TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State kept the Territorial Cup with a 58-21 win.
Arizona did not look like the same team that beat Oregon, as it was held scoreless for a majority of Saturday night’s first half.
The Wildcats started out the second half trailing 30-7. However, junior running back Ka’Deem Carey quickly rushed for 8 yards into the end zone to help the Wildcats get up to 14 points on their first drive of the second half.
Arizona put up a fight in its second drive of the half, but a 64-yard interception for a touchdown scored by ASU junior defensive back Damarious Randall quickly put a stop to Arizona’s offense and the Sun Devils led 37-14 with 7:24 left in the third quarter.
Arizona scored a clumsy yet successful touchdown in the bottom of the third quarter after Denker rushed the ball for 21 yards and fumbled it. It was then recovered by junior receiver Garic Wharton for a score.
ASU, however, quickly responded with a 61-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Jaelen Strong, which put the Sun Devils up 44-21. Arizona fumbled the ball once again on the kick off, and ASU had possession back right away.
The fourth quarter started with another Sun Devil touchdown, scored by sophomore running back D.J. Foster. ASU was up by an even 30 points with 13:17 left in the game, and some Sun Devil fans started to file out of the stadium.
Arizona junior cornerback Jonathan McKnight intercepted the ball to give the Wildcats a possession that immediately resulted in an ASU interception made by cornerback Osahon Irabor.
The Sun Devils scored again to end up with 58 points.
Wildcats senior defensive lineman Sione Tuihalamaka shone for the defense, recording three sacks.
Sun Devil Stadium will host the Pac-12 championship with a spot in the Rose Bowl.
The Wildcats still remain bowl eligible with a 7-5 record.