The Arizona Wildcats rushed for a school-record 511 yards in a 56-35 victory over Arizona State on Friday night at Arizona Stadium.
Arizona snapped an eight-game losing streak and brought the Territorial Cup back to Tucson.
Brandon Dawkins, Samajie Grant and Zach Green each rushed for more than 100 yards – the first time three Wildcats have topped 100 in the same game since Nov. 6, 1993.
The Wildcats finished a frustrating, injury-filled season 3-9, 1-8 in the Pac-12. The Sun Devils lost their last six games to finish 5-7, 2-7. They needed to win Friday night to qualify for a bowl game.
Dawkins rushed for a career-high 183 yards and two touchdowns. He completed only 3 of 8 passes for 77 yards, but one was a 64-yard TD to Nate Phillips.
Grant finished with a career-best 176 yards on 19 carries and three scores. Green also set a career mark with 126 yards. He scored twice.
Arizona’s 56 points were a season high. The Wildcats’ last victory came on Sept. 17 against Hawaii. They had lost each of the past seven gamers by at least 13 points.
THIRD-QUARTER UPDATE:
Arizona continues to lead Arizona State after a wild third quarter Friday night.
The Wildcats have a 42-28 lead over the Sun Devils through three at Arizona Stadium.
The quarter was filled with punches and counterpunches. In fact, the first four possessions resulted in touchdowns.
ASU got the ball first and marched 65 yards in nine plays. Kalen Ballage’s 2-yard touchdown run made it 28-21.
Arizona quickly answered. Zach Green’s career-long 57-yard run set up Samajie Grant’s 9-yard TD that bumped the lead back to 14 points.
ASU then went 79 yards in eight plays. Manny Wilkins’ 16-yard TD pass to N’Keal Harry made it 35-28.
Two more long runs put Arizona back in scoring range on the next drive. First came Grant’s 52-yarder, then Green’s 26-yarder. Green finished the drive with a tackle-breaking 1-yard run.
Grant and Brandon Dawkins each has surpassed 100 yards rushing. Wilkins is 30 of 36 for 274 yards with two TDs and one interception.
HALFTIME UPDATE:
Strange things happen in rivalry games. To wit:
The Arizona Wildcats are threatening to blow out Arizona State in the Territorial Cup.
Arizona, which has lost eight in a row, leads ASU 28-14 at halftime of their game Friday night at Arizona Stadium.
Quarterback Brandon Dawkins has run for two touchdowns and thrown for one. The Arizona defense has forced two turnovers and stopped ASU twice on fourth down.
After rushing for a 71-yard TD in the first quarter, Dawkins broke three tackles to score from the 10 on the second play of the second period.
After Larry Tharpe Jr. broke up a fourth-and-3 pass to get the ball back, Dawkins hit a wide-open Nate Phillips for a 64-yard touchdown. Dawkins had been 1 of 5 for 4 yards up to that point.
On the next possession, ASU turned the ball over again. While trying to tuck the ball and run, Manny Wilkins lost control of it. Sani Fuimaono recovered at the ASU 23-yard line.
Five plays later, Zach Green ran untouched into the end zone from 1 yard out to make it 28-7.
ASU cut into the deficit late in the half on a 21-yard TD pass from Wilkins to Tim White.
Dawkins has 98 rushing yards and 77 passing yards. Wilkins is 21 of 25 for 157 yards with one TD and one interception.
FIRST-QUARTER UPDATE:
Just call it the Bizarro Territorial Cup.
The Arizona Wildcats are huddling on offense. Zane Gonzalez has missed a field goal. And the UA isn’t trailing after the first quarter of a game.
Arizona and Arizona State are tied 7-7 after the first quarter of the 90th Territorial Cup on Friday night at Arizona Stadium.
Arizona took the lead on the opening series on quarterback Brandon Dawkins’ 71-yard run for a touchdown. It was Dawkins’ ninth rushing touchdown of the season and the first time the Wildcats had led in any game at any point since the first half of the Utah game on Oct. 8.
ASU had a chance to cut into the lead on its second possession, but Gonzalez missed a 53-yard field-goal attempt. It was just his second miss this season in 25 tries.
The Wildcats’ lead was short-lived. On the following possession, on third-and-10, JoJo Wicker sacked Dawkins, forcing him to fumble. Koron Crump returned the fumble 42 yards for a touchdown.
Arizona’s defense then came up big. Larry Tharpe Jr. and others stopped Kalen Ballage on a fourth-down run, and DaVonte’ Neal intercepted Manny Wilkins. The Wildcats are at the ASU 14-yard line to start the second period.
