ASU’s Taylor Kelly starts, but Mike Bercovici finishes in Territorial Cup loss
Nov 29, 2014, 4:06 AM | Updated: 4:06 am
‘Twas turnovers killed the Sun Devils.
Both of Arizona State’s quarterbacks gave up the ball Friday in a 42-35 Territorial Cup loss to the Arizona Wildcats.
That’s right. Both.
Mike Bercovici was sent in by head coach Todd Graham late in the third quarter after starting quarterback Taylor Kelly threw for 144 yards, two touchdowns and had a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Arizona’s Anthony Lopez early in the game.
Arizona, up by two touchdowns in the third quarter with the reputation for piledriving opponents on the scoreboard in the fourth, also had the momentum after ASU’s failure to convert at the Wildcats’ one-inch line.
“We just felt like we needed a spark,” said Graham. “Being behind, we thought that Mike’s ability to throw the ball would help us. Whether that was a mistake or not, I don’t know.”
Where Kelly is known for his consistency — he does most things well, not all things great — Bercovici did develop a reputation when he filled in for an injured Kelly earlier in the season. He paced on the sideline, screaming encouragement to his teammates. He threw the Jael Mary. He conquered Stanford.
