ASU-Arizona gets off to the wonky start expected in the Territorial Cup
Nov 25, 2016, 8:39 PM | Updated: 8:59 pm
Arizona was huddling.
ASU was wearing gray helmets.
Zane Gonzalez was missing field goals.
The 2016 version of the Territorial Cup began unexpectedly. As usual, however, the ASU Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats produced momentum swings galore.
On the third play from scrimmage, Arizona quarterback Brandon Dawkins pulled the ball and took off for a 71-yard touchdown and 7-0 Wildcats lead just 1:12 into the game.
— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) November 26, 2016
Gonzalez missed a 53-yard field goal wide right on the next ASU possession, but the Sun Devils would score six plays into UA’s next offensive touch when a strip-sack on Dawkins ended with Koron Crump scooping up the ball and returning it for a 42-yard score to tie it.
Scoop and the score for ASU ties things at 7-7 pic.twitter.com/rNeZePpHTf
— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) November 26, 2016
The rest of the first quarter included a questionable pass interference call on Arizona followed immediately by UA cornerback Davonte’ Neal’s interception — a product out of Scottsdale’s Chaparral High School — and a pretty leaping gain by Wildcats running back Samajie Grant.
Samajie Grant watched some ASU film @SunDevilSource pic.twitter.com/H0QAUgPKUP
— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) November 26, 2016
Yep, rivalry games are weird.
The Wildcats would score a touchdown off the ASU turnover and add another for a 21-7 lead when Dawkkins found WR Nate Phillips on a 64-yard score. Wilkins’ fumble on the Sun Devils’ next possession led to yet another Arizona score that gave the Wildcats a 28-7 lead with seven minutes to play in the first half.
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