TUCSON – Sun Devil Football entered unchartered territory with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter of Saturday's contest against the University of Arizona. UA senior Tony Ellison brought home his second touchdown reception of the day to put the Wildcats up 40-21 – the most points allowed by ASU this season and the largest deficit the team had faced.
What followed will go down as some of the most incredible 15 minutes in the history of the storied rivalry as the Sun Devils scored 20 unanswered fourth quarter points en route to a 41-40 victory in Tucson.
Eno Benjamin ran for three touchdowns in the contest and the Sun Devil defense pitched a shutout and forced two turnovers in the final frame in one of the most improbable compacts in the history of the Territorial Cup – and keeping the Cup in Tempe for another 364 days.
The 19-point comeback was the fourth longest overall for the Sun Devils since at least 1996 and the largest fourth-quarter comeback to occur in that time. The Sun Devils are now 4-1 this season in games decided by three points or less and have played nine games this season decided by less than a touchdown. All five of ASU's losses have fallen in that category.
BIGGEST COMEBACKS FOR @ASUFOOTBALL (1996-PRESENT)
22- ASU 39, @San Diego State 28 (Sept. 14, 2002)/ASU trailed 22-0 in the second quarter
21- ASU 45, @Oregon 42 (Oct. 19, 2002)/ASU trailed 21-0 9:15 left in the second quarter
21- ASU 42, @UCLA 34 (Oct. 12, 1996)/ASU Trailed 28-7 in the first quarter
19- ASU 41, @Arizona 40 (Nov. 24, 2018)/ASU trailed 40-21 entering the fourth quarter
19- ASU 44, Oregon State 24 (Sept. 22, 2007)/ASU trailed 19-0 6:20 in the first
Benjamin's third touchdown rush of the game placed ASU up 41-40 with 3:08 remaining in regulation. The Wildcats made one final push to get within field goal range and a chance to win but Josh Pollack's 45-yard attempt sailed wide right with 11 seconds remaining to seal the deal of the Sun Devils and move ASU to 7-5 on the season and 5-4 in Pac-12 action.
LARGEST FOURTH-QUARTER COMEBACKS IN PAC-12 GAMES SINCE 1996
21-UCLA 30, @Stanford 27 OT (Oct. 29, 2005)/trailed 24-3
21-Oregon State 41, @Colorado 34 OT (Oct. 27, 2018)/trailed 31-10
19-Arizona State 41, @Arizona 40 (Nov. 24, 2018)/trailed 40-21
18-Washington State 31, Washington 28 OT (Nov. 23, 2012)/trailed 28-10
18-Arizona 49, California 45 (Sept. 20, 2014)/trailed 31-13
Benjamin was named the Bob Moran Most Outstanding Player, finishing with 80 yards on the ground in addition to his three scores. Benjamin needs just 42 yards in ASU's bowl game to set ASU's all-time single season rushing record. He sits at 1,524 yards on the 2018 campaign as he eyes Woody Green's 1972 school record of 1,565 yards.
His 15 scores on the ground this year are tied for sixth in ASU single season history. He also set the ASU school record for season rushing attempts, now sitting at 277 on the season – surpassing Freddie Williams' 1975 school record of 266 carries.
Manny Wilkins was 18-of-31 for 265 yards, throwing for one touchdown and rushing for another – the 20thof his career – without turning the ball over once. He finished with 57 total rushing yards, many of which coming in the second half as he helped guide the Sun Devils to the come-from-behind win.
Aashari Crosswell had two pass breakups and an interception – all coming in the final 15 minutes of the contest. Tyler Johnson recovered a pivotal fumble to set up the go-ahead score and Demonte King returned from injury in the final regular season game of his career to log 10 tackles – nine of the solo variety.
The Sun Devil defense, which had held opponents to the sixth-fewest points per fourth quarter this season (3.8) shut out an opponent in the fourth quarter for the fifth time this season. ASU has now outscored the opposition 119-42 in the fourth quarter of games this season.
The comeback started innocuously as Brandon Ruiz knocked through a routine 27-yard field goal with 13:05 remaining to bring ASU back within 40-24.
The Sun Devil defense, which had labored in allowing scores on 8 of 10 Arizona possession to that point in the game, finally got the stop it needed: forcing the Wildcats to punt on 4th-and-1 with just over nine minutes remaining.
