."

Ross wasn't the only former Sun Devil to show out Sunday, as former ASU cornerback Robert Nelson intercepted a Salt Lake pass in the first half and defensive lineman Will Sutton recorded a sack to help make the Hotshots 1-0.

Next up for Arizona: a road game vs. the Memphis Express on Saturday.