Jun 09, 2013 - 12:39 pm - After 114 years, the oldest trophy in Division I college football finally has its very own book. Territorial: The History of the Duel in the Desert by Shane Dale delves deeply into the history and tradition of one of the oldest rivalries in college football after he noticed that nobody else had done it yet. “I was kinda surprised when I looked and realized no one had ever written a book about the rivalry,” Dale said. “There had been books written about ASU sports, U of A sports but nothing simply about the rivalry.” Sensing an opportunity, Dale embarked on a roughly two-year quest to learn the history of the Territorial Cup, a rivalry that Dale feels “is really one of the best in the country that no one knows about.” That could be, as Dale says, because the Duel in the Desert doesn’t have the same implications as “The Game” between Ohio State and Michigan or the Red River Rivalry of Texas and Oklahoma. But what the rivalry lacks in terms of determining championships, it makes up for in passion that boils down to downright hatred. “In terms of absolute just hatred, dislike for the other school, I think it’s right up there, maybe top-5, top-10 in the country,” Dale said. So how did it get that way? That’s part of what Dale uncovers in Territorial. Here’s a teaser: it has to do with an election, a break-in and fire on the field of a newly opened Sun Devil Stadium. An Arizona alumn himself, Dale maintains a balanced view of the rivalry after growing up a Sun Devil fan in Chandler, Arizona. His first taste of the rivalry came in 1991 as he watched the Sun Devils win their first Territorial Cup in nine years, 37-14. Although the 1991 game at Sun Devil Stadium was the first he remembers watching, it wasn’t his favorite. “The double-overtime game a couple years ago (2010) was amazing, the way it ended,” Dale recalls. “The first half was terrible. The second half was great. Very rarely are you going to see a blocked extra point decide a game, let alone two, so that was pretty phenomenal…I just don’t think anything tops that double-overtime game a couple years ago.” Territorial: The History of the Duel in the Desert is tentatively slated to be released July 12, 2013 on Amazon.com. Follow Shane Dale on Twitter - @TerritorialCup

Dec 01, 2012 - 10:44 am - By James Romo for DieHardDevil.com Order has been restored.  The Territorial Cup now resides back in its rightful place in a trophy case in Tempe.  Players and coaches jumped and shouted on the field as the final whistle blew with Taylor Kelly taking the final snap in victory formation.  Coach Todd Graham, who has preached from the beginning of his tenure that this team belongs to all of Sun Devil Nation, carried the cup into the stands to share it with the elated fan base that stayed to celebrate after the game.  With almost a year of alumni and fans hammering away about the importance of this game to Coach Graham, he had the look of a man who had a thousand pound gorilla freshly off of his back as congratulatory handshakes were abound.  There was really no need to ask him, because it was evident to all that Graham took great solace in delivering the first haymaker against his coaching rival and former colleague Rich Rodriguez.  And for us DieHard fans, making the miserable drive on I-10 East into Tucson before the game made the drive home much more gratifying as the lights of the big city appeared while still in celebratory mode well after midnight. 2012 Territorial Cup Game Summary 1st Half As mentioned in the preview for this game, big plays, turnovers, and injuries were going to play an even bigger factor than normal in an emotional rivalry game like this.  Huge momentum swings and capitalizing on mistakes were the resounding themes in the 2012 Duel in the Desert.  The ASU defense set the tone early and got a stop on the Wildcat opening possession.  As predicted, the Sun Devil offense wanted to pound the undersized and depth-depleted Wildcat front seven between the tackles.  Instead, ASU was unable to move the ball on the ground in the first quarter and could not sustain any meaningful drives as the UofA defense uncharacteristically shut down their opponents rushing attack. What struck me most about the ASU rushing attack being stalled was the number of times that QB Taylor Kelly gave the ball to his running back on what seemed like bad reads on the UofA defensive ends crashing down on the play.  Normally, Kelly would make that read, keep the ball and run around the defensive end that had vacated his outside contain responsibility.  I have to believe that after watching Kelly make good reads all season, giving the ball the running back every time early on (regardless of what the defensive end did) was instruction and game planning by the coaching staff to soften up the Wildcat defensive interior early. Pressure from Junior Onyeali on Wildcat QB Matt Scott at the beginning of the second quarter forced him to throw off of his back foot for an easy Keelan Johnson interception that energized the ASU offense.  The ensuing Arizona State drive included first down completions to Jamal Miles and Rashad Ross, hard running by DJ Foster, and was capped by an electric 52 yard touchdown run by Marion Grice for a 7-6 lead and the first big shift in momentum.  On the very first play from scrimmage, Matt Scott, under pressure from Will Sutton, threw another ball off of his back foot and floated one into the arms of ASU corner Osahon Irabor who had excellent single coverage on the play and hauling down his first interception of the year.  ASU drove 62 yards for another rushing TD by Grice and a 14-6 lead. As much as UofA owned the first quarter, the ASU defensive front created opportunities in the second quarter for two easy interceptions and were able to quiet an already confident and raucous Wildcat home crowd.  On a later drive in the quarter, with ASU moving the ball effectively, Sun Devil receiver Alonzo Agwuenu fumbled at the Wildcat 23 yard line after a long catch and run.  UofA gained back a big measure of that elusive momentum, and was able to capitalize on a short field goal going into the half down only 14-9. Click Here to View the DieHard Photo Gallery From the Game Enough can't be said of the play of the ASU defensive front. Will Sutton suffered a toe injury causing him to leave the field on at least 3 occasions, but was able to return to be a huge disruption to the UofA offense making play after play.  