Arizona Wildcats storylines: On Khalil Tate's runs, seniors' memories, coaches' flips

Khalil Tate’s scrambles are often preambles to big plays for the Arizona Wildcat

The most dangerous play Arizona runs — the one Arizona State should fear the most Saturday afternoon — can’t be found in the Wildcats’ playbook.

When quarterback Khalil Tate scrambles out of the pocket, his first instinct is to throw the ball as far as possible. He has tremendous arm strength and an uncanny ability to throw accurately while on the run.

The result over the past three weeks, since Tate returned to action from an ankle injury: several big plays and touchdowns of the schoolyard variety.

Last week’s game against Washington State provided the latest set of examples.

On Tate’s second touchdown pass, he rolled to his right to elude cornerback Marcus Strong, who had blitzed from the slot. When he saw Tate move, receiver Tony Ellison darted from the right flat toward the end zone. Tate launched a high-arching jump pass that Ellison caught in stride for a 37-yard TD.

“Run downfield and he’ll throw it to you,” Ellison said. “Most of our scramble plays end up being touchdowns.”

The receivers have a protocol when Tate flees the pocket. If you’re deep, come back. If you’re short, go long. If you’re on the back side of a play, run across the field.

More often than not, though, “the deepest guy gets the ball,” receiver Shawn Poindexter said. After the Colorado game, in which he threw five touchdown passes, Tate referred to his receivers forming a “pyramid” on scramble plays. His default setting is to aim for the top.

Tate’s longest pass in Pullman was a 48-yard heave down the left sideline to Devaughn Cooper. Tate had five defenders chasing him. He threw the ball 45 yards in the air while running to his left.

“Not a lot of guys can make that throw," UA coach Kevin Sumlin said.

ESPN analyst Brock Huard cited one after witnessing Tate’s contortionist act: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who leads the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns in his second professional season.

Tate is a long way from performing at that level. He relies a little too much on those broken plays, which can produce big gains but aren’t high-percentage opportunities.

Tate’s first pass of the night at WSU was intercepted. He scrambled right and tried to hit Ellison racing up the field. But the pass was thrown about a yard too far inside, enabling Strong to make a leaping pick.

Ellison blamed himself for the turnover.

“Stuff happens,” he said. “I could have gone back and hit the ball away from the guy. I didn’t play it the right way.”

Ellison and his fellow receivers usually play it right. Tate invariably gives them a chance. It often leads to something good for Arizona.

“You just want to get open and get in his vision,” Poindexter said. “That’s it.”

Departing seniors share fondest memories from their time at Arizona

Saturday’s game against Arizona State will be the final home contest for at least 12 Arizona players who are participating in senior-day festivities. It could be their last game, period, if the Wildcats don’t defeat the Sun Devils.

With the end near, we asked four UA seniors — receivers Tony Ellison and Shawn Poindexter, offensive lineman Layth Friekh and safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles — a pair of questions about their time in Tucson. Here they are, along with some of the best responses:

What’s your fondest memory of attending and playing football at Arizona?

Friekh: “Probably freshman year in the dorms with all my buddies, everybody in my class. You just hang out with each other. Being in the same room, playing video games, joking around, joking on people. I think about that. It was just good times.”

Poindexter: “The people, man. Some of the relationships I’ve made along the way. These guys are hilarious. I’m not a guy who talks or makes jokes. But just sitting in the locker room and hearing the guys talk, make fun of each other in a playful way, is awesome.”

Flannigan-Fowles: “There’s so many. I’m just gonna say I’m blessed to be able to play here. I thank God for giving me this opportunity to play for my hometown team. And just giving me another opportunity to play this Saturday.”

Ellison: “Just having the opportunity to play. And obviously since it’s rivalry week, beating these guys will be the best way to go out.”

How have you grown as a person and/or player since coming to the UA?

Flannigan-Fowles: “I became more patient these last couple years. God has taught me to be patient and trust his timing. Play, practice, approach to the game — it’s all gonna unfold here soon.”

Ellison: “I think I’ve always been kind of a level-headed kid. I’ve always been pretty humble. As a player, I’ve gotten better. Gaining weight. Getting in the playbook and knowing my plays. All around, I think I’ve just grown up as a person.”

Friekh: “As a person, I’ve just gotten more mature. I’ve taken stuff more seriously here, especially off the field. As a player, I’ve gotten bigger every year. I’ve dedicated myself to the weight room. Just in hopes that I could be a better player for my team.”

With Sumlin vs. Edwards set to begin, a look back at Rodriguez vs. Graham

This year’s Territorial Cup marks the start of a new chapter in the Arizona-Arizona State rivalry. It’s Kevin Sumlin vs. Herm Edwards, Part 1.

Their predecessors, Rich Rodriguez and Todd Graham, started and ended their tenures at about the same time. They squared off six times, from 2012-17. ASU won four of those meetings. Here’s a quick look back at how they unfolded:

2012: ASU 41, Arizona 34

Key sequence: The Wildcats held a 27-17 lead entering the fourth quarter. A Sun Devils field goal made it 27-20, and a Matt Scott fumble led to the tying touchdown. ASU would score 24 straight points in all.

Statistical standout: ASU tailback Marion Grice — 18 carries, 156 yards, 3 TDs; 1 catch, 18 yards

Quotable: "I love our kids, and I'm really proud of our seniors. But I'm disappointed we lost, and the kids are too.” — Rodriguez

2013: No. 12 ASU 58, Arizona 21

Key sequence: The Sun Devils dominated from the outset, racing to a 27-0 lead less than halfway through the second quarter. Ka’Deem Carey’s 8-yard touchdown run made it a two-score game early in the third, but the Wildcats never got closer than 16 points against the Pac-12 South champs.

