The Wildcats may be coming off a 42-16 win over No. 5 Oregon, their biggest win of the year, but it wasn’t their biggest game of their year.
No, their matchup with in-state rival No. 12 ASU (9-2, 7-1 Pac-12) is their biggest game of the year.
“You’d have to be living under a rock if you play for Arizona (7-4, 4-4 Pac-12) and don’t realize how important the ASU rivalry is,” said UA coach Rich Rodriguez.
The Wildcats snapped a two-game losing skid with an impressive performance against the Ducks. In that game, junior running back Ka’Deem Carey ran for 206 yards on 48 carries and four touchdowns to become the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards (3,913) and touchdowns (48).
As big as the win was, senior quarterback B.J. Denker said he isn’t expecting any hangover, especially with the Territorial Cup on the line.
“I think we are fine. I don’t think we are going to let up just because we had such a great game last week. I think it makes us hungrier,” Denker said. “And it’s ASU. We shouldn’t have to pump anybody up on our team. We know this game is important. It’s the most important game on our schedule, and this has to give us momentum going into our bowl game, so we are focused and excited.”
Focus will not be hard to come by as many of the UA players remember last year’s 41-34 defeat at home, and the sting hasn’t subsided.
“It hurt a lot," said junior safety Jared Tevis. "ASU is always a game we want to win. It definitely still stings a little bit, so we are trying to change that this year and get that cup back.”
Part of getting that cup back will come down to containing ASU redshirt junior quarterback Taylor Kelly.
In his last outing against UCLA, Kelly shredded the Bruins both through the air and on the ground. Kelly was 20-for-27 passing for 225 yards and a touchdown, and led the team in rushing with 99 yards on 22 carries and another touchdown.
Kelly’s rushing ability is of particular concern to Rodriguez.
“He’ll scramble, which makes us nervous. He can run. He’s a big guy who’s very athletic,” Rodriguez said. “They’ll have some zone reads that he will take advantage of. He’s one of the most intelligent quarterbacks in the nation.”
But Kelly isn’t the only ASU player the Wildcats will have to worry about on the other side of the ball.
Offensively, UA will have to contend with ASU’s defensive front. After a nine-sack performance against UCLA, the Sun Devils are tied with Stanford for second in the Pac-12 in sacks with 34.
However, playing across from the Sun Devils front seven will be a Wildcats offensive line that has allowed the second fewest sacks in the conference (14).
The offensive line’s performance against the Ducks was critical and will be critical again if the Wildcats hope to bring home the territorial cup.
“They don’t get enough credit," Denker said of his offensive line. "It’s all Ka’Deem (Carey), which is expected but those big guys. They do such a great job. I wouldn’t be successful without their help, and I know Ka’Deem would say the same thing.”
Freshman receiver Nate Phillips will be playing in his first Territorial Cup game, but the importance of the rivalry isn’t lost on him.
“I have seen and heard stories about the games and how legendary they are,” Phillips said. “I came to the one last year. Unfortunately, we lost but this year we are going to go out there and try and change that.”