ASU wasted no time, driving 80 yards on 8 plays over the next 2:25 to make it a one possession game following Wilkins' 11-yard touchdown rush and ensuing two-point conversion on a pass to Tommy Hudson to put the defense back on the spot, trailing 40-32.
The defense responded in kind, forcing the Wildcats into third-and-long and getting enough pressure on UA quarterback Khalil Tate to roll out and make a bad throw across his body on his own side of the field. Aashari Crosswell was in perfect position for his third interception in the last four games, returning it deep into Arizona territory to set up a Ruiz field goal from 39 yards out to bring ASU back within 40-35 with 3:33 remaining.
The Wildcats, needing to run out the clock, fumbled away the ball on a botched rushing play that was quickly fallen upon by Johnson – ASU's second takeaway in just over 90 seconds – to set ASU up at the Arizona 22-yard-line with 3:15 left.
Benjamin wasted no time, take the first handoff from scrimmage and bursting through a huge hole paved by left tackle Zack Robertson and tight end Tommy Hudson for a 22-yard touchdown with 3:08 remaining, putting ASU up 41-40 after a failed two-point conversion.
Arizona had one final attempt at things, driving to the ASU 27-yard line on the final possession of the game but ASU forced the Wildcats into fourth-down with 17 seconds remaining and holding for the missed field goal to retain the Territorial Cup.
ASU's defense bent but didn't necessarily break all day, forcing Arizona into four short field goal attempts throughout the first three quarters of the game – trading touchdowns for three points and giving the offense a fighting shot of things in the end.
The first half was a tale of runs for the Wildcats and counterpunches from ASU. Arizona opened the game with a 10-0 lead before Wilkins found Brandon Aiyuk for a 58-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Aiyuk finished the game with a game-high 106 receiving yards on five catches.
The Wildcats responded with nine more unanswered points to go up 19-7 before Benjamin's first score of the contest again made it a one-possession game. Again, however, Arizona scored another eight points (two field goals and a safety) to stake a 27-14 lead early in the third quarter.
Following Benjamin's second touchdown to make it a six-point game, Arizona scored 14 unanswered points to close out the third quarter and place ASU in its largest deficit of the season prior to the fourth quarter theatrics.
The Sun Devils will now await their postseason fate with an announcement for a bowl berth scheduled for next Sunday, Dec. 2. Stay tuned to @ASUFootball on Twitter and www.thesundevils.com for continuous updates on all things Sun Devil Football.
What followed will go down as some of the most incredible 15 minutes in the history of the storied rivalry as the Sun Devils scored 20 unanswered fourth quarter points en route to a 41-40 victory in Tucson.
Eno Benjamin ran for three touchdowns in the contest and the Sun Devil defense pitched a shutout and forced two turnovers in the final frame in one of the most improbable compacts in the history of the Territorial Cup – and keeping the Cup in Tempe for another 364 days.
The 19-point comeback was the fourth longest overall for the Sun Devils since at least 1996 and the largest fourth-quarter comeback to occur in that time. The Sun Devils are now 4-1 this season in games decided by three points or less and have played nine games this season decided by less than a touchdown. All five of ASU's losses have fallen in that category.
BIGGEST COMEBACKS FOR @ASUFOOTBALL (1996-PRESENT)
22- ASU 39, @San Diego State 28 (Sept. 14, 2002)/ASU trailed 22-0 in the second quarter
21- ASU 45, @Oregon 42 (Oct. 19, 2002)/ASU trailed 21-0 9:15 left in the second quarter
21- ASU 42, @UCLA 34 (Oct. 12, 1996)/ASU Trailed 28-7 in the first quarter
19- ASU 41, @Arizona 40 (Nov. 24, 2018)/ASU trailed 40-21 entering the fourth quarter
19- ASU 44, Oregon State 24 (Sept. 22, 2007)/ASU trailed 19-0 6:20 in the first
Benjamin's third touchdown rush of the game placed ASU up 41-40 with 3:08 remaining in regulation. The Wildcats made one final push to get within field goal range and a chance to win but Josh Pollack's 45-yard attempt sailed wide right with 11 seconds remaining to seal the deal of the Sun Devils and move ASU to 7-5 on the season and 5-4 in Pac-12 action.
