Sun Devils edge Wildcats, 41-40

Territorial Cup


The Wildcats came out running and throwing for three and a half quarters. And then they decided to sit on the ball. It cost them dearly.

Instead, Arizona State wins the Territorial Cup 41-40 at Arizona Stadium tonight in front of crowd of disappointed Wildcat fans. A last-second field goal attempt goes awry. Arizona carried a 40-21 lead into the fourth quarter. The Wildcats fail to score in the final 15 minutes, while the Sun Devils put 20 on the scoreboard.

If Khalil Tate wasn't passing the ball in the early going, he was handing off to J.J. Taylor, who rushed for 144 yards and finished the game with 244 all-purpose yards.

Meanwhile, Tate was connecting to seven different receivers -- including  two TD strikes to Troy Ellison and another pinpoint bomb to Shawn Poindexter. Tate riddled the Sun Devil secondary for 282 yards and rushed for 46 yards.

And then came the fourth quarter.

Arizona finishes the season at 5-7 and the Arizona State Sun Devils improve to 7-5 and win the Cup and will head for a bowl game.

A terrible loss.