Carl Bradford could be found making several key stops in the backfield and was sure in his tackling in open space preventing big gains.  And Brandon Magee, as predicted, put an exclamation point on this game with 17 tackles and was an absolute menace on defense for four consistent quarters. 2nd Half ASU opened the second half with a scoring drive that resulted in a Jon Mora field goal and 17-9 Sun Devil lead.  UofA quickly responded with an 83 yard drive that ended with a 22 yard scoring pass on a pump fake to Austin Hill and cut the lead to 17-16.  Arizona took control of the third quarter with another defensive stop and subsequent touchdown drive ending with a 40 yard wheel route pass to Garic Wharton to take a 24-17 lead. On the first play from scrimmage on ASU's next possession, the snap to Kelly (who was lined up in the shotgun formation) hit Jamal Miles who was in motion for a fumble and ASU's first turnover at their own 24 yard line.  In what may have been the final momentum swing, Arizona was looking to put the game away, but ASU had it’s most important defensive stand and held Arizona to a 23 yard field goal resulting in a 27-17 Arizona lead heading into the fourth. In what would be the start of a big scoring spree, ASU converted a 39 yard field goal on their opening possession of the fourth quarter and trimmed their deficit to 27-20.  On the very next Wildcat possession which included an effective drive to the Sun Devil 15 yard line, Keelan Johnson stripped Matt Scott causing a fumble with Deveron Carr recovering.  With both teams attempting to recover the bouncing football, Will Sutton was able to knock a Wildcat defender out of the way, clearing a path for Deveron Carr to secure possession. ASU promptly drove the short field for a third touchdown run by Grice, who flashed some shiftiness in the open field on multiple runs.  With a 14 point swing and the score now tied at 27-27, the ASU defense stepped up again forcing a 4th down deep in UofA territory.  On the drive, Magee had a tackle for loss, and Carr made up for three earlier pass interference penalties with a great pass break-up on 3rd down. With Arizona using a roll-out, rugby style punt, Kevin Ayers was able to slip by Wildcat blockers for his second punt block of the year.  This one was huge and the timing couldn’t have been better.  ASU took possession at the Arizona 8 yard line and Cam Marshall ran it in on the next play, untouched for a 34-27 Sun Devil lead. On the next Wildcat possession and desperately needing a score, they were finding success in the passing game until ASU defensive back Robert Nelson intercepted a deflected pass and raced down the sideline 66 yards before being tackled at the 2 yard line.  The Sun Devil sideline went nuts and Coach Graham immediately came over to talk to his defense for the next series.  “Nobody gets behind you” he shouted to his secondary. Three plays later, backup QB Michael Eubank kept the ball on a sneak for a touchdown and the Sun Devils took a commanding 41-27 lead with less than three minutes left in the game.  UofA was able to take the next drive for a quick touchdown on what looked like a blown coverage to cut the lead to 41-34 with 1:51 left on the clock and with neither team having any time-outs left.  The Wildcats attempted an unsuccessful onside kick, and Taylor Kelly was able to line up in the victory formation to run out the remaining time on the clock by taking a knee on the enemy turf. Momentum Swings, Key Performances & Pivotal Moments There were so many phases and momentum swings in this game that it really was a tale of four complete quarters.  ASU was outscored in the third quarter 18-3.  In the fourth, the Sun Devils went on a 24 point tear after converting on a fumble, punt block, and interception, outscoring Arizona 24-7 in the final 15 minutes.  These teams knew each other well going into this game, and ASU showed some wrinkles on both sides of the ball that the Wildcat coaching staff was not prepared for.  Facing the daunting Wildcat passing attack, Robert Nelson played the nickel back position, often leaving him in single coverage on the best UofA receiver Austin Hill.  Nelson had a great game, capping it off with the interception return to the Arizona 2 yard line for what may have been the play of the game to seal the victory.  ASU also employed a four down lineman front more often than we've seen this season, and did a great job of disguising blitz packages. Offensively, there were several triple option plays with Foster and Grice both lined up in the backfield.  Marion Grice was nothing short of amazing with 174 total yards (156 rushing) which was good enough for game MVP honors.  In all honesty, there were at least four Sun Devils that could have justifiably been named MVP.  After many questioned Taylor Kelly's ability to lead this team earlier in the season, the redshirt sophomore maintained composure, extended plays, and (unlike his counterpart) didn't turn the ball over on Friday night. In a long list of classic moments throughout the history of this rivalry, there are several from the 2012 installment that will go down as some of the greatest.  Whether it was the Carr fumble recovery in the fourth quarter, the Ayers punt block or the Nelson interception return, the Sun Devils owned the fourth quarter and would not be denied the Territorial Cup this year.  In a roller-coaster season where this team faced plenty of adversity, and a season that had left many in Sun Devil Nation still unsure of how successful this team could be, all the time and hard work that was put in by the team paid off in the fourth quarter of the most important game of the year.  And as Coach Graham couldn’t wipe the smile off his face and proudly shared the Territorial Cup with the Sun Devil fans, I have a feeling that he knew this moment was coming all along. Click Here to View the DieHard Photo Gallery From the Game Discuss this year's Territorial Cup, the upcoming Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl and Recruiting developments on DEVILINK. 

