Nov. 26, 2004
By Nate Policar
ASU Sports Information
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - The annual storied rivalry between the Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State Sun Devils is renewed each year the day after Thanksgiving as the two clubs clash in a battle for state bragging rights and a year's rights to the Territorial Cup. Winners of three straight Big Games, the Sun Devils visited Arizona Stadium ranked in both polls and headed to a bowl game, but could not avoid the upset as the Wildcats escaped with a narrow 34-27 victory.
"It's a no-brainer. You're not going to beat anybody turning it over five times," said ASU coach Dirk Koetter. "We've been great in the red zone all year. We've done a great job of taking care of the ball all year. There are very few teams that are talented enough to lay it on the ground five times and not finish drives in the red zone and still win. We were almost able to overcome it, but almost does not count. Arizona made the plays and we didn't."
The Sun Devils (8-3, 5-3) came out of the gate strong, as senior quarterback Andrew Walter connected with junior tailback Hakim Hill on a 29-yard reception before Hill carried the ball 22 yards to set up a Sun Devil scoring opportunity. After a 21-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Jesse Ainsworth, the Devils jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.
The Wildcats (3-8, 2-6) answered back immediately with a field goal of their own. After a quarterback keeper by Robert Kovalcheck brought the Wildcats across the midfield line, kicker Nick Folk tied the game at 3-3 with a 53-yard field goal with 5:27 remaining in the first frame.
The Sun Devils drove 76 yards on their very next drive, but were stopped on two straight plays from the Arizona one-yard line and turned the ball over on downs. With possession on their own four-yard line, the Wildcats committed a costly turnover, as ASU safety Josh Barrett intercepted a pass from Kovalcheck and returned it to the Arizona seven-yard line. Two plays later, Hill carried the ball into the end zone, giving the Sun Devils a 10-3 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
The Wildcats got a break to open the second quarter, as Hakim Hill fumbled the football on the ASU 49-yard line. Recovering the loose ball, the Wildcats struck quickly as Kovalcheck found receiver Steve Fleming on the sideline for a 54-yard gain and a touchdown, tying the score at 10-10.
On the ensuing possession, the Wildcats again forced a fumble, as linebacker Kirk Johnson recovered the ball and returned it 22 yards to the ASU 24-yard line. From there, Folk hit a 23-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a slim edge at 13-10.
The Devils quickly punted the ball back to the Wildcats, but this time the ASU defense caused a turnover of their own, as lineman Jimmy Verdon stripped the ball from Arizona's Kovalcheck and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown, pulling the Devils ahead 17-13 with just over four minutes remaining in the half.
With the clock winding down in the first half, the Wildcats caught a break when Jesse Ainsworth's 44-yard field goal attempt was blocked, giving possession to the Wildcats at midfield with 2:07 remaining. A 22-yard rush by tailback Mike Bell set up a two-yard touchdown pass from Kovalcheck to Mike Jefferson, allowing Arizona to end the half with a 20-17 advantage, a lead they would never yield.
Opening the second half with a fumble, ASU was unable to score again from within the 10-yard line, as Hakim Hill fumbled the ball into the end zone, resulting in a touchback for Arizona. Reeling off a 57-yard run from Mike Bell, the Wildcats scored again when tailback Gilbert Harris carried the ball six yards into the end zone for a touchdown and a 27-17 lead.
With the third quarter winding down, Walter took the field for the Sun Devils on their five-yard line and completed a 40-yard pass to receiver Matt Miller. He then connected with Derek Hagan on a 42-yard reception to set up a 36-yard field goal by Jesse Ainsworth to begin the fourth quarter, pulling the Devils closer at 27-20.
Forcing the Wildcats into a punt, the Devils took over on their own 20-yard line. However, their attempt to tie the score was denied when Matt Miller fumbled the ball on the ASU 47-yard line and the Wildcats recovered possession. One play later, Kovalcheck again connected with Jefferson, gaining 47 yards and a touchdown to open up a two-score lead for the Wildcats at 34-20 with under 10 minutes remaining in the contest.
Starting from their own 20-yard line, Walter found Hagan on a 20-yard reception to move the ball down field. However, a quarterback keeper by Andrew Walter at midfield knocked him out of the game with a shoulder injury and forced backup Sam Keller to lead the Devils in their comeback attempt. Finding Hagan on a 16-yard gain, Keller connected with receiver Jamaal Lewis in the corner of the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 34-27.
Forcing the Wildcats into another punt, the Sun Devils took over possession on their own 20-yard line with 2:20 remaining in the game. Down by a touchdown, Keller connected with receiver Zach Miller for 15 yards and then found Mutz downfield on a 42-yard gain. On the Wildcats 23-yard line, the Devils were forced to try and convert on a fourth-and-ten with just 1:25 remaining on the clock. Keller's pass to Matt Miller on the Arizona five-yard fell incomplete and the Wildcats took over possession, running out the remainder of the clock and preserving the upset victory at 34-27.
"The character of this team showed when we faced adversity (in going 8-3, up from 5-7 in 2003). This team has really set the foundation for our future, bigger than what people truly understand," said athletic director Gene Smith following the game. "It was loss, but we're moving on, and we're building this thing for the future. Players hurt more than the fans do, but they get over it faster because they know there is another opportunity. That's the great thing about sport."