(Photo: Hailey Rogalski/WCSN)
TUCSON – Amidst a turbulent season for Arizona State Football (3-9, 2-7 Pac-12), the one constant since Shaun Aguano took over as interim head coach has been the family mantra of “Ohana.”
And when a family experiences a loss, it mourns together.
Despite the tumultuous year and the challenging road looming ahead, Aguano’s clan once again left it all out on the field down in Tucson with a streak on its side.
The Sun Devils had won five consecutive games in the historic Territorial Cup with the Arizona Wildcats (5-7, 3-6 Pac-12). Despite both squads suffering sour seasons, the matchup was a rock fight to the end, with both sides delivering back-and-forth haymakers – both figuratively and literally, including the opposing mascots – until one side was left standing.
In the end, ASU could not overcome five turnovers in a 38-35 defeat, and the Wildcats took home the Cup for the first time since 2016. The Sun Devils now close with a 3-9 record, the most losses in a single season in program history and the worst single-season winning percentage (.250) since 1942.
With everything ASU had gone through this season, including a head coach and quarterback change, Aguano’s bunch didn’t hide its emotions following the game. Perhaps the most emotional was the patriarch figure himself, as Aguano recognized this was likely his last game as acting head coach.
“I’m a pretty smart guy in regards to [the fact that] we didn’t get the job done,” Aguano said. “And it’s a win business, I get it. And I’m so good, because I took care of those kids. I’m always going to be a Sun Devil. This is one of the greatest things that has happened in my life and my family’s life, and we made a difference. We didn’t get it done, so there’s going to be a lot of disappointed people … and I’ll take that and I’m good with it. But I love those kids in that room.”
With the Sun Devils holding a 14-10 lead at halftime, the emotional affair picked up rapid speed in the third quarter. The two offenses combined for 35 points and 429 total yards in entirely different methods.
The Sun Devils scored on two touchdown drives totaling 19 plays and over eight minutes in the quarter. On the first score, Bourguet delivered a sidearm sling on the run to senior wide receiver Giovanni Sanders for a 9-yard touchdown, giving ASU a 21-17 lead.
Immediately following his second of three touchdown heaves on the day, the Tucson native – who treated the Wildcats as a “faceless opponent” – lifted his hands above his head, pointed and fist pumped towards his section of family and friends, who were wearing bright gold shirts in the thick of Arizona’s all-red student section.
“Growing up, I didn’t miss a home game here (Arizona Stadium) from the time I was born to the time I was 14,” Bourguet said. “This tunnel where we run out of, I was in that first row. I was booing (former ASU quarterback) [Mike] Bercovici when he’d run out, and now I’m that guy running out. So it’s crazy how it all worked out but I wouldn’t change anything for the world.
“It just proves to everybody out there in the state of Arizona – outside the world – you may be overlooked, but control what you can and good things can happen.”
On Arizona’s three scoring drives of the quarter, the Wildcats’ explosive offense combined for just 12 plays in under four minutes. After the Sanders touchdown, Arizona marched down the field in three plays and scored off junior running back Michael Wiley’s 12-yard scamper down the far sideline.
After freshman running back Tevin White fumbled on another promising ASU drive, the Wildcats instantly capitalized as Wiley sprinted his way to a 72-yard house call, swinging the momentum back to the home team with four minutes to play in the third. Wiley ended the night with 12 carries, 214 yards and three touchdowns, earning the Bob Moran Territorial Cup Most Valuable Player Award.
Aguano took ownership for the defensive shortcomings and recognized the challenges of facing such a high-octane offense, with the Sun Devils forced “to play catch-up all the time.”
ASU continued to battle back, scoring on consecutive possessions to end the third and start the fourth quarter, but the turnovers proved to be insurmountable.
After senior running back DJ Williams scored the go-ahead 6-yard touchdown run with 8:53 to play, Bourguet was again in charge of a masterful drive lasting over 10 plays and five minutes. On third-and-6 from Arizona’s 20-yard line, Bourguet faced pressure from two Wildcats in opposite directions and had the ball stripped and taken away, with redshirt senior defensive end Jalen Harris forcing the fumble.
The Sun Devils would get one more chance after the defense forced a quick four-play turnover on downs, but Arizona’s big play ability would show up once more. Down three points with just over 90 seconds left, ASU was driving at the Wildcats’ 43-yard line, but Bourguet’s elbow was hit on a second-and-15 pass by freshman linebacker Jacob Manu, and the ball fluttered through the air before being intercepted by redshirt freshman safety Isaiah Taylor to seal the victory.
After the play, the Wildcat faithful erupted while a fight broke out between the rivals near Arizona’s sideline, as multiple players on each side were subsequently ejected.
“It’s an emotional game. I get it,” Aguano said. “People are in each other’s faces, there’s personal fouls. It’s just the love for the game and that’s just the game of football, but those turnovers really hurt us.”
Bourguet was 37-of-49 passing for 376 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. The leader in the receiving game was Sanders, who had eight catches and a game-high 120 yards with a touchdown.
Meanwhile the Sun Devils’ defense limited sophomore quarterback Jayden de Laura – who entered the game fifth nationally in passing – to a 12-for-23 performance with 200 yards passing, as head coach Jedd Fisch chose to lean on his strong ground game.
ASU now embarks on a mirky offseason, with its Ohana likely to be broken up via the NFL draft, transfer portal and graduation. It’s unknown what Aguano’s future holds in Tempe, but on the day after Thanksgiving, all he could do was be grateful for what his so-called “kids” gave to him.
“When I first went in my first interview, [I was] really excited about me inspiring young men,” Aguano said. “And making sure that they play for more than themselves and loving each other. … But in reality, it turned the other way because they taught me how to be accountable for them. They inspired me to come out to practice every day. As much as I thought me and the coaching staff were going to do our job, shoot, that thing turned all the way around.
“I am proud of our kids and the adversity in the last 20 months they’ve been through, and they’re going to be successful later on in life. And I told them, ‘My phone number will never change. No matter what time it is. I’ll pick it up if you ever need me.’”
