Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton experiments with play calling in Territorial Cup victory

Dec 1, 2013, 2:11 PM | Updated: 2:11 pm

TEMPE, Ariz. — If opposing teams weren’t already scared of the threat defensive tackle Will Sutton poses on the field, they ought to audible or burn a timeout if they know he’s calling the plays, too.

Arizona turned the ball over on downs three times in Saturday’s Territorial Cup. On two of those instances, Sutton took the responsibility from Coach Todd Graham’s hands and called the plays himself.

“I told him I’ll start letting you call them [plays],” Graham explained. “He said, ‘Hey we ought to run this based on the way they’re blocking it.’ So I guess I’m going to start having him call the defenses.”

Both plays required no room for error on fourth-and-short situations inside ASU territory. Sutton told his unit during a timeout what they were going to run, and they executed it perfectly.

Ka’Deem Carey was stopped for a seven-yard loss in the first quarter on 4th and 2 from the Sun Devils’ 40-yard line, and then for no gain on 4th and 1 in the second quarter at the Sun Devils’ 45-yard line.

Collectively, ASU’s defense forced four turnovers, was responsible for an interception return touchdown from Damarious Randall and never allowed the Wildcats to muster any sort of legitimate comeback in the second half.

“That’s a real defense,” Graham noted as he read over the stats from the game.

When the game was officially over, Sutton hoisted the hotly-desired Territorial Cup as he jogged around the field so the fans could relish in their team’s accomplishment.

Sun Devil nation sure knows he deserves it for all he’s done both on the field and in Saturday night’s case, as a play-caller, too.

Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey (25) runs for a long gain against Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Arizona quarterback Matt Scott passes against Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey (25) is tackled by Arizona State defenders after a short gain during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Arizona State's Richard Morrison (8) runs for a short gain against Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Game officials meet at midfield before an NCAA college football game between Arizona State and Arizona at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Arizona State starting quarterback Keelan Johnson (10) avoids the attempted tackle by Arizona's Jake Fischer (33) during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey (25) jumps over the end zone for a touchdown as teammate Drew Robinson (87) watches during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona State's Kylan Butler (1) runs for a touchdown past Arizona's Sir Thomas Jackson (53) during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona State's Kylan Butler (1) runs for a touchdown past Arizona's Shaquille Richardson (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona's Garic Wharton (16) tries to leave Arizona State's Chris Young (21) behind during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey (25) has his jersey grabbed by an Arizona State defender during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona State's Osahon Irabor, right, intercepts a pass in front of Arizona's Austin Hill (29) during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona State coach Todd Graham, center, diagrams a play for players Keelan Johnson (10), Alden Darby (4), Chris Young (21), and Brandon Magee (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona's head coach Rich Rodriguez watches from the sidelines as Arizona plays Arizona State during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Arizona State's starting quarterback Taylor Kelly (10) almost runs out of bounds against Arizona during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Arizona state's Marion Grice (1) runs for a long gain against Arizona during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Arizona State won 41- 34. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Arizona starting quarterback Matt Scott (10) is tackled for a loss by Arizona State's Carl Bradford, right, during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Arizona State won 41-34. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona State's Michael Eubank celebrates his touchdown against Arizona during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Arizona State won 41-34. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona State's Kevin Ayers (19) blocks the punt of Arizona's Kyle Dugandzic (13) during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. Arizona State won 41-34. (AP Photo/Wily Low)

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