Arizona State Blows Out Arizona

The college football season has been a patchwork of games due to Covid-19, with some traditional rivalries not happening this year. A prime example of this is the cancellation of the Ohio State-Michigan game. But other rivalries have managed to carry on, such as the Arizona–Arizona State game. The Wildcat-Sun Devil matchup, for a trophy called the Territorial Cup, has been played 94 times (including this year) dating back to 1899–13 years before Arizona became a state. This year’s game was December 11th at Arizona’s home in Tucson.

Perhaps the Arizona fans would have preferred it if the game had been cancelled. Arizona State’s D.J. Taylor took the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. On its first possession, Arizona fumbled on its third play from scrimmage and it was recovered by ASU at the Wildcats’ four yard line. DeaMonte Trayanum scored on the Sun Devils’ first play after the fumble recovery, and Arizona State led 14-0 just 56 seconds into the game.

It didn’t get any better for the Wildcats. The Sun Devils led 42-0 in the second quarter before Arizona got on the board to make it 42-7 at halftime. Arizona State scored three touchdowns in each of the first three quarters, before being “held” to just one in the fourth in the 70-7 rout of Arizona.

The Wildcats didn’t help themselves by throwing three interceptions and losing four fumbles. Rachaad White led all rushers with 133 yards–on just 10 carries. He got most of that on a 93 yard touchdown run in the second quarter. White scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter.

The loss cost Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin his job. The third year coach was 9-20 with the Wildcats, including losses in all three Territorial Cup games he coached.