Arizona vs. Arizona State: Wildcats look to keep control of the football
Nov 28, 2014, 1:40 AM | Updated: 1:40 am
This is not going to be your standard, run-of-the-mill Territorial Cup.
The Arizona Wildcats know this.
As they prepare to face the Arizona State Sun Devils in Arizona Stadium Friday, the Wildcats (9-2, 6-2 Pac-12) do so with something on the line.
Win, and there’s a chance they will win the Pac-12 South and advance to the Pac-12 title game, or at least earn their way into a New Year’s Day bowl game. Lose, and what has been an excellent season will lose a bit of its luster.
The Sun Devils, who have the same record as the Wildcats, are in the same spot.
In short, this game matters more than any in the rivalry game’s recent history.
“This is a really good one because it is in the same state, division, and conference,” Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said about the rivalry. “I don’t mind our fans asking about it. I don’t believe that ‘if you only win one game but you beat ASU, it’s a good year,’ but it is the most important game on our schedule because it is the rivalry game. The rivalry game is always the most important when you see it with no records.
“Now that we both have had pretty good years and have even more at stake, this makes it of added importance. Coming from the outside, I thought it was one of the best rivalries in college sports and coming from the inside now, I think that is still true. I think it has become more relevant nationally now because of the seasons we are both having. You know that for your fans, particularly in state, that the rivalry game is going to mean a lot to them, but I promise it doesn’t mean any more to them than it does to the players and coaches.”
For Rodriguez, it is a chance to earn his first win over ASU, after losing in both 2012 and 2013. Last year, his team was blown out in Tempe by a score of 58-21.
“It was tough because it was one of those losses that stick with you, especially because of how we lost,” Arizona safety and senior Jared Tevis said. “It hurts because we didn’t give them our best shot, but we have a chance to give them our best shot this week. We have been looking forward to it.”
During the game, Arizona got down early and appeared just about ready to make things interesting, but when Damarious Randall intercepted B.J. Denker’s pass and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown, whatever comeback attempt the Wildcats may have had in them was essentially put to bed.
In 2012, the Wildcats turned the ball over four times; in 2013, they coughed it up four times.
So for Arizona, turnovers may be the reason why they either win or lose Friday afternoon. Both UA and ASU are among the Pac-12’s leaders in turnover margin, with the Devils at +12 and Wildcats at +10. Though where the Sun Devils are really dangerous, as Arizona knows, is when it comes to points off turnovers.