Arizona defeated Arizona State 56-35 Friday night in the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Here are some pertinent notes, quotes and statistics:
NOTES
* Arizona ended its eight-game losing streak, while ASU lost its sixth game in a row. The Wildcats’ last victory came against Hawaii on Sept. 17. They hadn’t led in a game since Oct. 8 against Utah.
* Arizona rushed for a school-record 511 yards, eclipsing the mark of 499 set last year against Northern Arizona. The Wildcats’ previous high for a Pac-12 game was 480 yards against UCLA in 1989.
* Three Wildcats – Brandon Dawkins, Samajie Grant and Zach Green – rushed for more than 100 yards. The last time three Arizona players surpassed 100 yards in the same game was Nov. 6, 1993, against Oregon.
* Dawkins (183 yards), Grant (176) and Green (126) all established new single-game career highs. Each had at least one run of at least 56 yards. They scored seven of Arizona's eight touchdowns.
* Arizona scored touchdowns on all five trips to the red zone. The Wildcats had scored TDs only 51.4 percent of the time inside the red zone entering Friday.
* Nate Phillips had two catches for 68 yards. He ended his UA career with at least one catch in 45 consecutive games.
* Arizona forced two turnovers in a game for the first time since the Hawaii game. The Wildcats are 25-4 under Rich Rodriguez when forcing multiple turnovers.
* Dawkins became the first Arizona quarterback to win the Bob Moran Trophy as the Territorial Cup MVP since Nick Foles in 2011.
* ASU’s 98 plays were the most an opponent has run against Arizona this season. Sixty of the plays were pass attempts. The Sun Devils possessed the ball for 35 minutes, 56 seconds.
* Arizona’s 56 points doubled the Wildcats’ highest total over the course of their eight-game losing streak.
* ASU allowed 40 or more points in five of six games during its season-ending six-game losing streak. Average points allowed during the skid: 46.7.
* Arizona scored touchdowns on four of its first five possessions in the second half. None of the drives lasted longer than four plays.
QUOTES
ASU coach Todd Graham on the loss: “Obviously we want to give credit to Arizona; they did a great job tonight. As far as us, that was the worst performance we’ve had since I’ve been here, and it was embarrassing. No excuses, but that was very difficult to watch. We let our university down, we let our program down, and that was difficult; we just didn’t show up at all. They had one big play after another. The seniors tonight, we let them down. Having them go out like this is disheartening.”
Graham on the reasons behind the loss: “You can’t play that bad and make up any excuses. We have no excuses. I thought we played atrocious, and we weren’t prepared on defense. To give up that many yards rushing is just absolutely ridiculous. We haven’t done that since I’ve been here. We haven’t had a game like that since I’ve been here. That starts at the top with me. We’ve obviously got some things we need to get straightened (out). It is way past just execution.”
Rodriguez on whether Arizona broke ASU’s spirit in the second half: “I wasn’t comfortable until we took a knee. Our student section is fantastic. But when they were saying that ‘hey-hey, goodbye’ stuff with like seven minutes to go, it kind of ticked me off. I’m not comfortable until we take a knee. Even then I’m still a little nervous. But I think they were just excited to see us finally play well – put something together for four quarters.”
Rodriguez on fan support: “It’s funny, we go through this Wildcat Walk. I’m always a little nervous when you’re losing that people could say something nasty – ‘Come on, coach, you suck.’ They have been as positive throughout the whole season as you can imagine. It’s not like that everywhere. I think it really lifts our guys’ spirits. The Wildcat Walk before the game today, it was packed. They were into it. I think it gives our guys a lift. I’d like to thank our fans. I’m going to tell them (to) hang in there because there are some special things that will happen.”
Rodriguez on Dawkins accidentally knocking over Miss Arizona at the end of a run: “He was kind, I think. Didn’t he help her up? At least I hope he did. You’ve got to be a gentleman at all times, even if you’re in a gladiator outfit. She made a nice tackle.”
Dawkins on his tone-setting 71-yard touchdown run on the opening drive: “It was just a small piece of the chain like of events that went on during the game. It was a minor one, but it was one that we needed, and I’m glad I was able to make the play to help us out. The offensive line did an awesome job, especially in a big game. To do it for the seniors, that was huge.”
Linebacker Paul Magloire Jr. on his time at Arizona: “It’s crazy. Walking out there on Senior Night and giving Coach Rod a hug, I just started thinking about the time I made the trip from Yuma, from Arizona Western College. Taking an unofficial visit, meeting the coaches for the first time. That was the first time I put on an Arizona jersey and took a picture here. It goes by fast. One thing I told all of the underclassmen was to give it their all, because it goes by very quickly.”
STATS
* Arizona averaged 10.6 yards per rush; ASU averaged 3.2.
* ASU had 373 passing yards; Arizona had 77.
* The teams combined for 16 penalties totaling 162 yards.
* ASU converted 11 of 20 third downs; Arizona converted 2 of 8.
* Arizona stopped ASU on 5 of 6 fourth-down attempts.
* ASU QB Manny Wilkins rushed for a team-high 79 yards and completed 43 of 58 passes for 372 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
* Magloire had a team-high 14 tackles. Linebacker Michael Barton had eight. Linebacker Jake Matthews had seven.
* Arizona had seven tackles for losses (by seven players) and six pass breakups; ASU had four and two, respectively.
* ASU’s average starting field position was its 25-yard line; Arizona’s was its 34.