Nov 24, 2012 - 02:01 pm - Tucson, AZ - The Arizona State Sun Devils defeated the Arizona Wildcats 41-34 to win the Territorial Cup in the 2012 Duel in the Desert.  The Sun Devils finish the regular season at 7-5 and also earned in-state bragging rights for the next 364 days.  Full post game analysis and exclusive DieHardDevil.com photo gallery coming soon.  GO DEVILS!

Nov 24, 2012 - 01:05 pm - Congrats again Players, Coaches and Sun Devil Nation for the comeback victory Friday night! Bowl Sources are projecting ASU to take on NAVY in the KRAFT Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco on December 29, 2012. In the meantime, enjoy the 2012 Territorial Cup again: Arizona State's Comeback Victory over #24 Arizona in the 2012 Territorial Cup      

Nov 23, 2012 - 11:21 am - By James Romo for DieHardDevil.com The latest installment of the Duel in the Desert will go down inside Arizona Stadium this evening. The return of the game to the Friday after Thanksgiving is a welcomed tradition that should never be altered. Sun Devil Nation will flood I-10 east throughout the day on their way to Tucson to support their beloved maroon and gold.  Fans on both sides will see two teams that are very similar to each other in terms of scheme and philosophy. However, the personnel on each team has dictated a very different emphasis on play-calling and relative success of their offensive game planning.  The underdog in this emotional rivalry game has won 7 out of the last 8 meetings, which tells you that the 2012 Territorial Cup will be a another dogfight. ASU Defense vs UA Offense On offense, the Wildcats have a dominant rushing attack with sophomore RB Ka'Deem Carey. He currently leads the nation in rushing with 1,585 yards on a 6.3 average yards/carry. He is the rare combination of a fast and elusive back with the ability to run through tackles. ASU will no doubt prioritize bottling him up and keeping him between the tackles. Brandon Magee has been stellar in his run-stopping all season, and I suspect that the emotions of the final regular season game of his career will have him very focused and intent on putting his stamp on this game. The UofA spread option attack keeps opponents off balance with QB Matt Scott who has been both effective running the ball and throwing accurately to a very capable receiving core. ASU will have to be extremely fundamentally sound in their coverage and gap assignments and be able to tackle upon first contact. These teams know each other very well, and will have game-planned against what each team does best. The UofA offense has racked up video game numbers this season, including 588 yards against USC. In addition to handing off to Carey, Scott has formidable receiving targets in Austin Hill and Dan Buckner. ASU will have their Pac-12 #1 ranked pass defense put to the test against UofA's potent passing attack. They will have to avoid blown coverages, do a good job disguising coverage shells, and recognize and defend what I predict will be a heavy dose of play-action passes. Keelan Johnson will no doubt be looking to carry over his ball-hawking ways after a two-interception game last week.  Avoiding the big play will be a major key in preventing huge shifts in momentum. The ASU defensive front will have to have a big game disrupting plays in the backfield at their mesh point.  The strength of the Sun Devil defense has been their ability to create pressure with their front seven, allowing their defensive backfield the luxury of defending quarterbacks throwing under duress.  Forced and inaccurate passes leave the door open for the Sun Devil defense to capitalize on the pressure Sutton and company should provide.  ASU leads the nation in sacks and is second in the nation in tackles for loss.  Will Sutton has made a name for himself nationally as one of the most unblockable interior lineman. I expect that UofA will double team him which should leave Junior Onyeali, Carl Bradford, and Chris Young one-on-one with Wildcat lineman who will be tasked with keeping Sun Devil defenders off of Matt Scott.  In what could be an important factor, Scott has suffered what appears to be multiple concussions over the past several weeks. Continued on-field vomiting by Scott will be something to keep an eye on, although he has yet to be pulled from a game for precautionary purposes.  Given Scott's recent health, I suspect that Carey will be given a huge workload on the ground in order to set up play-action for Scott.  Containing Carey is the key. ASU Offense vs UA Defense On defense, the Wildcats have been far less intimidating, and have relied heavily on their offense to just outscore opponents. They employ a 3-3-5 stack defense that hasn't stopped anyone all season. They give up an average of 488 yards per game and rank 114th in the nation in total offense allowed. ASU showed more flash in the passing game last week against Washington State, but that was to be expected against a team that has all but packed it in this season. ASU will look to establish an early rushing attack to exploit the Wildcats 11th ranking in the conference against the run. Forcing the Wildcats to bring that third safety into the box and out of intermediate coverage should provide the mismatches that ASU can take advantage of in the short and underneath routes behind the linebackers. Arizona has a few standouts that have shown very good play-making ability. DT Sione Tuihalamaka, LB Marquise Flowers, LB Jake Fischer, and CB Shaq Richardson have all shown flashes of what Coach Rich Rodriguez envisions as a swarming defense that can disrupt plays, fly to the ball, and create turnovers. But UofA has also been susceptible to explosive plays. Only time will tell if the ASU outside receivers can make big plays early and demand vertical coverage help over the top, thereby creating more space for ASU receivers to roam underneath. ASU has shown an ability to be unstoppable on offense, but it comes down to the Sun Devils executing what they are actually capable of.  In past away games, they have sputtered on the road with an inability to run their fast tempo offense with the precision that Coach Graham demands. Keeping the crowd out of the game will go a long way in helping stay out of silent counts and run at the desired tempo.  The ASU offensive line should be able to create holes and protect Taylor Kelly. The Wildcats are dead last in the conference in sacks and 11th in tackles for loss which should allow Kelly the time he needs to make good reads and execute the spread option game without the type of pressure that Oregon or USC applied in the backfield. Pounding the UofA front with Cameron Marshall will be a huge factor in owning the time of possession, wearing down a very thin UofA defensive front, and keeping the ASU defense off of the field. The Devils should look for either a big play or creative play calling to jump out to an early lead. Getting behind in a hostile environment will be a difficult hole to climb out of. Big plays, turnovers, and injuries will be an even bigger factor in the outcome of this game than in most. The two teams are evenly matched, both in relative talent and mutual hatred. The one that gets the lucky bounce or is able to capitalize on their opponents mistakes should gain momentum and ultimately win. All that being said, you can throw out records, schemes, home field advantage, and predictions. The Dual in the Desert is won on emotion and who can maintain composure while matching their opponent's intensity level. The Sun Devils have all mentioned their disgust about the Wildcats celebrating their win and planting their flag at midfield last season on Frank Kush Field. There is an element of revenge and the feeling that order needs to be restored in this rivalry. The time has come to bring the Cup back to Tempe where it belongs. There will be a whole caravan of DieHard Devils with you escorting the prize back to its rightful home.

