(Tempe, AZ) It all came down to this game. The Territorial Cup, the In-State Rivalry, the hope that ASU can return to the Big. XII Title Game, The chance to improve their Bowl Game standing all on the line tonight for the Sun Devils.
Both teams came in (8-3) with Arizona State one game better in the conference standings (6-2) to the Wildcats (5-3). Each team will go bowling following this game.
Arizona boasted one of the nation’s best pass defenses, but a run defense that was sixth in the conference. The Cats quarterback Noah Fifita had the edge over backup signal caller Jeff Sims for ASU.
Running back Raleek Brown fresh off his 255 yard game against the Colordo needed to be a force for the Devils to open up the passing game.
First Quarter
Arizona win the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.
The Sun Devils didn’t do much on their first possession and had to punt.
Arizona tried to stretch the Sun Devils’ secondary on a side line pattern but was incomplete. They did convert the third down on a 24 yard completion to Hutson. Again, Fifita found an open receiver on the next third down to keep their drive alive.
ASU’s defense play well on first and second downs, but the Cats found a way to get the necessary yards on third downs.
The well ran dry as Arizona on a first and goal from the seven yard line, Javon Robinson jarred the ball lose and the Devils recovered.
Once again, ASU couldn’t get a first down and was forced to punt.
The Wildcats would get to third down but always convert. The Arizona State finally stopped the UofA’s drive and their 45 yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
The Sun Devils had dodged two bullets and hadn’t shown anything on offense but 14 yards to end the quarter in a scoreless tie.
Second Quarter
Sims who seemed to be in a funk, threw the ball behind a wide open Jordyn Tyson and followed it up with an interception to Michael Dansby and the Cats were in business again.
Dillingham’s defensive adjustments figured out more what ASU needed than what Arizona was trying to do. The Wildcats finally had to punt, but left ASU at thier own 10 yard line.
At 14:13 of the quarter, the Sun Devils got their initial first down on a 17 yard completion to Tyson.
Jeff Sims with ASU’ only points/Photo – Sun Devil Athletics
In between short gains and short losses, the Devils persevered and got into Arizona territory for the first time at the 27 yard line. From there, Sims with a head fake took it to the house for the game’s first score on an eight play 90 yard drive. Devils were up 7-0 with 10:33 left til halftime.
The Wildcats seemed contained until a facemask penalty kept their drive alive. Coach Brennan took the ground game and although they didn’t pick up big chunks of yardage, they still moved the chains.
Fifita didn’t completed a19 yard pass to Hutson down to the ASU 13 yard line. The next play, Justin Wodtly crashed through the line for the sack. Things went from bad to worse for the UofA as Keith Abney blocked the 41 yard field goal attempt.
Arizona State got a pass interference gift on third down that placed the ball at the Cats’ 41 yard line. Sims with the NFL Tush Push gained the yardage he needed on a fourth down.
Jesus Gomez’ 49 yard field goal attempt hit the right upright and the Wildcats turn to dodge a bullet.
Using a hurry up no huddle offense, the UofA drove tot the ASU. 28 yard line before being stopped. Salgado-Medina bailed the Wildcats out with a 45 yard field goal to get Arizona on the scoreboard.
ASU led at the half of a very low scoring game 7-3.
Halftime
Arizona’s wasted opportunities was the main story of the first half. As the game went on, the Sun Devils defense adjusted to the UofA’s offensive scheme but only after the Cats had put some yardage behind them.
Photo – Sun Devil Athletics
Third Quarter
Arizona went three an out to start the second half.
A muffed handoff by Sims was recovered by Arizona on the Sun Devil 6 yard line. Two plays later, Cameron Barmore scored on a short pass to put the Wildcats ahead 10-7.
Sims again wasn’t successful as ASU went three an out an gave up the ball. The Sun Devils looked asleep on offense.
Fifita was finding the underneath pass open and utilizing it successfully. Arizona lived in Sun Devil territory all night.
ASU’s defense finally forced a fourth down and the Cats 47 yard field goal attempt went wide right again.
Back on offense, Brown hit the edge for 9 yards on the first play, but Sims gave the ball right back to the Wildcats on an interception by Treydan Stukes at the Arizona 6 yard line.
Fifita got the Wildcats some breathing room on a 15 yard pass. Going back to the underneath patterns which gave them success.
ASU’s secondary coverage was really soft that allowed the Wildcat receivers to stand wide open for an uncontested catches. The next three downs, the Sun Devil defense held but the Cats still got points off a 49 yard field goal to extend the lead to 13-10 with 1:17 left in the quarter.
Photo – Sun Devil Ath
Fourth Quarter
Sims kept his defense off the field for six plays before the Sun Devils had to punt. ASU’s defense was susceptible to the Wildcat run plays nw that they were exhausted.
Arizona took full advantage of it as they marched down to the Devils’ 11 yard line, but sputtered again and kicked a 29 yard field goal to make it a two possession game 16-7 with 12:05 left in the game.
Crunch time was at hand now with their backs to the wall. The offense came alive with Sims completing almost as many passes this drive as he had all game. Then ghe reverted back to the old Sims and fumbled it back to Arizona at the Wildcat 13 yard line.
With the defense totally spent, Arizona took advantage to keep the ball in the offense’s hands. Now with the clock running down, Kenny Dillingham had to use timeouts in a dire attempt to get his offense back on the field.
A 24 yard completion to Quincey Craig down to the ASU 3 yard line closed the door for good. At the two minute timeout, saw Arizona at the Sun Devils one foot line. The next play, the Wildcats put the exclamation mark on the game scoring a touchdown and led 23-7.
With 1:56 left, Sims threw a pick and so went the Sun Devils and the Territorial Cup went back to Tucson for the year.
Wrap Up
Credit to the UofA defense for stopping the Sun Devil running game, but the lackluster play of Jeff Sims equaled the Wildcats’ defensive scheme. When ASU could have taken the lead in the second half, Sims turned the ball over three times. Raleek Brown wasn’t able to break runs for long yardage with the exception off a 28 yard scamper like he has so many times this season.
The offensive line was manhandled by the front line of the Cats. The share of the blame also points a finger at Offensive Coordinator Marcus Arroyo, whose vanilla play calling didn’t set up the team for success along with the lack of execution. Plenty of blame to go around.
The signs were unfortunately there from the Colorado game last week with the Devils turning the ball over four times. Colorado didn’t take advantage, but Arizona did tonight.
The defense played their hearts out, but were put in very difficult situations by the offense’s poor play. Twenty three unanswered points by Arizona had the Sun Devis chasing their pointed tails.
Representatives from the Holiday Bowl along with NFL Scouts from the Steelers, Ravens and Cardinals didn’t get the showcase they were anticipating.
Tonight’s attendance was another sellout that saw 54,037 people jammed into Mountain America Stadium.
Up Next
Both Arizona (9-3) and ASU (8-4) will await the Bowl Selection Show on December 7th at 10 a.m. local time.
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