Arizona-ASU Game 53: Wildcats end 18-year wait for a win on ASU’s home turf

For Tucson football fans, the Territorial Cup archive has produced one of the rivalry’s most dramatic chapters: Arizona finally won at Arizona State’s home stadium after an 18-year drought. The Wildcats defeated the Sun Devils 27-24 in Tempe, finishing a game that repeatedly swung between apparent Arizona control and an ASU comeback. The victory gave Arizona a memorable conclusion to the regular season and kept the Wildcats in contention for a possible Fiesta Bowl invitation.

The game was the 53rd meeting between the programs, part of a series that eventually grew into the 100-game rivalry being commemorated this season. The matchup was not the 100th anniversary of the rivalry, since Arizona and Arizona State did not play every year, but it was another installment in a series that has long defined college football in the state. The Wildcats entered this meeting having lost to Stanford, Southern California and San Diego State, while Arizona State had dropped 10 of its previous 11 games, including five losses by forfeit.

Arizona appeared ready to break the game open early. The Wildcats built a 17-3 lead in the first quarter and still held a 14-point advantage midway through the third period. Instead of fading, the Sun Devils began to close the gap, turning the contest into a fourth-quarter struggle. ASU halfback Robert Weathers then raced 30 yards around the right side with 13:06 remaining, and the successful conversion pulled the teams even at 24.

From there, both teams had opportunities to take control. Arizona drove to the ASU 21-yard line, but the possession ended when first-string placekicker Bill Zivic missed a 39-yard field goal. The Sun Devils then advanced to the Arizona 29, seemingly gaining the momentum needed to win. Two incomplete passes by quarterback Mark Malone forced ASU to try a 46-yard field goal, but Scott Peterson’s attempt came up short and went wide to the right.

The Wildcats seemed to have another chance when Donnie Butler made a spectacular catch that moved the ball inside the ASU 10-yard line with less than a minute remaining. That play was erased, however, when Butler was penalized for offensive pass interference. Arizona’s defense held again, but a dropped punt by Mark Streeter gave the Sun Devils possession at the Arizona 39. With the game apparently turning toward ASU, the Wildcats needed another defensive stand.

They got it from junior defensive back Jack Housley, a Phoenix native who intercepted Malone at the Arizona 40 with 33 seconds left. The Wildcats needed only two plays to produce another major turn. Reserve split end Greg Jackson, from nearby Scottsdale, wrestled a pass away from Sun Devil cornerback Ralph Dixon and went down at the ASU 20 after a 42-yard gain. Arizona used three timeouts during the final sequence, setting up a last-second field-goal attempt.

The deciding kick came from freshman walk-on Brett Weber, who was handling varsity field-goal duties for the first time that season. Weber had just missed from 37 yards, but Arizona received a second chance when Sun Devil freshman cornerback Ron Brown was penalized for roughing the kicker. Weber then connected from 27 yards as time expired, giving Arizona the 27-24 win. The kick ended an 18-year wait for a Wildcats victory at Sun Devil Stadium and completed one of the rivalry’s most unlikely finishes.

Arizona Coach Tony Mason said he did not want to put Zivic back into that situation after the earlier miss, noting that Zivic had missed a decisive kick in the previous year’s game. Mason credited the defense, particularly the secondary, and praised Arizona’s running game. He also called it the team’s best performance of the season because of the opponent and said the program had moved in the right direction during his three years. Mason had now won two of three games he coached at Sun Devil Stadium, including an earlier victory while leading the University of Cincinnati.

The Wildcats finished the regular season 6-4-1, while the loss left Arizona State preparing to travel to Honolulu. Arizona’s Hubert Oliver gained 95 yards on 23 carries, moved into second place on the school’s career rushing list and reached 1,000 yards for the season. The news media named Oliver the game’s offensive player of the game, while ASU linebacker Gary Padjen received the defensive honor. Arizona’s Fiesta Bowl hopes depended on the outcome of the Alabama-Auburn game, with the bowl expected to make its decision afterward. Mason said Arizona would accept an invitation if one came, but regardless of the postseason outcome, the Wildcats had already secured a victory Tucson fans could remember for years.