Statistical standout: ASU tailback D.J. Foster — 23 carries, 130 yards, 2 TDs; 2 catches, 26 yards

Quotable: "The advantage to play at home, you can't put a price tag on that — it's huge. There's no question we play our best football here." — Graham

2014: No. 11 Arizona 42, No. 13 ASU 35

Key sequence: The game was tied at 21 at halftime before a pair of Nick Wilson touchdown runs — his second and third of the game, from 1 and 72 yards — gave the Wildcats a 35-21 lead. Arizona would hang on to secure its first Pac-12 South title.

Statistical standout: Wilson — 24 carries, 178 yards, 3 TDs

Quotable: “I didn't know if this would happen in Year 3. But I knew it could happen, otherwise I wouldn't have come here. This is the perfect environment to build one of the best programs in the country. We aren't there yet, but we're on our way.” — Rodriguez

2015: ASU 52, Arizona 37

Key sequence: After the Wildcats trimmed what once had been a 21-point deficit to eight on a touchdown pass from Brandon Dawkins to Tyrell Johnson midway through the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils pulled away. Pick-sixes on consecutive series, by Kareem Orr and Lloyd Carrington, bumped ASU’s lead to 22.

Statistical standout: ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici — 21 of 32, 316 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; 7 carries, 3 yards, 1 TD

Quotable: "We'll be all right. You don't want the taste of losing, but you learn from both. We've got to get better." — Rodriguez

2016: Arizona 56, ASU 35

Key sequence: After the Sun Devils made it a seven-point game midway through the third quarter, the Wildcats put together two scoring drives and a pair of defensive stops. Fifty-plus-yard runs by Samaji Grant and Dawkins set up short TDs by Zach Green on a night when Arizona rushed for a school-record 511 yards and broke an eight-game losing streak.

Statistical standout: Dawkins — 3 of 8, 77 yards, 1 TD; 12 carries, 183 yards, 2 TDs

Quotable: “It doesn’t make up for a tough season, but it’s a great night. It’s a great night to be an Arizona Wildcat.” — Rodriguez

2017: ASU 42, Arizona 30

Key sequence: The Wildcats led 24-14 late in the second quarter. On the last play of the first half, QB Khalil Tate got hurt attempting a Hail May pass. A blocked punt and a Dawkins interception in the third quarter set up a pair of Sun Devils touchdowns and gave them a lead they wouldn’t surrender.

Statistical standout: ASU tailback Demario Richard — 22 carries, 165 yards, 2 TDs

Quotable: “I’m proud of Sun Devil Nation. Man, they were awesome tonight. What a great atmosphere. Got that cup back where it belongs.” — Graham

Territorial Cup rivalry flips for assistant coaches Mazzone, Pierce

Two assistant coaches participating in this year’s Territorial Cup are about to experience it from a different perspective.

Arizona offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Noel Mazzone spent two seasons in the same capacity at Arizona State from 2010-11. ASU linebackers coach/recruiting director Antonio Pierce played for the Wildcats from 1999-2000.

In his first meeting with the Tucson media in March, Mazzone was asked about being on the other side of the rivalry. He responded with typical sarcasm:

“What school you talking about? What? Where was that?”

Mazzone worked under Dennis Erickson and coached Brock Osweiler, who, in 2011, became the first ASU quarterback to pass for more than 4,000 yards.

The Sun Devils won the 2010 Territorial Cup game 30-29 in double overtime. The Wildcats won the following year 31-27, rallying from a 27-17 fourth-quarter deficit.

Arizona swept ASU in Pierce’s two seasons as a regular. Despite going undrafted, he would play nine seasons for the Washington Redskins and New York Giants. He became a high school coach and studio analyst at ESPN, where he formed a friendship with colleague Herm Edwards.

After he became ASU’s coach, Edwards hired Pierce, who had been coaching at Long Beach Poly in Southern California.

“I'll always be an Arizona Wildcat in my heart,” Pierce told the Arizona Republic this week. “But there's a point in time where you take care of your family and make business decisions.”

Countless reps helps ASU’s Wilkins, Harry connect on deeper level

In last year’s Territorial Cup matchup against Arizona, Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins connected with receiver N’Keal Harry on a pair of fade-route touchdowns in tight quarters in either corner of the end zone.

The passes were thrown in such a place that only Harry could catch them. They were thrown in such a way that suggested the two had practiced those plays countless times. They had.

“I couldn’t even count how many times we’ve done that same exact throw, over and over,” Wilkins told the Star earlier this year.

Wilkins said he began to build a connection with Harry in 2016, when Wilkins was a redshirt sophomore and Harry was a freshman. By the following season, they were operating on the same wavelength. This is how Wilkins explained it:

“You know how twins have their little telepathy or whatever? Where they think the same thing at the same time? As we continuously rep things, I get to know what he’s thinking, and he knows what I’m thinking.”

Harry ranks among ASU’s all-time leaders with 209 receptions, 2,834 yards and 22 touchdowns. Most of them have come from Wilkins, who has taken the majority of the QB snaps over the past three seasons.

Wilkins knew the 6-4, 221-pound Harry would have a physical advantage over most cornerbacks he faced the moment he stepped on campus. Harry used to pattern his game after former Detroit Lions star Calvin Johnson. Harry later molded his game after former ASU receiver Jaelen Strong.

“He’s only made his body that much stronger,” Wilkins said. “His work ethic is unreal. I think that’s something that really separates him from others.”

Not that Harry necessarily needs separation.