(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
The Sun Devils (6-5, 4-4 Pac-12) visited the Arizona Wildcats (5-6, 4-4 Pac-12) in the 92nd annual Territorial Cup to decide second place in the Pac-12 South Division.
Arizona State started with the ball but was stagnant on its opening two drives, getting a combined two first downs- one of which came via a penalty.
The Wildcats managed a 29-yard field goal on their opening drive which was highlighted by a 47-yard connection from junior quarterback Khalil Tate to redshirt senior receiver Shawn Poindexter from their own 39 yard-line.
Leading 3-0 with five minutes left in the opening quarter, the Wildcats took just 1:45 to drive 78 yards for the game’s first touchdown- a 28-yard pass from Tate to redshirt senior receiver Tony Ellison a play after he converted a 2nd-and-5 with a 14-yard reception.
ASU was quick to respond though, as its third play on the ensuing drive was a 58-yard strike from senior quarterback Manny Wilkins to junior receiver Brandon Aiyuk, cutting the deficit to 10-7 which would carry into the second quarter.
The teams traded punts on their respective drives after that, but ASU was pinned deep in its own zone which allowed the Wildcats strong field position off of the punt return. In fact, 21 rushing yards from sophomore running back J.J. Taylor on the drive’s first two plays was all Arizona needed to kick a 23-yard field goal.
Following another ASU three-and-out, Arizona went on another touchdown drive that was aided in large part by a pass interference call on junior cornerback Kobe Williams. Three plays later, Tate hit Poindexter in the back corner of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown on a broken 3rd-and-1 play that the quarterback salvaged with his scrambling efforts.
Once again though, the Sun Devils were able to respond with a touchdown of their own on a 10-yard run by sophomore tailback Eno Benjamin. The drive was highlighted by an 18-yard pass from Wilkins to junior wide receiver Kyle Williams on a 3rd-and-10, and the score drew ASU within five points after Arizona failed a two-point conversion attempt on its previous drive.
The Wildcats got the last laugh of the half though, thanks in large part to sophomore Gary Brightwell’s 32-yard kickoff return. Tate marched his offense 44 yards with the 1:18 that was left in the half which was enough for a 36-yard field goal from kicker Josh Pollack to give Arizona a 22-14 lead at halftime.