Nov 22, 2012 - 07:12 pm - By James Romo for DieHardDevil.com Battle lines are drawn on I-10 between Tucson and Tempe this week.  Houses are divided.  Friends become enemies.  Family reunions are just another excuse to wear school colors.  Often, the blood that is shed on the field isn't the only blood shed in and around the stadium.  Welcome to the 2012 edition of the Duel in the Desert.  This is rivalry week for schools all over the country, but this one tends to hold a very distinct level of unadulterated hatred and hostility between the respective teams and their fan bases.  The game itself doesn't make as many national headlines as Michigan and Ohio State or Texas and Oklahoma, but the riotous nature of fans surrounding this feud toes the line of having to put the National Guard on alert.  And more importantly, will provide one side with bragging rights for 365 days.  No national headline could be nearly as gratifying. Nothing about the rivalry is pretty, including the The Territorial Cup trophy itself that is held for a year by the winner of the game.  This rivalry is the oldest in college football dating back to 1899, and the tarnished Cup that has been around since the beginning is just an old jug to anyone outside of the state.  But to fans of ASU or UofA, having it displayed on their respective campus is about the most beautiful thing in sports.  I'm losing sleep as I write this chomping at the bit to make the trek on Friday to one of the more inhospitable places I've ever been to. Both of my parents are Arizona natives, and have a combined 19 siblings with several generations of children now.  We are spread out evenly all over the state, and there are a whole lot of us.  None in the Phoenix area ever considered attending UofA.  The other half of the family lives in the Tucson area and they have the "envy" that usually plagues those that admire all things from the big city, but none ever attended ASU.  The “big city” is a scary place to them.  We travel to each others campus for the rivalry game every year, but we don't tailgate together.  We have routine family golf outings, and the green grass on the fairways is divided evenly with maroon & gold or red & blue polo shirts on either side.  As much as my fandom is spread across my hometown professional teams, nothing evokes the same level of investment and emotion as ASU football.  Because the UofA is the only sports team in Tucson to cheer for, their allegiance is concentrated all in one place.  And with laser focus, their malevolence for all things maroon and gold is focused on one target.  For Sun Devil Nation, this game is circled on the calendar every year like a countdown to an annual and inevitable good old fashioned street brawl. There is no greater high for a sports fan than watching your team win a rivalry game.  And there is no more frustrating or maddening of an experience than when your team loses that game.  Similar records, similar post season mid-tier bowl games, and similar recruiting territories define the bigger picture of the game this year as much as the innate animosity that seems to grow with the outcome of each showdown.  One of my favorite things (and there are several) that Cat fans always say to me is "Just wait until basketball season".  I once had a 110 pound clarinet or flute player from the UofA band flash one finger of the ASU pitchfork hand sign at me while boarding his bus on his way home after a Wildcat loss.  Emotion of the game clearly transcends any sense of judgement or intelligence for many. I have come to realization that an ASU win on the field would be far less gratifying if I didn't have the UofA fans in my family to share it with.  And I know that they make any ASU loss that much tougher to stomach throughout the year.  Also, being a writer for DieHardDevil.com has allowed me to speak with many current and former Sun Devil players.  The disdain in their eyes when I mention the rivalry is clear and unmistakable, which will be a part of them for a lifetime.  I think it’s safe to say that same bad blood toward the team down south is shared throughout Sun Devil Nation.

Nov 19, 2012 - 10:32 am - Rivalry week is here and the time has arrived for the Arizona State Sun Devils to return the Territorial Cup back to Tempe.   Players, coaches, fans and everyone that is a part of Sun Devil Nation need to be "ALL IN" and "SPEAKING VICTORY" this week.  It's also time to take a look back at the game last year to remind everyone about what is at stake.  Blood, sweat and tears will be exchanged in one of the oldest and most heated rivalries in the nation.  To view the exclusive DieHardDevil.com photo gallery from the 2001 game,  Click here.

