Postgame Notes - Territorial Cup

POSTGAME NOTES: ARIZONA STATE 70, ARIZONA 7

THE ASU VICTORY 

• Gives ASU 8 wins over Arizona in the last 11 matchups.

• Is the fourth straight victory over the Wildcats, the longest streak in the series since Arizona won five straight from 1982-86. It is the Sun Devils’ longest streak since winning four in a row from 1975-1978.

• Improves ASU to 16-9 in the series since the 1996 season.  

• Pushes the Sun Devils’ advantage in the series to 42-29 since 1949.

• Helps ASU avoid an (asterisk-filled) 0-3 start to start a season for the first time since 1976.

• Extends Arizona’s losing streak to 12 games and pushes the Wildcats to an 0-5 record to start the season for the first time in program history.

• The Sun Devils have won 6 of their last 10 in Tucson.

HE IS THE MAN

• Redshirt junior running back Jackson He made history tonight.

• The Shaoguan, China native is the first Chinese-born individual to carry the ball at the FBS level. Not only is he the first to carry the ball

DROPPING 70

• The Sun Devil offense scored 70 points in the 2020 edition of the Territorial Cup, the second-most points in program history (trailing only the 79 points scored against Colorado State in 1969).  

• It was the most points allowed by Arizona since allowing 78 to USC in 1928.

• The 70 points are the most scored by ASU in Territorial Cup history (previous RECORD was 61 in 1951). Also the most scored by either team in series history.

• It also represents the most points scored by the Sun Devils in a Pac-10/12 Conference game and the most points allowed by Arizona in a Pac-10/12 Conference game.

• Arizona State has now scored 455 points over their past 11 matchups with Arizona, averaging 41.4 points per game.

• The 42 points at halftime are the most points in a half since 1973 (46) and the most in a half against Arizona in series history.

• The 21 points are the most for a first quarter (by either team) in the series since ASU had 21 in 2006. ASU won that game 28-14.

• First time the Sun Devils have reached 60 points since scoring 68 vs. Texas Tech on 9/10/16

• This is the sixth time ASU has scored 50+ points against Arizona (three have come in the last decade; 2013, 2015, & 2020).

• The 63 point difference is the largest margin of victory for the Sun Devils in the series.

PUT ‘EM AWAY

• D.J. Taylor’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown set the tone for the Arizona State victory.

• The Sun Devils followed that up with another touchdown less than a minute into the game, a four-yard touchdown run by Chip Trayanum.

• It was just the third time any FBS program has scored two touchdowns in the first minute of a game since 1996. 

GO DJ, THAT IS MY DJ

• D.J. Taylor introduced himself to Sun Devil nation with an electric 100+-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game.

• That was ASU's first kick return for a touchdown (on a true kick return) since Tim White at #4 Utah, on Oct. 17, 2015 (100 yards).

• It was the first time ASU returned an OPENING kick for a touchdown since Jamal Miles vs. Washington State on Nov. 12, 2011 (95 yards).

• That was ASU's first kick return for a touchdown against Arizona in series history.

• The opening kickoff was the first time a team returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Arizona since UCLA's Matt Slater (100 yards) in 2007.

BOB MORAN AWARD (MVP)

• Sun Devil running back Rachaad White delivered one of the most memorable performances in Territorial Cup history and he was awarded the Bob Moran Award as the MVP of the game.

• White becomes the third consecutive Sun Devil running back to take home the award, joining his fellow #3 Eno Benjamin who won it the past two years (2019 & 2018).

• His 93-yard run in the second quarter was tied for the fifth-longest rush from scrimmage in program history. It was the first time a Sun Devil has had a 75+ yard run since Kalen Balllage vs. Texas Tech in September 2016. 

• He finished the game with 133 rushing yards, with over 100 of those coming in the first half. White is the first Sun Devil to reach 100 yards at halftime since Eno Benjamin had 125 yards at USC in October 2018.

• White is the first Sun Devil running back with three rushing touchdowns since Eno Benjamin had three at #15 Cal on Sept. 27, 2019.

GROUND GAME

• Arizona State finished with seven rushing touchdowns as a team.

• The seven rushing touchdowns are the most by Arizona State since accounting for seven scores on the ground vs. Texas Tech on 9/10/16.

• First time since 9/3/2016 against NAU that five different Sun Devils rushed for a touchdown.

TURNOVER FEST

• Arizona State’s defense took advantage of Wildcat mistakes, forcing seven turnovers (four fumbles & three interceptions).

• The Sun Devils have now forced 32 turnovers in the last ten games dating back to last season (3.2 turnovers per game).

DOMINANT DEFENSE

• Arizona struggled to do anything against the Sun Devil defense, scoring only seven points.

• Arizona State shut the Wildcats out in the second half, allowing only 90 yards and forcing four turnovers (gave up only 21 total yards in the third quarter).

• The Wildcats were 0-for-4 on fourth down.

• The 21 points allowed over the past two Territorial Cup matchups are the fewest the Sun Devils have allowed in a two-game stretch in the series since 1991-92 (20 points).

• It is the fifth time Arizona State has allowed less than 10 points in the Herm Edwards era (29 games). Prior to that, the Sun Devils had only accomplished the feat five times in the previous 78 games.

• ASU has held opponents to 30 or fewer points in 20 of 29 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it allowed 30+ in 32 of the previous 43 games prior to Edwards tenure.

CAREER HIGHS/FIRST

• Freshman linebackers Caleb McCullough and Jordan Banks both made their first interceptions of their career.

• Curtis Hodges 74-yard touchdown catch was the longest reception of his career. Coming into the game, he had 153 career receiving yards.

• Rachaad White, Daniyel Ngata, and Jackson He each recorded their first career rushing touchdown.

• Ricky Pearsall hauled in a 24-yard touchdown catch, the first of his career.

• Redshirt freshman quarterback and Marana native Trenton Bourget attempted and completed his first career passes.