Sun Devils rally, stun Wildcats in Tucson
ASU caps stunning comeback over UA
In the end, the Territorial Cup stayed in Tempe.
The trophy was there for the taking by the Wildcats, who led 40-21 in the fourth quarter.
But the Sun Devils capitalized on two key turnovers, scoring 20 unanswered points to beat the University of Arizona 41-40 on Saturday in Tucson.
Arizona State University survived a last-second field goal attempt when Wildcat Josh Pollack’s 45-yard kick sailed wide right.
TUCSON – Early in the season when Arizona State was losing close football games, first-year coach Herm Edwards said it was only a matter of time before his team would learn how to close out an opponent. Experience has indeed been a good teacher.
The Sun Devils surged back from a
19-point deficit and chalked up a 41-40 win over rival Arizona on Saturday in front of 51,805 at Arizona Stadium to retain the Territorial Cup. It was the fourth-largest deficit from which the Sun Devils have rallied and largest in the past 15 years.
Nine of ASU’s 12 games this season have been decided by a touchdown or less, and the Sun Devils improved to 4-5 in those games.
“We’re comfortable there,” Edwards said of being in a pressure situation down the stretch. “We’re not in panic mode. We just keep fighting. That’s the DNA of our players.”
The game wasn’t secured until the closing seconds when UA kicker Josh Pollack, who had connected on four field goals earlier, missed the potential game-winner from 45 yards wide right to send ASU (7-5, 5-4) into celebration.
Reserve tight end Jared Bubak stood on a bench and gestured to ASU fans, waving a towel in the air. Brandon Aiyuk leaped in the air and chest-bumped Tyler Johnson, who had a fumble recovery that led to ASU’s go-ahead touchdown. Wide receiver Frank Darby grabbed the Territorial Cup trophy and led a victory lap around the field, capping off a raucous celebration.
The loss prevented UA (5-7, 4-5) from being bowl-eligible.
Earlier in the week, ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins said he was embarrassed by the Sun Devils’ showing the last time they played in Tucson two years ago and guaranteed there would be no repeat of that debacle. He was emotional after the game, pausing a minute to collect his thoughts in the postgame press conference.
“I’m grateful,” he said.
“We played a really, really, really tough game but as we said all year, and we lost some of those close games, we didn’t lose this one. So much adversity throughout this whole game and we just stayed poised and trusted the game plan.”
ASU’s only lead was the final score, and it faced a 40-21 deficit with 2:44 left in the third quarter.
Halfway through the final quarter, ASU was still down 40-24. Then came a eight-play drive that covered 80 yards and was capped off by an 11-yard touchdown run by Wilkins. The Sun Devils added a two-point conversion as Wilkins
threw to tight end Tommy Hudson to make it 40-32 with 6:36 to play.
UA turned the ball over on the fourth play of the ensuing possession with true freshman Aashari Crosswell picking off a Khalil Tate offering and running it back 24 yards to the Wildcats’ 22. The drive stalled at the 21 but a 39-yard field goal by Brandon Ruiz cut further into the deficit, making it 40-35 with 3:33 left.
Crosswell took some lumps early but has come up with several big plays in recent weeks. Earlier in the game, he batted away a pass when UA went for a two-point conversion.
“He doesn’t understand how big a play he just made in the Territorial Cup,” Wilkins said of Crosswell’s interception. “Thirty years down the road people are going to remember him for that play.”
The momentum stayed with the Sun Devils. Three plays into Arizona’s next drive, J.J. Taylor fumbled, and Johnson jumped on the loose ball at the Wildcats’ 22. Eno Benjamin ran it in on the next play to put ASU ahead for the first time in the contest 41-40, with 3:08 to play. A two-point pass attempt failed.
UA started its last drive at its own 19 and got as far as the ASU 27 with Darius Slade making a stop on Taylor who gained just 4 yards on third and 10. That set the stage for Pollack’s last field-goal try.
ASU outscored UA 20-0 in the fourth quarter, continuing its trend of playing well down the stretch. The Sun Devils have outscored their 12 foes this season
42-19 in the final 15 minutes.
UA did rack up 520 total yards while ASU managed 401. ASU’s struggles early had a lot to do with a depleted offensive line. Left tackle Casey Tucker and guard Roy Hemsley were both out with ankle injuries. Guard Steve Miller got knocked out of the game in the first half but returned in the second.
“We had to shuffle some guys around and that made it tough,” offensive coordinator Rob Likens said. “Those guys have their own language so I definitely think that had a lot to do with our trouble moving the ball there.”
Benjamin, named the game’s most valuable player, was held in check early and finished with 80 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. He remains 41 yards away from matching ASU’s single-season rushing record of 1,565 by Woody Green (1972).
Wilkins completed 18 of 31 passing attempts for 265 yards. Aiyuk caught five passes for 109 yards, but junior N’Keal Harry – perhaps playing in his last regular-season game – was held to 55 yards on four catches.
Tate threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns while UA’s ground game was led by Taylor with 144 yards on 28 carries.
ASU will now wait to see in which bowl it will play. With no game looming this week, Edwards and all his coaches will be hitting the recruiting trail.