Territorial Cup
With an ASU 58-21 victory, Arizona’s lead in the all-time series with Arizona State has slimmed to 47-39-1. Coming into the game, the last four games had been decided by less than a touchdown, as well as seven of the last nine, but the Sun Devils’ 37-point winning margin was the most in the matchup between the two teams since 1996, when ASU beat UA, 56-14. ASU has won back-to-back Territorial Cup games for the first time since it won three-straight from 2005-07. The Wildcats won back-to-back matchups in 2008-09.
Making History
ASU’s 58 points is the most scored in a Territorial Cup game in the Pac-12 era (1978-present). The previous high came in 1996 when the Sun Devils put up 56 against Arizona in Tucson.
Who’s Territory?
Before Arizona State’s home victory, the visiting team had won the past four Territorial Cup matchups, and five of the last seven between the two teams.
Let’s Host
Because they beat Arizona, the Sun Devils now have earned the privilege to host the Pac-12 Championship next weekend, Dec. 7, at 5:45 p.m. (MT) against Stanford.
A Point-Scoring Machine…
With his 38-yard touchdown pass to Darwin Rogers in the first quarter, Taylor Kelly became Arizona State’s record-holder for total points responsible for, breaking Mike Pagel’s record of 198 set all the way back in 1981. Kelly has been responsible for a total of 210 points so far this season on 27 passing touchdowns and eight rushing touchdowns.
…Along with another Point-Scoring Machine
Zane Gonzalez has 124 points on the season, second in ASU history only to Wilford White’s 136 in 1950. Gonzalez’s extra point put him ahead of Terry Battle at 120 points from 1996. Gonzalez’s 124 points also puts him first in points by kicking in a single season for a Sun Devil, breaking the previous record of 118 set by Thomas Weber (2007) and Mike Barth (2002). Gonzalez has made 22 field goals and 58 extra points thus far this season.
In-Zane in the Membrane
True freshman placekicker Zane Gonzalez has made 18-straight field goals dating back to Sept. 28 against USC and has made 22 of 25 on the year (88 percent). With a 23-yard field goal late in the first half, Gonzalez broke Thomas Weber’s record of 17-straight makes which he set in 2007.
Gold Zone
Since Arizona State’s first drive against Wisconsin, it has scored 56 times in the red zone in 58 total trips. With exception of a mercy kneel vs. CU/OSU, it has scored on 58-straight red zone drives. It was 6 for 6 in the red zone against the Wildcats.
Strike First
With a Zane Gonzalez 38-yard field goal in the first quarter, the Sun Devils have now scored first in 21 of the 25 games with Todd Graham as head coach. They are 9-1 this season in such contests when they get on the scoreboard first, and 16-5 under Graham in his time leading the program.
Start Strong…Finish Strong
Arizona State scored 13 points in the first quarter to UA’s zero and has now outscored opponents 265-112 in the first quarter under Todd Graham, and 117-43 in the first quarter this season. Also telling, it has outscored opponents 261-128 in the fourth quarter since Graham took over at ASU and 129-72 this year after winning the fourth quarter against the Wildcats, 14-0.
Shutting Them Out
The Sun Devils have now shut out their opponents in the first quarter seven different times this year. They are unblemished at a perfect 13-0 under Todd Graham when accomplishing this feat.
Foster the People
With a 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and a seven-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, D.J. Foster now has four rushing touchdowns on the year, all of which have come in the past three games. He had one each against Oregon State and UCLA, as well as two against Arizona. Foster doubled his season touchdown mark on the ground Saturday night.
In the Midst of the Giving Mood
The Sun Devils have forced a turnover in 26-straight games, including one or more in all 25 games under Coach Graham’s helm. They are third in the country among FBS schools for the longest active streak, trailing only Stanford and Missouri.
Make ‘Em Pay
So far in 2013, Arizona State is outscoring opponents 136-52 in points off turnovers while posting a +13 turnover margin, which leads the Pac-12. It has put points on the board following 76.7 percent of opponent turnovers (23-of-30) compared to opponents scoring just 35.3 percent (6-of-17) of the time off ASU turnovers. It has 17 touchdowns this season off of 30 turnovers, aided by five interceptions returned for touchdowns. The Sun Devils outscored the Wildcats 28-0 in points off turnovers.
To the House
Damarious Randall notched his third interception on the season, but brought it 64 yards to the house for his first touchdown. His previous long for a return after an interception this season was 26 yards. The Sun Devils have now taken interceptions back for a touchdown five times on the year and eight times under Todd Graham. They had four in the previous three seasons before Graham. Randall is third on the team in interceptions, tied with Osahon Irabor, and trails only Robert Nelson (6) and Alden Darby (4).
Firsts Coming at a Prime Time
Darwin Rogers caught his first touchdown pass of the season off a 38-yard catch and run in the first quarter to make the score 13-0, Sun Devils. Rogers’ touchdown reception was the second of his career. De’Marieya Nelson also ran for his first-career touchdown with a one-yard rush to improve the score to 27-0 in the second quarter, and got his second-career rushing touchdown with a one-yard run in the fourth quarter. He also forced his second fumble of the season and recovered his first fumble of the season.
The Force is Strong
This season, 44 of Jaelen Strong’s receptions have gone for first downs out of 63 total catches that he has (70 percent). Last season, ASU’s leading wide receiver in first downs only amassed 28 in the entirety of 2012.
Explosive Plays
ASU now has 130 (78 passing, 52 rushing) explosive plays this season after getting 12 Saturday against the Wildcats. Coach Graham classifies an explosive play as a pass of 16 or more yards and a rush of 12 or more yards. Jaelen Strong now has 28 explosive plays on the season, notable because both Rashad Ross and D.J. Foster led the team in 2012 with only 18.
Take Your Time
ASU had one scoring drives of four or more minutes against Arizona, raising its season total to 14. It had just three of such possessions in the entirety of last season.
An Unwelcoming First Half
Arizona’s season-low for points is six when they faced Washington earlier this season. The Sun Devils held UA to only seven points through the first half Saturday night.
Power Punting
Alex Garoutte booted a 59-yard punt in the third quarter, a career long.
Packing the House
The attendance for Saturday night’s Territorial Cup was 72,542; it was the 12-largest crowd in Sun Devil Stadium history.