That’s not how you wanted to start the most important game of the year for Arizona State. With the stadium loud and packed, the defense crumbled, allowing four second-quarter touchdowns as Arizona took a 38-7 lead into halftime.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Up at the Half. 😼 pic.twitter.com/0VJnBMAmDO
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 25, 2023
Arizona State allowed 410 yards in the first half, and for the second game in a row, it allowed a QB to throw for over 150 yards in the first half. Noah Fafita finished with 357 yards in the first half with two touchdowns.
For Arizona State, Jaden Rashada made his return and looked very pedestrian. He went 5/12 for 25 yards with an interception. He missed a lot of throws, and the offense itself had multiple fumbles. Giovanni Sanders led all ASU receivers with one catch for 16 yards.
The first quarter was pretty good. Arizona State had an amazing first drive that resulted in a touchdown but immediately allowed an Arizona touchdown on the next drive. It was 10-7 heading into the second quarter. Arizona’s next drive went two plays for a touchdown to take a 17-7 lead.
JONAH. COLEMAN. 🚂🚂🚂
Wildcats extend the lead with a @jonahcoleman8 TD.
AZ 17 – ASU 7
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/Fct27cMaLE
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 25, 2023
Rashada led the Sun Devils down the field again on the next drive but threw an ugly interception. This resulted in Arizona driving down on six plays for Michael Wiley’s first of three TDs.
RUN WILEY RUN. 🏃@thenoah_fifita1 ➡️ Michael Wiley FOR AN ARIZONA TD.
Wildcats up 24-7, with 7 min left in the first half.
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/Ri9NC2ajOb
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 25, 2023
The next drive for ASU went nowhere. The Sun Devils punted right back to Arizona, which the Wildcats got right down the field and gave Wiley his second touchdown with 2 minutes to go in the half. It was now 31-7.
RUN IT BACK 6️⃣
MICHAEL WILEY WITH HIS 2ND TD.
AZ 31 – ASU 7
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/tr3YIyaEtj
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 25, 2023
Arizona went three-and-out, and Arizona got the ball back on their own 30. Four plays later, the Wildcats and Michael Wiley found the endzone again to take a 38-7 lead. Arizona got another chance immediately with a fumble by ASU, but three straight shots at the endzone that fell incomplete forced the Wildcats to settle for a field goal. Arizona missed the field goal, and the game went into halftime 38-7.
The Sun Devils are missing Elijhah Badger, and this game is already out of hand. Can ASU maintain its dignity in the second half?
The Territorial Cup is Between Two Teams in Different Positions