LARGEST FOURTH-QUARTER COMEBACKS IN PAC-12 GAMES SINCE 1996
21-UCLA 30, @Stanford 27 OT (Oct. 29, 2005)/trailed 24-3
21-Oregon State 41, @Colorado 34 OT (Oct. 27, 2018)/trailed 31-10
19-Arizona State 41, @Arizona 40 (Nov. 24, 2018)/trailed 40-21
18-Washington State 31, Washington 28 OT (Nov. 23, 2012)/trailed 28-10
18-Arizona 49, California 45 (Sept. 20, 2014)/trailed 31-13
Benjamin was named the Bob Moran Most Outstanding Player, finishing with 80 yards on the ground in addition to his three scores. Benjamin needs just 42 yards in ASU's bowl game to set ASU's all-time single season rushing record. He sits at 1,524 yards on the 2018 campaign as he eyes Woody Green's 1972 school record of 1,565 yards.
His 15 scores on the ground this year are tied for sixth in ASU single season history. He also set the ASU school record for season rushing attempts, now sitting at 277 on the season – surpassing Freddie Williams' 1975 school record of 266 carries.
Manny Wilkins was 18-of-31 for 265 yards, throwing for one touchdown and rushing for another – the 20thof his career – without turning the ball over once. He finished with 57 total rushing yards, many of which coming in the second half as he helped guide the Sun Devils to the come-from-behind win.
Aashari Crosswell had two pass breakups and an interception – all coming in the final 15 minutes of the contest. Tyler Johnson recovered a pivotal fumble to set up the go-ahead score and Demonte King returned from injury in the final regular season game of his career to log 10 tackles – nine of the solo variety.
The Sun Devil defense, which had held opponents to the sixth-fewest points per fourth quarter this season (3.8) shut out an opponent in the fourth quarter for the fifth time this season. ASU has now outscored the opposition 119-42 in the fourth quarter of games this season.
The comeback started innocuously as Brandon Ruiz knocked through a routine 27-yard field goal with 13:05 remaining to bring ASU back within 40-24.
The Sun Devil defense, which had labored in allowing scores on 8 of 10 Arizona possession to that point in the game, finally got the stop it needed: forcing the Wildcats to punt on 4th-and-1 with just over nine minutes remaining.
ASU wasted no time, driving 80 yards on 8 plays over the next 2:25 to make it a one possession game following Wilkins' 11-yard touchdown rush and ensuing two-point conversion on a pass to Tommy Hudson to put the defense back on the spot, trailing 40-32.
The defense responded in kind, forcing the Wildcats into third-and-long and getting enough pressure on UA quarterback Khalil Tate to roll out and make a bad throw across his body on his own side of the field. Aashari Crosswell was in perfect position for his third interception in the last four games, returning it deep into Arizona territory to set up a Ruiz field goal from 39 yards out to bring ASU back within 40-35 with 3:33 remaining.
The Wildcats, needing to run out the clock, fumbled away the ball on a botched rushing play that was quickly fallen upon by Johnson – ASU's second takeaway in just over 90 seconds – to set ASU up at the Arizona 22-yard-line with 3:15 left.
Benjamin wasted no time, take the first handoff from scrimmage and bursting through a huge hole paved by left tackle Zack Robertson and tight end Tommy Hudson for a 22-yard touchdown with 3:08 remaining, putting ASU up 41-40 after a failed two-point conversion.
Arizona had one final attempt at things, driving to the ASU 27-yard line on the final possession of the game but ASU forced the Wildcats into fourth-down with 17 seconds remaining and holding for the missed field goal to retain the Territorial Cup.
ASU's defense bent but didn't necessarily break all day, forcing Arizona into four short field goal attempts throughout the first three quarters of the game – trading touchdowns for three points and giving the offense a fighting shot of things in the end.
The first half was a tale of runs for the Wildcats and counterpunches from ASU. Arizona opened the game with a 10-0 lead before Wilkins found Brandon Aiyuk for a 58-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Aiyuk finished the game with a game-high 106 receiving yards on five catches.
The Wildcats responded with nine more unanswered points to go up 19-7 before Benjamin's first score of the contest again made it a one-possession game. Again, however, Arizona scored another eight points (two field goals and a safety) to stake a 27-14 lead early in the third quarter.
Following Benjamin's second touchdown to make it a six-point game, Arizona scored 14 unanswered points to close out the third quarter and place ASU in its largest deficit of the season prior to the fourth quarter theatrics.
The Sun Devils will now await their postseason fate with an announcement for a bowl berth scheduled for next Sunday, Dec. 2. Stay tuned to @ASUFootball on Twitter and www.thesundevils.com for continuous updates on all things Sun Devil Football.