Nov 23, 2011 - 11:39 am - By Juan Roque for DieHardDevil.com What was once a promising season has wandered off into the cold and dark desert night. Going into Saturday’s Duel in the Desert matchup against Arizona, there was no question it was a must win for Arizona State. After losing two straight games on the road, the Sun Devils were backed up against a wall. They had to take care of business by winning their last two games if they were to have any chance of winning the Pac-12 South and advancing to the title game. The talk all week was how ASU coach Dennis Erickson had to get the team back on track if he were to have any chance of keeping his job in 2012, much less earn an extension of his current contract. The loss to the Cougars was so disappointing that many fans were already in the process of writing the season off. The game against Arizona was an opportunity for the team and the staff to show they can overcome adversity, regroup and come out and beat what was, on paper once again, an inferior opponent. The Wildcats were 2-8 at the time and had one of the worst defenses in the country. When the game clock expired on Saturday night, nothing has improved from last week and things in Sun Devil nation are much worse. Facing an opponent that they were favored to beat by 10 1/2 points, the Sun Devils once again found a way to prove everyone wrong by dropping their third game in a row. There is no question Arizona State hit a new low on Saturday losing to their rival Arizona Wildcats 31-27 in front of 72,694 at sold out and blacked out Sun Devil Stadium. Leading up to the game a lot seemed to be favoring ASU. They had incentive and motivation to take their own field, where they were undefeated in 2011, and dominate the Wildcats. As they have shown this season, Arizona is far from a quality team but none of that mattered Saturday. From the moment the teams ran onto Frank Kush Field it was obvious the game was going to be intense. It's safe to say that Arizona was not in awe of ASU. The first sign of this was before the coin was even flipped. As ASU made their way out of the Tillman Tunnel in their customary fireworks introduction, the Wildcats stormed the field from their end at the exact same time. This blatant show of disrespect to the customary pre-game ritual where the home team comes out first, then the visiting team, was a clear sign that Arizona was looking to show up ASU on their home field. ASU looked as if they were unaffected by the blatant disrespect and played to their own fans from their side of the stadium. With the smoke from the fireworks lingering over the field both teams looked like they were ready for a street fight. Arizona received the ball first and marched down the field, and with the help of two ASU penalties and another long pass play, scored first when Keola Antolin ran the ball in from one yard out. ASU received the kickoff and then the unthinkable happened. After being smart with the football all season Brock Osweiler threw into coverage and was intercepted by Shaquille Richardson. The Wildcats only needed five plays as Nick Foles found Kadeem Carey for an 11 yard touchdown reception. Halfway into the first quarter Arizona held a 14-0 advantage and the memories of the Oregon State, Utah and Illinois game came crashing into the minds of Sun Devil fans. In those first two drives, Arizona showed they were not going to back down and they were going to try and set the pace in the game. With ASU on its heels early, Brock Osweiler marched his team down in 12 plays and capped off the drive with a Cameron Marshall two yard touchdown run. Arizona responded and marched to the ASU 32, but a John Bonano field goal bounced off the left upright. The Sun Devils responded and scored the tying touchdown in 8 plays capped off by a Gerrel Robinson touchdown reception in the back left corner of the endzone. Momentum then swung in the Sun Devils' favor when another missed field goal by Bonano gave ASU the ball back. After a huge 58 yard reception by Aaron Pflugrad, the Sun Devils scored on a beautiful 22 yard cameron Marshall draw play the middle. After trading punts, Arizona was able to march down to the ASU 24 with the help of a critical ASU penalty for roughing the passer. This time, Bonano connected and Arizona shrunk their deficit to 21-17. In the second half, ASU was in great shape to pull ahead and finish the Wildcats, but the first drive ended in disaster. After a huge Mike Willie drop on the first play that would have been a touchdown, a holding penalty that negated a 22 yard completion and a sack of Osweiler, ASU was forced to punt. ASU's defense then came up with a huge three and out which the Sun Devils were not able to capitalize on. Driving to the Arizona 5 yard line, ASU only managed an Alex Garoutte field goal and went up 24-17. Despite several opportunities, ASU only managed a field goal for the rest of the game and major defensive breakdowns helped Arizona pull ahead 31-27. ASU had two opportunities late in the game, but Brock Osweiler threw his second interception of the night with 3:15 left in the game and despite a valiant effort by the defense in getting the ball back, ASU was not able to score despite marching to the Arizona 15 yard line. Without question this was the most disappointing loss of the year. Grading the game Quarterback It's hard to not lay part of this loss on Brock Osweiler. The interception he threw at the start of the game was a head scratcher as there was no open receiver in the area. To his credit, Osweiler still managed the game well but was asked to do too much due to ASU not having any running game present. There were several drops by receivers, but some of his throws were not accurate either. On the night he was 36-63 for 487 yards and a touchdown. His completion percentage of 55% was below his season average of 64.8% and the two turnovers came at the worst times in the game. He's a much better quarterback than what he showed on Saturday night. Grade: C Running Backs It's hard to grade this group when they have no blocking. Cameron Marshall had a thrilling 22 yard touchdown run in the second quarter but the rest of the game he was hit in the backfield often and met at the line of scrimmage. On the night, Marshall ran 16 times for 52 yards, two touchdowns, but lost 8 yards due to Arizona blitzes and averaged 2.8 yards per carry. Kyle Middlebrooks had two carries for 18 yards and Jamal Miles carried twice for six yards. Miles again was a factor out of the backfield in the passing game, catching nine passes for 54 yards. It's tough to assign this group a grade due to the rushing average but this group is not