Territorial Cup: ASU VS U OF A

1st Quarter –

ASU Sun Devils

Sun Devils started the game out well, holding the Wildcats to just a field goal on their first drive, after choosing to let their defense take the field first. Jaden Rashada started the game well for the Sun Devils leading them to a touchdown on their opening drive. The Sun Devils were unable to do much else on offense punting the ball on their remaining drive of the 1st quarter.

Arizona Wildcats

The Arizona Wildcats responded quickly scoring a touchdown after QB N. Fifita found TE T. McLachlan in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown. The Wildcats look to be dangerous early on in the passing game, with T Mcmillan picking up just shy of 50 yards in the 1st quarter. The Wildcats were able to ultimately bring the ASU offense to a halt for the remainder of the quarter, shutting down the little momentum built from their opening drive score.

ASU 7 – 10 U OF A

1st Quarter Photo Drop

2nd Quarter

ASU Sun Devils

The Sun Devils looked to recover after going down 10 -7 at the end of the first quarter and did just the opposite giving up a big play on the 2nd play of the quarter. The Devils came back out to push down the field on what was a great drive. After picking up an Unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on U of A Rashada threw an interception on 3rd and 13 giving the ball right back to Arizona with a 10-point lead and just under 10 minutes to go in the half.

Arizona Wildcats

The Wildcats came out in the 2nd quarter looking to strike big early, and they did just that, as Noah Fifita found Tetairoa McMillan for a gain of 57 yards, allowing RB Jonah Coleman to punch it in from 4 yards out. This put the Wildcats up 17 – 7 early on in the first half, a position the Wildcats do not want to be in against the powerful Wildcats offense. The Wildcats were able to impose their will on the Sun Devils throughout the 2nd quarter, as they were unable to slow down their pass attack.

The Sun Devils did make a push down the field. Nevertheless, the Wildcats cut that short with an interception deflating the little momentum the devils had built. Noah Fifita had a whopping 357 yards passing with 2 touchdowns in the first half, connecting with McMillan 7 times for 162 yards. Their RB’s accounted for 3 touchdowns and 49 yards on 10 carries.

2nd Quarter Photo Drop

HALF TIME – ASU 7 – 38 U OF A

3rd Quarter

ASU SUN DEVILS

The Sun Devils opened up the 2nd half with the ball, after choosing to defer. The freshman J. Rashada was intercepted on the 2nd play of the 3rd quarter. The following drive, the Sun Devils picked up a couple of 1st downs before turning the ball over on downs. The one thing we have seen this season is the fight that the Sun Devils have had. In spite of the Devils finding themselves down big or dealing with major injuries, they have shown the will to fight.

On their 3rd possession of the 2nd half, the Sun Devils were able to drive down the field and punch the ball in the end zone. The Devils were able to have success on their very next drive pushing the ball down to the ARIZONA 34-yard line to end the 3rd quarter.

Arizona Wildcats

The wildcats struck quickly in the 2nd half intercepting the ball on the 2nd play of the quarter. The Wildcats followed up with a quick score. It took just two plays for the wildcats to find the endzone on an 8-yard touchdown pass by Fifita. The Wildcats passing game grew stronger as the game went on. In their second drive of the half, Fifita hooked up with McMillan for 50 yards and a touchdown, in just 3 plays. The Wildcats were slowed down a little bit toward the end of the 3rd quarter, punting the ball on both of their final 3rd quarter drives.

3rd Quarter Photo Drop

4th Quarter

ASU Sun Devils

The Sun Devils came out with a little of what we had seen in the 3rd. Rashada was able to connect with Omeire for 31 yards and a touchdown. Despite being down 23 – 52, they were able to stop the bleeding. As this was amounting to be one of the biggest blowouts of the rivalry. Although they kept fighting after being punched in the mouth early on. The Arizona State Sun Devils did not want to see their Pac-12 departure end like this.

Arizona Wildcats

The Wildcats allowed to touchdowns on both of the ASU’s previous possessions to start the 4th quarter. Arizona picked up right where they left off on offense in the 4th quarter, moving the ball downfield well. Fifita Threw his first touchdown of the day deep in the red zone to end their first drive of the quarter. The Wildcats high-powerful offense was too much for the Sun Devils all day. The student section was vacated early on, by Sun Devils fans leading to a U of A takeover.

Final Score – ASU 23 – 59 U OF A

4th Quarter Photo Drop

1. ASU VS U OF A Preview – All Sports All Play Network (asapsportsnetwork.com)
2. Gallery: Sun Devils Suffer 49-13 Loss from Dominant Ducks – All Sports All Play Network (asapsportsnetwork.com)
3. Arizona football vs. ASU schedule, TV, how to watch Territorial Cup (azcentral.com)
4. College Football Playoff rankings: What a 12-team bracket would be after latest Top 25 – The Athletic