to blame for that. Grade: C Receivers Gerell Robinson continues to impress and lead by example catching eleven passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. He also eclipsed the 1,000 yard receiving mark for the season, the first ASU receiver to accomplish that feat since Derek Hagan. Aaron Pflugrad caught three passes for 77 yards. Rising star Rashad Ross had four grabs for 77 yards as well. Mike Willie had a huge drop that could have been a touchdown and dropped a potential touchdown to end the game. On the night he had three catches for 16 yards. Kevin Ozier caught two passes for 29 yards one being a 22 yard catch that ended in a fumble at the Arizona 33 that cost ASU a possible score. Grade: B- Offensive Line For the second week in a row the unit did not move anyone off the ball. Run blocking has become this unit's Achilles Heel. Arizona held the line of scrimmage for the entire game and would not allow ASU's backs to get into the second level. The biggest run play of the night came on a draw play that the Wildcats over pursued on. They can pass block only giving up one sack but a team can't make its living throwing the ball. Arizona was a team that was giving up 179 yards rushing per game. When your offensive coordinator is calling 63 pass plays in a close game, you have an idea why. Grade: D+ Defense Rather than go position by position it's better to grade this group as a whole. Missed tackles, blown assignments, blown coverages, no pressure on Foles and giving up 494 yards of total offense is not winning football. Managing one sack against a team that had given up 20 in ten games is not winning football. Giving up 31 points to a team that was being beat by an average of 41-27 the three games prior and averaging 29 points per game is not winning football. Allowing a team to march down the field after the opening kickoff and scoring on their first possession is not winning football. Being penalized six times for discipline issues like roughing the passer, offsides, personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct is not winning football. Not forcing any turnovers despite being 4th in the country with a +14 margin and playing against a team that was averaging 1.9 per game is not winning football. The defense is in full blown meltdown mode. Not one area was good Saturday. All three phases of the defense were beaten physically and mentally. In three losses they shoulder most of the blame. Grade: F Special Teams Jamal Miles fumbled a kickoff that ASU was luckily able to recover. Miles had a decent return game running back three kickoffs for 76 yards and had a nice 44 yard punt return. Kyle Middlebrooks returned two kickoffs for 61 yards. Vontaze Burfict again was offsides on a PAT. Josh Hubner continues his consistency with a 48.3 per punt average with two kicks inside the 20 yard line. After back to back weeks where he missed an important kick, Alex Garoutte made both of his tries from 22 and 27 yards which he is expected to make. Grade: B Coaching Once again there were no adjustments to what the Wildcats were doing on offense. Foles moved his team at will and was hardly ever pressured by what is arguably a very talented front seven. Simply put, Craig Bray is not putting his unit in a position to make plays and when they were in position they broke down fundamentally. Noel Mazzone has become too predictable with his swing passes and has yet to find a way to run the ball despite having a great back in Cameron Marshall. Dennis Erickson did not have his team focused as was evident by the WIldcats fast start and 14-0 lead. You can't blame it all on the players. Grade: F Summary The unthinkable nightmare scenario unfolded on Saturday night at Sun Devil Stadium. A must win game against the in state rival was lost in gut wrenching fashion, furthering the passionate discussions about the future of Dennis Erickson and the Sun Devil football program. At the end of the season, the head coach will be evaluated, important decisions will be made and the process will take care of itself. But for now, believe it or not, ASU still has something to play for against Cal this Friday. If ASU beats Cal, UCLA loses to USC and Utah beats Colorado, the Sun Devils will unexpectedly find themselves in the Pac-12 championship game. The unpredictable question isn’t whether UCLA will lose and Utah will win, as both those results are very likely. The bigger and more surprising question is whether or not ASU has the character, focus and discipline to beat Cal at home on Friday night. Let’s hope that the 22 seniors, who play their last game in Sun Devil Stadium, step up and leave Frank Kush Field on a positive note with a victory.

Nov 18, 2011 - 10:46 pm - By Juan Roque for DieHardDevil.com Without question, the 2011 Arizona State Sun Devils football season has been an emotional roller coaster for the alumni, fans and the team itself.  This season brought thrilling wins against USC and Missouri followed by mind boggling and frustrating let downs at Illinois, UCLA and Washington State.  During this up and down season one thing is for sure; the Sun Devils have definitely not lived up to the hype that was circling them throughout the preseason.  They have not delivered what many thought would be a dominant campaign in 2011 while on the march to win the new Pac-12 South Division.  After ten games they are at 6-4, unranked, inconsistent and need to win their last two games in order to have an opportunity to realize their goal of advancing to the title game.  After a heart breaking loss to Washington State last week in Pullman, and UCLA losing at Utah, the Sun Devils still have an opportunity to realize this goal.  Despite the roller coaster ride, they still have a chance.  They will need to take care of business the last two weeks of the season and need help in the form of a UCLA loss to earn a trip to the title game.   But this week that will be the last thing on the Sun Devils’ minds.   This is the week the Sun Devils face their hated rival Arizona Wildcats on the gridiron.  This is the week that fans on both sides of the rivalry have circled on their calendars every year.  This is the week that divides families and friends and neighbors turn on neighbors.  This is the week where lines are drawn in the sand along Interstate 10 and the cities of Phoenix and Tucson face each other on the battlefield.  Throw the records out the window right now.  Throw out the talk of titles and rankings.  None of that matters this week.  What matters is that one of College Football’s oldest and most contentious rivalries is renewed.  This is a battle for not only state bragging rights but for the Territorial Cup.  This is a battle that gives the winner 364 days of pride and gloating.  This is what it’s all about for ASU and U of A fans.  And there are no games other than this one that will be played on November 19, 2011.   On one sideline will be the Arizona State Sun Devils.  The best word to describe them is schizophrenic.  The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ASU team has had moments of greatness followed by moments of sorrow all in one dramatic season.  Without question, this team is one of the most talented in the conference on paper.  Unfortunately paper players and statistics don’t win football games.   After two disappointing losses in a row, ASU now enters it game against U of A with more questions than answers.  The biggest questions are circling around ASU’s head coach Dennis Erickson and whether or not he will survive after this season much less earn an extension.  There are questions about the team’s resolve and character after an uninspired effort in Pullman.  There are questions as to whether this team is capable of winning consistently when they are the favorites.  Mix all this into a pot, stir it up and what you have is a monumental football mess.  With so many questions off the field,this game comes at the right time in the season for ASU.  If they want to regain some form of control into what is quickly becoming a full blown nuclear meltdown, they will need to play their best game of the season Saturday.   On the other sideline will be the hated Arizona Wildcats.  The Wildcats have their own storm raging in Tucson.  As recently as last year, the 2-8 Wildcats were considered one of the top programs in the league.  Two years ago they were being mentioned as one of the conference’s best after beating ASU and USC in consecutive weeks.  The Wildcats then went to the Holiday Bowl where they were demolished and shut out by a Ndamukong Suh led Nebraska team 33-0.  Looking to rebound and compete in 2010, the Wildcats got off to a fast start going 7-1.  They were supposed to be the hot team in the old Pacific 10 and many wondered if that would be the year they finally ended their Rose Bowl drought.  They would be very wrong.  After losing five straight games including the double overtime loss to ASU, and an embarrassing Alamo Bowl loss to Oklahoma State 36-10, the writing was on the wall.  In 2011 after beating NAU, the Wildcats lost five in a row costing Mike Stoops his job.  Since then, the Wildcats have been 1-3 and were run over last week by a fired up Colorado team 48-29.   While both teams have a lot of subplots going on, make no mistake about it, come Saturday none of this will matter.  When the two teams take the field they will be focused on one thing only…winning the 2011 Territorial Cup.  The Cup is a magnificent trophy that was reactivated as the prize for the winner of this game in 2001 when former ASU president Lattie Coor signed an executive order bringing the trophy out of retirement in the ASU archives.  Before then, the teams traded an ugly bronze monstrosity called the “Victory Scultpure” that was made by artist Ben Goo in honor of the many different sports.  For those that may remember that trophy, it was not pretty.  The Cup is much more appropriate as a symbol of the history of this great state as it pertains to football.   ASU will be fighting to keep the trophy home and Arizona will be looking to take the Cup back to Tucson.  Rest assured, the intensity on the field and in the stadium will be increased ten-fold on Saturday night.   Meet the Wildcats on offense   The unquestioned star of the Wildcat offense is senior quarterback Nick Foles.  Foles is an exceptional player who possesses the necessary skill set to earn an opportunity to play in the NFL.  The one time Dirk Koetter recruit took a roundabout way to Tucson.  After breaking his commitment to Arizona State, he went to Michigan State and then transferred to Arizona.  The move was well thought out as Foles is now Arizona’s all time leading passer with 9,573 yards.  With two games to play, the scrappy Foles will be looking to add to that record.  On the season, Foles has been the bright spot on a team that has not had much to celebrate.  He has completed 319 of 466 passes for 3,612 yards, 23 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.  His interceptions have been higher this season because Foles has been forced into mistakes by a porous offensive line that has allowed 20 sacks.  Despite the struggles, he still boasts a 144.27 Passer Rating and is vying for All-Conference recognition behind Stanford’s Andrew Luck and USC’s Matt Barkley.   At the skill positions the Wildcats have one of the league’s best in senior wide receiver Juron Criner.  Criner is Foles’ favorite target who will get a long look by NFL scouts and will be playing on Sundays next season.  Criner is tall, fast, athletic and can embarrass a defender with his abilities.  On the season,the 6’4” 215 pound Criner has 57 catches for 693 yards and eight touchdowns.  Despite being double covered or bracketed in zone coverage by the opposition in an attempt to stop him, he still averages 77 receiving yards per game.  Against Colorado, he snagged seven passes for 84 yards.  Opposite Criner is Gino Crump.  While Crump does not have Criner’s gifts, he makes plays and led the team last week catching 10 passes for 95 yards.  On the ground, the Wildcats feature Keola Antolin who is a very good runner between the tackles and also has the speed to turn the corner on the perimeter.  Unfortunately for Antolin, the Wildcats abandon the run often as they fall behind but his talent is unquestioned.  In 2011, he has 98 rushes for 517 yards, three touchdowns and averages 6.0 yards per carry.   The offensive line for the Wildcats is big but they have struggled in 2011 giving up 20 sacks.  The two best players they have are at the tackle positions which is surprising given they are both redshirt freshmen.  Left tackle Mickey Baucus is huge at 6’8” 305 pounds.  He moves well but can play high at times.  He is slow to react to pass rush moves, but because he is so big, he can compensate and get his hands on defenders.  In the run game he can maul his opponent.  Right tackle Fabbians Ebbele is equally huge at 6’8”305 and will develop into a dominant player as his career develops.  He is athletic and plays physical in the run game, however, his pass blocking needs to improve.   How ASU matches up   This game is simple.  For ASU to win they need to make Foles and Criner non factors.  If those two players are eliminated from the offense by coverage and pressure the Wildcats are doomed.  For that to happen the most important aspect in this game is pressure.  Last week the ASU defense sacked Cooper Halliday one time the whole game despite his throwing 37 passes.  That cannot happen this week.  This is a game where the defensive line and linebackers have to help the secondary by pressuring Foles.  They need to blitz him, hit him, sack him, harass him and make him pay every time he throws the ball.  If Foles gets into a rhythm it will be another long day for the defense.  The best way for the defense to pressure is from the inside because the Wildcat interior line is suspect.  They give too much ground and do not react well to the blitz or line movement.  This is a game where Will Sutton and Bo Moos need to push the pocket and allow the defensive ends to get to Foles from the outside.  By keeping the corners outside short and collapsing the pocket inside it will keep Foles honest, not allow him to buy time and find the open receiver.  In the ASU secondary, this week is their opportunity to show the last two weeks have been flukes.  This is a game where they need to get back to form and be the bunch that forces turnovers and smothers opposing receivers.  It is vital that this group have a great game if the Sun Devils are to win.   Key Matchup: Juron Criner vs. ASU DBs   Meet the Wildcat defense   This unit has been the whipping boy in 2011.  After strong showings in 2009 and 2010, the Wildcats have been porous this season.  Through ten games, they are giving up an average of 36.1 points per game, 5.0 yards per rush, 179.8 rushing yards and 277.2 yards per game.  Without question this is a unit that hasn’t stopped anybody this season, save for UCLA who they blew out 48-12 at home.   Since that game in Tucson, the Wildcats have been dominated losing the next three games by an average score of 41-27 to Washington, Utah and Colorado.   The strength of what is an otherwise weak defense is the linebackers.  U of A has two that can make plays and do damage when given the opportunity.  Senior Paul Vasallo is a beast who plays hard, is strong and tackles very well.  He is the leader of the defense, plays with a lot of raw emotion and is the team’s leading tackler with 66.  He also makes plays on the ball having five tackles for loss, a sack, a pass break up and a fumble recovery.  Joining Vasallo at linebacker is senior Derek Earls.  Earls is also a playmaker who is second on the team in tackles with 60 along with two pass break ups and six tackles for loss.   On the defensive line the Wildcats are thin.  Their best player, CJ Parish, did not play last week due to an ankle injury but is expected back Saturday.  Parish is their best pass rusher and although he has only two sacks he can be disruptive and make life miserable for offensive tackles.  Parish has 30 tackles in 2011 and has recovered a fumble.  Opposite Parish is 6’3” 280 pound Kirifi Tuala who is improving each week.  Tuala has made 20 tackles in 2011 and is tough to move out of the way in the running game.   In the secondary, the Wildcats lack speed but they have two players who stand out.  Free safety Marquis Flowers has everything you need.  The 6’3” 220 pound Flowers is built more like a linebacker than a defensive back.  In 2011 he has 60 tackles, three for loss, a sack, a pass break up and an interception.  He is all over the field and must be accounted for on all plays.  Cornerback Shaquille Richardson is the Wildcats best cover man with three interceptions to go with his 41 tackles and three pass breakups.   How ASU matches up   Arizona has a hard time stopping teams on the ground.  Last week ASU had trouble running the football. This is one of those games where it’s anyone’s guess how ASU Offensive Coordinator Noel Mazzone will attack the defense.  Last week against Washington State where the weather was cold and wet, ASU aired it out by throwing 44 times.  With more favorable weather conditions in Tempe Saturday, expect Mazzone to do the opposite and take the terrestrial approach.  Expect to see Cameron Marshall get the ball often to force the Wildcats to commit seven to eight men to stop him.  For this to be successful, it’s all relying on the offensive line.  This unit was manhandled in the run game last week and must rebound with a strong performance against the Wildcats.  They need to get movement off the ball and open those lanes up for Marshall so that he can do what he does best… gash the opposition and get big yards on each run.  Once this is established, Brock Osweiler will pretty much have his pick of who to throw to in the passing game.  U of A does not have the personnel required to stop the ASU air attack.  By establishing a strong ground attack, it will open the secondary up and leave them man to man against Gerrel Robinson and Mike Willie.  Once that happens, Osweiler can throw it up and allow his big receivers to make plays on the ball.  Without any help over the top, it can mean huge yardage for ASU.  But it all comes down to the line.  They need to play their most physical game of the year, period.   Key Matchup: Mike Willie and Gerell Robinson vs. U of A defensive backs   Summary   This game is the moment of truth for ASU.  After the loss last week, many wrote the Sun Devils off, others called for the firing of Dennis Erickson and some even renounced their loyalty to the program.  Emotions run high after such an abysmal performance, but this is a new and important week.  It’s the Territorial Cup, there will be a Black Out and sold out Sun Devil Stadium with over 12,500 ASU students in the stands.  The environment cannot be any more favorable for ASU to come out and make the statement of the season on Saturday.  This is exactly the type of moment when they need to step onto Frank Kush Field and get back some of the respect that they lost the last two weeks.  If ASU comes out Saturday and plays like their lives depend on it, they fly around, make plays, create turnovers and play smart, then they win this game easily against a subpar Wildcat team.  However, if they display the bad game hangover like they did last week, Nick Foles and the Wildcats will be more than happy to leave Tempe with the Territorial Cup in hand.  Make no mistake about it, this is the biggest game of the year.  On Saturday night, the Sun Devils will decide whether or not 2011 will go down as a marquee year or a failed campaign that cost a man his job.  The emotion will run high and the intensity will be fierce.  I am expecting ASU to come out of the Tillman Tunnel angry, focused and ready to protect their home turf. The Arizona Wildcats will have to wait until 2012 to get a chance to take the Cup home.